Nuisance .—None.
Nuisance
Water-
supply.
Sanitary
arrange-
ments.
Diet.
Duty.
Drill.
Vaccination.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
NAGPORE FORCE.
103
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding as
contrasted with previous years :—
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1874
... Seetabuldee ...
...
127.79
3.57
.45
1.37
1.22
1875
...
Do.
...
183.03
3.83
.57
2.58
1.14
1876
...
Do.
...
164.56
4.59
.70
4.92
1.98
Average ...
141.79
3.99
.57
2.95
1.44
1877
... Seetabuldee
...
170.64
6.33
1.03
2.94
2.50
Surgeon J. W. Strong was in medical charge of this corps during the year
and reports as under :-
Climate of the station. —Owing in a measure to the increased and irregular rainfall this
increased rainfall appears to have rendered the season an unhealthy one, and consequently
exercised some influence on the admissions for fevers, which rose rather high from the month of
May till the month of October. Cold easterly winds which prevailed in November and Decem-
ber helped to swell the admissions on account of these diseases.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, &c. —The ventilation of the huts is good ; the
drainage of the lines is defective owing to their being built in a hollow ; so slight a fall is obtained
that much of the drainage (except during the rains) sinks into the soil instead of flowing away.
The drains are simple channels cut in the ground. Working parties are detailed by the Officer
Commanding, during the continuance and termination of the rains, to keep the drains open and
free from any rank vegetation. The sanitary condition is good.
Climate of
the station.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, &c.
Water-supply. --The water is obtained from six wells in the immediate vicinity of the regi-
mental lines, is a good drinking water, and the supply has been sufficient.
Sanitary arrangements of the lines are as well attended to as is possible under the cir-
cumstances, but until a more favorable site is chosen the amount of sickness in the regiment will
always be higher than it should be.
Diet. —European and Native vegetables have been abundant and cheap, especially during
the cold months of the year.
Average compensation for dearness of rice, Rupees 3-2-2. The sepoys find their own diet,
and it has been sufficiently nutritive and varied so as to keep them in health.
Clothing has been sufficient and adapted to the climate and season of the year.
Clothing.
Foot soreness. —Seventeen men were admitted for blistered feet, and 271 men were excused
boots at Head-quarters for periods varying from three to six days. The greasing of the sepoys'
boots seems to have exercised some benefit in reducing the number of those excused boots.
Duty. —There have been no unusual duties performed by the troops ; they have consisted
of the ordinary parades, guard mounting, out-post duties, and ball practice. Average number
of nights in bed. 4½.
Drill.—These exercises have produced no unfavorable influence on health.
Vaccination. —All unprotected recruits are vaccinated on joining ; 130 cases were vacci-
nated amongst the recruits, followers and children, of which 53 cases proved unsuccessful and
77 successful ; failure in most of these cases was due to defective lymph; 4 cases of small-pox
occurred among. the men : no death.
Epidemic. —Fevers of the intermittent type were very prevalent from the middle of May
till the end of November. A few cases of modified small-pox appeared among the families of
the sepoys and followers on the 10th June 1877, and one occasional case has since been
admitted under treatment into the small-pox or contagious shed. About 46 cases of measles
occurred among the families and followers of the regiment; these cases were all of a very
mild type and readily yielded to simple treatment.
Hospital ventilation is very good by roof-eaves, doors, and windows; the wards have
not been overcrowded_
Hospital drainage. —The hospital is well raised from the ground and well drained ; the
dry-earth system of conservancy is efficiently carried out ; the excreta is removed twice daily to
Foot soreness.
Epidemic.