Marches.
Hospital.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment:—
Present
.
. .
.
. ,
. . . . 638.13
Absent
.
,
.
.
. .
.
.
.
. 70.06
Total
.
. 708.19
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Special
observations
and remarks.
Inspection.
LAHORE DIVISION. 117
tary point of view are that its surface and subsoils being composed of a compact alluvial clay,
rich in organic debris, drained badly and are highly malarious. Second, the flatness of the
general surface and the,absence of all natural lines of drainage prevent the surface water, after
a heavy fall of rain or an inundation from the Chenab, from running off. Third, the flooding
of the station from overflow of the irrigation canals which are fed by the Chenab, and are liable
to become suddenly swollen in the rainy season. Fourth, the existence of an extensive net
-Work of irrigation canals which during the rainy season maintain a moist state of the surface
and subsoils, favouring the generation of malarial poison. On the other hand, Mooltan is pro
- v i d e d w i t h a n a b u n d a n t s u p p l y o f e x c e l l e n t w a t e r , a n d h a s f o r m a n y y e a r s e n j o y e d a s i n g u l a r
immunity from epidemics of cholera. Though fever is extensively prevalent during the autumn
months, the type is usually very mild and occasions a low rate of mortality.
X I I I M a r c h e s , & c . —T h e r e g i m e n t l e f t M o o l t a n o n t h e 2 9 t h S e p t e m b e r , l e a v i n g 5 1 s i c k
in hospital and 65 in the lines, making a total of 116.
XIV. Hospital.—T h e h o s p i t a l a t M o o l t a n i s a l a r g e a n d c o n v e n i e n t b u i l d i n g , l o f t y , w e l l
ventilated and fairly lighted. The accommodation is sufficient under ordinary circumstances, but
during the fever season it requires to be supplemented by tents.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number of
sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Daily
average sick.
Head-quarters at Mooltan . 1st Jan. 1878 28th Sep. 1878 627.46 690
5 21.35 148.10 1.07 3.40
Head-quarters marching from
Mooltan to Quetta . . 29th Sep.. „ 4th Nov. „ 489.89 309
2 35.32 622.17 3.94 7.20
Head-quarters encamped in
Quetta . . . . 5th Nov. . „ 24th Nov. „ 501.20 183
2 52.68 666.61 7.12 10.51
Right wing at Quetta
. 25th Nov. „ 31st Dec. „ 292.40 117
4 45.89 394.72 13.41 15.69
Left wing on service in
Afghanistan
. .
Ditto .
Ditto . 156.48 24 ...
.62 163.91 ...
.33
Detachment at Jacobabad . 10th Jan. „ 6th Mar. „
89.00 31 . . .
3.24 195.59 ...
3.64
„ at Khooshdil
Khan-ka-killa
. . 6th Dec. „ 31st Dec. „
75.76
13
1
4.57 240.76 18.53 6.03
Depôt at Mooltan
. . 29th Sep. „
Ditto . 132.39 180
2 36.07 527.93 5.86 27.24
TOTAL
...
. . .
638.13 1,549
16 38.93 242.74 2.50 6.10
Number of deaths in hospital 16; out of hospital 1; total .
17; per cent. of total strength .
2.40
„ invalided . .
. . . . . .
6;
„ „
.
84
„ sent on sick leave
14;
„ „
.
1.97
„ of days spent in hospital 14,210; per admission .
9.18 ; per man of total strength . 20.07
„ „
on sick leave 751; per man . . 53.64;
„ „
.
1.06
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . .
21.13
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— The causes of sickness in cantonments at Mooltan
have been so amply described in previous reports that further reference to them is here unneces
- s a r y ; b u t t o t h e s e s o m e d i s e a s e s i n c i d e n t a l t o a c t i v e s e r v i c e h a v e t h i s y e a r b e e n s u p e r a d d e d .
Blistered feet produced by badly fitting shoes have furnished a considerable number of admis
- s i o n s ; d y s e n t e r y a n d d i a r r h o e a a l s o f u r n i s h e d a l a r g e n u m b e r o f a d m i s s i o n s . I n t h e c a u s a t i o n o f
these diseases several independent agents seemed to be factors .; impure water at several camps
had, in my opinion, a powerful effect in the production of these diseases. Unsanitary. camps, hard
work, meals taken at uncertain and irregular intervals, and insufficient covering of the abdo
-minal walls, in my opinion, tended in the same way. Pneumonia, bronchitis, catarrh, produced
altogether by insufficient clothing in a very severe climate, furnished an unusually high number
of admissions.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Pneumonia caused 8 casualties; remittent fever
2 ; diarrhœa 2 ; dysentery 1 ; phthisis 1; meningitis 1; ague 1; and 1 man died on recruiting
duty, cause unknown.
XXI. Special observations and remarks.— I am of opinion that native regiments serving in
Beloochistan and Southern Afghanistan require, in addition to the ordinary winter clothing and
bedding in use in India, a posbteen and a second good English blanket.
Inspection.—There was no inspection of this regiment during the year.
Principal
causes of
sickness.
E1