SAUGOR DISTRICT.
41
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment :—
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
Present
. . . . . .
.
. 688.58
Absent
.
.
.
.
. . . . .
.
. 11.75
Total . . 700.33
PERIOD.
TOTAL NUMBER
O F
Daily
average number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
STATION.
From
To
Strength. Admis- sions. Deaths.
Admis- sions Deaths. Daily
average sick.
Head-quarters at Saugor, Jub-
bulpore and Nagpore .
1st Jan. 1878 31st Dec. 1878 683.70 523
6 15.13 76.49 .87 2.21
Left wing at Saugor . . 4th Nov. „
Ditto . 249.50
88
2 14.80 2.00 5.13 5.93
Detachment at Lallitpur, Se-
roncha and Chanda.
4th Nov. „
Ditto . 453.14 107
4 15.27 6.12 2.28 3.36
TOTAL
. .
. . .
. . . 688.58 718
12 45.20 104.27 1.74 6.56
Number of deaths in hospital 12; out of hospital 0; total .
12 ; per cent. of total strength . . 1.71
„ invalided . .
. . . . . . 27 ; „ „
. . 3.85
„ sent on sick leave . . .
. . . . 2 ; „
„
.
.28
„ of days spent in hospital 16,490 ; per admission . 22.96 ; per man of total strength . . 23.55
„
„
on sick leave 327 ; per man . . 163.50 ; „
„
.46
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength .
. 24.01
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—The largest number of deaths (4) were due to
pneumonia. Then came 3 from ague, complicated either with bronchitis or debility. One
death occurred from each of the following diseases : small-pox, hydrophobia, beri-beri, dysentery,
and necrosis of the jaw.
XVIII. Epidemics.—In January an epidemic of pneumonia took place. The Royal Scots
suffered the most and lost several men. The cavalry were also attacked. In this regiment
four men were attacked, three of the cases proving rapidly fatal. The fourth was a long time
convalescing. Then came an outbreak of small-pox, chiefly attacking the families. With
this there was also an attack of chicken-pox, and, in spite of what Dr. Erasmus Wilson says to
the contrary, I am of opinion that these two diseases are totally distinct. In proof of what I
state, the following case may be cited : Being under the impression that chicken-pox might be
only a modified form of small-pox, I allowed the two sets of cases to be kept together. A little girl
of four years of age was admitted with about 20 small pustules on her face and body, which first
made their appearance in their popular form after 24 hours' fever. She had good marks of
vaccination. In the course of a few days these pustules dried up and fell off, when she was
discharged, only to be readmitted in three days for small-pox, which, though tolerably mild, kept
her in hospital for nearly a month. The small-pox epidemic was succeeded by one of cholera; but
fortunately only three solitary cases occurred in the regiment. These were mild attacks, and all
recovered. Both the Royal Scots and the battery of artillery were attacked by the disease, the
former losing 13 or 14 men. They had to be kept in camp for close upon three months. The
left wing has again been attacked by small-pox from which they are not yet free.
XIX. Vaccination.—Vaccination in the regiment is carried out very fairly. The men
offer no opposition, but unless hunted up will not of their own accord bring up their children.
During the last epidemic they saw for themselves the very great advantage of vaccination ; for
though several who had been successfully vaccinated contracted small-pox, the cases were so mild
and unattended by deaths that the dullest could not help being struck. Number vaccinated
during the year 103; successful 93, failed 10.
Inspection.—The regiment was inspected on the 12th January 1878 by
Deputy Surgeon-General R. H. Perkins. The report is on the whole satisfac
-
tory. Mr. Perkins draws attention to the unwholesome practice of private
latrines being allowed in each hut enclosure, for the convenience of the nu
-
merous families belonging to a Madras sepoy regiment.
20th Madras Aat. Entq.—Kd.- Qrs. and Left wing—Banda.
Medical Officers.— T h e r e g i m e n t w a s u n d e r t h e m e d i c a l c h a r g e o f S u r g e o n .
P. Thompson, Madras Medical Service, who died on 12th June ; Surgeon
T. Crofts, Bengal Medical Service, relieved in September by Surgeon E. Ferrand,
Madras Medical Service, relieved 24th November by Surgeon S. L. Dobie,
Madras Medical Service.
X. Clothing.—The uniform is adapted to the change of the seasons. The majority of the
Clothing.
men have provided themselves with flannel shirts and even with socks for the winter.
L
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Inspection.
Medical
Officers.