Causes of mortality.
Mortality according to race.
13 196—22
85
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
8. The supply of grain has been fair, and the quality good, though little rain fell in
the vicinity of Bhuj. The fall in other parts was ample to
raise fair crops; the average amount of grain compensation for
the last twelve months has been Rs. 3-13-4 against Rs.3-14-2 for the same period in 1875.
The supply of vegetables has, as usual, been scanty, and the variety limited: fresh fruits are,
as a rule, not obtainable by the men.
9. The duties of the men have been light, not sufficient
to harass them at all ; the parades just afford healthy exercise.
10. The gymnasium was rather more patronized than last year, a stimulus being afforded
by prizes being subscribed for amongst the officers, at the sug
-
gestion of the commanding officer. The men have no occupa
-
tion beyond their duties and occasionally repairing the lines,
butts, &c. There is not sufficient inducement to practise any trade; some extra occupation
was afforded this year in the workshop, during the process of rebrowning the rifles.
11. The hospital and attached buildings have been thoroughly repaired during the
year. The tiles were removed and repaired, and new matting
placed under the tiles. No alterations or additions have been
made. The building affords accommodation for 32 beds without overcrowding, and with
the exception of a few days during the past month, when fever was prevalent, that has been
found ample. The ventilation of the building is amply provided for by side doors and
windows and three large roof-ventilators. The conservancy is attended to by two sweepers,
one of whom is always present. The conservancy cart attends daily. There are two bhees
-
ties who bring drinking-water from a well about ¾ of a mile distant. A well, 120 paces to
the rear of the hospital, supplies ablution water. The water is at a distance of about 45 feet
from the surface, and the well at present contains 10 ft. 6 in. of water. A meteorological
observatory having been lately sanctioned for Bhuj, a shed has just been erected in front of
the hospital for the instruments; it will in no way interfere with the ventilation of the
building.
12. During the past 12 months 485 cases have been admitted making, with 14 remain-
ing from last year, a total treated of 499; of these 452 have
returned to duty, 1 went on furlough, 2 on sick leave, 10 were
sent before invaliding committee, and 2 died. The daily aver -
age number of sick has been 19.2. The percentage of treated to strength, 73.59; of deaths to
treated, 0.40. One case of chronic diarrhœa with scorbutic symptoms terminated fatally in
February, and a man who had been several times under treatment for congestion and finally
abscess of the liver, succumbed, in September, to dropsy, diarrhœa and erysipelatous inflamma -
tion of head and neck. Two cases of small-pox occurred in May in two recruits who had
just arrived from Bombay; one, who presented small-pox scars, had a very copious eruption,
but recovered without any untoward symptoms. The other presented no marks of vaccina
-
tion or small-pox, was vaccinated the day before the eruption appeared, and had the disease
very mildly. A case of snake-bite, which presented no general symptoms, was admitted in
June. In July a case of well-marked inflammation of the epiglottis was admitted; the man
recovered well after some hours' severe distress. Four cases of cholera occurred in the lines
amongst the women and children of D and E Companies in the end of September; 2 women
died. Two cases terminated fatally in hospital; one death occurred in the lines. A Punjabee
discharged his rifle at his abdomen; the bullet wounded the transverse colon, left lobe of
liver and left lung, laid open the descending aorta, and finally made its exit through the 6th
and 7th dorsal vertebra. One man, who was sent on sick leave in November 1875 for debi
-
lity after remittent fever, was reported in February to have died. Fourteen men were sent
before the invaliding committee; 10 of these were sent from hospital; of those sent 9 were
invalided; 4, all hospital cases, were remanded, and, 1 a short-service man, was sent to the
Ophthalmic Hospital at Bombay for treatment. Two men have been sent on sick leave, 1 man
discharged by court-martial, and 2 at their own request.
13. Fever, which has been more prevalent during the last month, was caused probably
partly by alternations of temperature, partly by malaria ge
-
nerated by a late rainfall. Cholera has been more or less pre
-
valent throughout the country during the past year, and had been present in the city for near
-
ly two months before the cases occurred in the lines. The two cases of small-pox evidently
brought the disease with them from Bombay when it was prevalent at the time.
Food.
Duties.
Exercise, amusement, and occu
-
pation.
Hospital and its surroundings.
Sickness, mortality, and invalid
-
ing.
Principal causes of sickness.
14. Diarrhœa with scorbutic symptoms (due probably to
local causes,) caused one death; a second was from old-standing
liver disease.
15. The two cases that terminated fatally were both Hindu
-Konkanis.