Principal
causes of
sickness.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
124
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARM'S OF BENGAL,
Marches and
service.
Hospital.
XIII. Marches and service. —The regiment commenced its march from Rawal Pindi on
the morning of the 16th October for Kohat. Remaining at the latter station from the 23rd
October to 8th November, it proceeded on to Thull, leaving 33 sick men (mostly fever cases) at
the native general hospital, Kohat, for treatment, arriving at Thull on November . 16th. An
excellent encamping ground was selected, situated on an elevated plateau, couple of hundred
feet above the river, dry, well sheltered from cold winds by surrounding high hills, and in close
proximity to good drinking water. The regiment remained in this good encamping ground until
November 23rd, when it was moved down to the banks of the Koorum river to guard a bridge
that had been thrown over the same. On the 7th December, the regiment crossed the Koorum
river, and went on three marches to Hazir Pir Ziarut, haulting at the latter place until the end
of the year. Six sick men were left at the native general hospital, Thull. Up to the time the
regiment crossed into foreign territory, the men provided themselves with food. The supplies
were sufficient in quantity, and of good quality. Immediately after the passage of the Koorum
river, the regiment obtained its rations from the Commissariat Department, On medical recom-
m e n d a t i o n , t h e S i k h s w e r e a l l o w e d a d r a m o f r u m t w i c e a w e e k , o n p a y m e n t f o r t h e s a m e .
The rations allowed by Government to each sepoy is ample, and unless the men are working
hard, I doubt if they can get through the whole of it. As regards the camp-followers, a very
great improvement in their condition commenced soon after getting free rations, and this was
noticed more particularly amongst the kahars. These latter, on arrival at Thull from Benares
and other down-country districts, were in a miserable condition, and many seemed more fit to
be carried than to carry other people. The number of dandies sanctioned by Government for
each regiment was 10 per cent. of strength. This has been found ample. When the kahars
are not required for the carriage of the sick, &c., there is ample work found for them by the
Commissariat Department.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital of the 21st Regiment, Punjab Native Infantry, at Rawal
Pindi, is all that could be desired. It is large, well ventilated, in excellent repair, and fairly
lighted. The hospital equipment is complete, and in good order. There is ample accommoda-
tion for the hospital assistants, medical pupils, and servants. Since the regiment left canton-
ments, the hospital has been composed of 1½ sepoy's pals, and this has been found sufficient.
One bell tent has been provided for the two hospital assistants,—medicines, &c., being kept in
the same. A sufficient number of bell-tents has been furnished for the hospital servants and
the whole of the kahars, not more than 20 of the latter occupying each tent.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—By far the largest number of cases admitted were for
ague (a) ; next in frequency comes successively blistered-feet, boils, dysentery, diarrhœa, and
bronchial catarrh.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality. —Only seven deaths occurred in the regiment during
the year, and of these three died outside the regimental hospital—one was that of a sepoy who
died suddenly in the lines. A post-mortem examination shewed the cause of death to be due to
aneurism of the arch of the aorta. The second was that of a subadar, who died whilst on
command at Fort Attock. A post-mortem examination shewed (a ) cystic disease of kidneys,
(b) weak, dilated, fatty heart. The third was that of a sepoy who had been suffering from an
enlarged spleen and general debility. He was sent away on four months' sick-leave, and died at
his home. The actual. cause of this man's death is not known. The four cases that died in the
regimental hospital were as follows :—phthisis, chronic diarrhœa, acute dysentery, and lobular
. pneumonia occurring in an old and worn-out Jemadar at camp Hazir Pir.
Recommenda
tions.
XX. Recommendations. —On the march of the regiment on field service an issue of rum
periodically was recommended for the three Sikh companies, which was carried out. Thick,
long, padded, flannel coats were recommended to be furnished to all men on night duty, to be
worn under the great-coat. These were supplied to the number of 150. They are a great boon
to the men on sentry and piequet duty on these bitterly cold nights.
Note.—There was no inspection of this regiment
.
12th Bengal Cabatry—Jh
elum.
Medical
Officer.
I. Medical Officer.— T h e
regiment was in medical charge of Surgeon-Ma-
jor F. G. Constant through-
out
the year.
Location and
movements.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. or STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1873
. Peshawar, Nov. 1872
.
220.
1.5
4.6
1874
.
Ditto
•
•
•
1 5 6 .
1.09
4.1
1875
.
Ditto
•
•
•
1 7 7 . 3 5
2.4
3.69
1876
. Jhelum, March 1876 .
102.78
.26
2.61
1877
.
Ditto
•
. •
50.69
.87
1.53
Average
.
141.36
1.22
3.30
1878
. Jhelum ; marched on ac-
tive service in Afghan-
istan, 26th September.
182.78
.87
3.53
II. Location and movements.—
The regiment was located at Jhe-
lum till the end of September and
supplied no detachments. On the
26th of this month it marched viâ
Rawal Pindi to Kohat, to join the
Koorum column collecting. at the
latter place for the expedition to
Kabul. On the 16th October the
regiment reached the encamping.
ground of Togh in the Meeranzai
valley, about 30 miles west of Ko-
hat, where it remained till the
18th November, on which day a
forward movement was made, and