seasonal
phenotnena.
Necessaries
of life.
strength of
native
troops.
Health of
the native
troops.
NORTHERN DISTRICT.
25
The following corps were serving in the division on the 31st December 1876 :—
2nd Regiment N.I., Head-Quarters and Right Wing.
2nd do.
do. Left Wing.
7th do.
do.
12th do.
do.
41st do.
do.
Deputy Surgeon-General W. J. vanSomeren, M.D., was in charge of this
district during the year and reports as under :
—
Seasonal phenomena.— In Cuttack, Berhampore and Vizagapatam the fall of rain was
below the average ; in the former two stations slightly; in the last by 4.3 inches. In Sumbulpore
the medical officer makes no mention of the subject, but reports that the station has been
exceptionally healthy.
In the first-mentioned three localities and in Vizianagrum an intensely hot season and a
diminution of the rainfall produced no perceptibly ill-effects on the health of the troops.
Necessaries of LIfe—.The necessaries of life have been equal to the demand, and were cheap
in the early part of the year ; but export of cereal grains in the latter part to famine-stricken
districts in the south has served to enhance their prices, an effect aggravated, in the
Vizagapatam district, by destruction of the rice and raggy crops during the cyclone of
October last.
Strength of native troops.— On the 31st December Hindus numbered 1,617, Mahomedans
992, and Christians 168, among the troops of the district, forming a total of 2,777, the strength
of the force on that date.
Health of the native troops.
TABLE I.— Health Statistics of Troops, Northern District.
Corps.
Station .
Average
Strength.
Average
Daily Sick.
Percentage
of Treated
to Average
Strength.
Percentage
of Deaths to
Average
Strength.
Right Wing, 2nd Regiment N.I. Berhampore ...
350
9.49
60
2.28
Left Wing,
do.
do.
Sumbulpore ...
308
4.82
70.77
1.62
7th Regiment N.I.
. . .
. . . Vizagapatam ...
687
27.9
98.69
1.89
12th
d o . d o .
...
... Cuttack
...
694
18.18
53.6
0.86
41st do.
do.
...
... Vizianagru ...
678
38.02
127.72
1.47
Native Details
...
... Vizagapatam ...
72
3
25
...
A .—With reference to Table I. the following particulars deserve notice :—
a.
In Sumbulpore the health efficiency of the Left Wing of the 2nd Regiment N.I. was
a huge improvement on the previous year. Its percentage of treated to strength
fell from 102.89 in 1875 to 70.77 in 1876, and its average daily sick from 8.72 to
4.82. The percentage of deaths to average strength, however, rose from 0.96
to 1.62.
b.
In Vizagapatam the average daily sick mounted from 25.47 in 1875 to 27.9 in 1876,
the percentage of treated to average strength from 71.81 to 98.69, and death-rate
from 0.28 to 1.89 ; the increments to be credited to the Bustar expedition, on which
a part of this regiment was twice sent out of quarters during the year.
c.
The 12th Regiment, now in Cuttack, whither it proceeded in March 1877, shows an
increase of 1.32 in its average daily sick, and of 10.48 in its percentage of treated
to average strength ; but its death-rate has fallen from a percentage of 0.99 to 0.86.
It will be interesting to note the further effects of change of station on this corps.
Will this regiment suffer, as the 41st did, in the lines it now occupies.
d.
In Vizianagrum the 41st Regiment has been much better than it was in Cuttack.
Its average daily sick has fallen to 38.02 from 57.50, and its percentage of treated
to average strength to 127.72 from 218.31. At the same time its death-rate has
risen from the remarkably low figure of 0.47 to 1.47.
e.
The average strength of native details at Vizagapatam has fallen from 131.66 to 72,
their average daily sick to 3 from 4.37, and the percentage of treated. to strength
from 29.62 to 25. The mortality was a cypher.
7