SIND DIVISION.
Average strength present during the year
2990.4
Average daily sick per cent. to the average strength... 4.7
Ratio of mortality per cent. to the average strength
3.1
H. M.'s 29th or 2nd Belooch Regiment N. I.
KURRACHEE.—In medical charge of Surgeon J. A. HOWELL ; strength, 627.2.
Location and movements of
corps.
The regiment has been stationed at Kurrachee during the
year.
2. The regiment occupies the same lines as those reported on last year ; they have al
been re-roofed, and are very clean and comfortable. The
conservancy arrangements are well attended to ; 8 sweepers
being employed, one for each company, and the excreta daily removed in carts, and buried
some miles from camp. The water-supply is very bad ; the Commissariat wells, from which
the regiment is supplied, are better than the others in camp. It would be advisable if the
Municipality would hurry on their arrangements of supplying the station with water from
the Malir.
3. Very good, and abundant ; prices not raised during the
year.
Lines.
Food.
Duties and effects on health.
4. Parades and guards ; these have not exercised an un-
favourable influence on the health of the men.
5. There is a very good gymnasium, and once a week the whole regiment with a lot
Exercise, amusement and occu-
pation.
Lock-up rooms.
Marches.
of outsiders assemble, and witness wrestling, &c. Several of the
men are good sportsmen, and play cricket occasionally.
6. Four lock-up rooms ; they are well ventilated and
commodious.
7. None during the year.
8. No alteration since last report ; it is well situated and very commodious there has
been no overcrowding. The deficiencies of a dead-house and
store-room, mentioned last year, still exist. The water-supply is
from a Commissariat well close by. The latrines are kept very clean ; dry-earth system in use.
9. There were 597 admissions during the year. On glancing at the subjoined table.
Hospital.
Sickness, mortality and invaliding.
it will be noticed that there has been a slight increase in the
number of admissions as compared with last year :—
1875.
1876.
Average strength...
...
...
...
627.8
627.2
Admissions
...
...
...
538
597
Deaths
...
...
. . .
4
5
Proportion of deaths to strength per cent...
0.7
0.7
Do.
of deaths to treated per cent ...
0.7
0.8
Do
of admissions to strength per cent
85.7
95.4
Average daily sick. ..
...
...
20.8
18.0
The principal diseases treated were fever (malarious), rheumatism, chest, and intes-
tinal disorders.
Fever in the form of ague was the chief cause of admissions. Of the total 597,—337, or
more than half, were under this heading. The disease has been more or less prevalent all
the year ; the largest number of admissions—58—was in December, the smallest number—8
— i n A p r i l ; t h e t y p e w a s m i l d , a n d t h e r e w a s n o d i r e c t m o r t a l i t y f r o m t h i s c a u s e ; t h e d i s e a s e
yielded rapidly in the majority of cases to the usual plan of treatment. Although there have
been some cases of typhoid fever among the native population of Kurrachee, I am happy to
record that there has not been a single case in the regiment. Malarious fever being most pre-
valent in the cold months of the year, is no doubt excited by undue exposure to cold in per-
sons predisposed to the disease. Rheumatism of a chronic form is also a common complaint;
in many cases the disease can be traced to syphilis. Improving the general health.—Use of
iodide of potassium with a small dose of the bichloride of mercury, if there is a suspicion of a
syphilitic taint, was the plan of treatment adopted. Under the heading chest affections there
were 31 admissions, mostly cases of bronchitis and occurring in the cold weather. There were
B 196—31