MEERUT DIVISION.
87
Dysentery gives the next largest number, viz., 77; most of these were caused by the exposure
to the.cold climate of the Punjab and Afghanistan. Conjunctivitis gives the next largest
number, viz., 42; 7 less than last year. Then follow in order, diarrhœa 23, primary syphilis 22,
boils 17, mumps 14, phthisis pulmonalis 11. One man received a bullet wound in the leg
while on guard duty near Ali Musjid, fracturing both bones of the leg above the aukle. He
is still under treatment, and a few, days ago I removed two spicula, one an inch and a half long,
of neerosed bone from his leg.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—Of the 20 deaths which took place, 9 were caused
by phthisis pulmonalis. It seems that for some reason Goorkhas and people inhabiting
the lower hills of the Himalayas are subject to this disease. Dr. Allen attributes their
predisposition to it to overcrowding in their homes, dirt,. vicissitudes of climate, irregular
and bad diet. There were 2 cases from dysentery and 2 from splenitis; 1 case died from
remittent fever, 1 man died from the effects of a gunshot wound of the chest received in the
first Bazaar expedition. He lived for eight hours. The hospital-assistant, Julloo Singh, says
that the bullet entered at the right sterno-clavicular joint, passed downwards and backwards,
emerging at the lower border of the left scapula and wounding both lungs. The shot was fired
from a hill above the column as it was defiling along a narrow pass. One man is said to have
died from fibrous concretions in the cavity of the heart and one from embolism of the femoral
artery. One man died from amyloid degeneration of the liver and kidneys.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
XVIII. Epidemics. —There were none during the year. There were two cases of smal
pox, one of whom died, and four cases of chicken-pox.
B e n g a l S a p p e r s a n d M i n e r s — R o o r k e e .
I. Medical Officers .—The head-quarters of the corps were under the
charge of the Medical officers following me-
dical officers in 1878:—Sur-
geon-Major R. T.Lyons,
from 1st January to 7th
August; Surgeon G. J.
Kellie, from 8th August to
20th October; Surgeon-
Major R. F. Hutchinson,
M.D., from 21st October to
17th November; Surgeon H.
M.B., from 18th
November to 31st December
1878; with many detach-
ments under various medical
officers.
I I . Locat i om and move-
men ts.—The regiment, either
by head-quarters or by companies, has been widely moved during the year,
occupying in relief, or on field service, Roorkee, Jowaki, Peshawar, Rawal
Pindi, Cherat, Quetta, Kandahar, Khelati-Ghilzi, Peiwar, Thull, the Khyber
and Jellalabad.
IX. Diet.—Ordinary diet consisted of, in lines, same as last year; on the march and in the
field:—
Atta .
.
.
.
. 3 / 4 seer.
Ghee
.
.
.
. . 1 chittack.
Dhal .
.
.
.
. 2 chittacks.
Salt
.
.
.
.
. 1 / 3 . , ,
Wood purchased by the men.
X. Clothing. —Same as in previous year, with the exception that on service the following
extra articles were supplied:—
1 Blanket.
1 Pair Woollen Mittens.
1 Banian.
2 Pairs „
Socks.
1 Waterproof Sheet.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1873
. Roorkee
.
.
.
92.6
1.4
2.1
1874 . Ditto
.
.
.
130.2
.7
3.6
1875
. Ditto
.
.
.
101.38
.96
2.65
1876
. Ditto
.
.
.
129.29
1.48
3.73
1877
. Ditto
.
.
.
131.12
.79
3.82
Average
.
.
.
116.92
107
3.18
1878
. Marched from Roorkee
on field service on
21st October 1878.
215.32
1.14
5.08
Diet.
Clothing.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
XV.—Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment
Present .
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
. 1026.82
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
. .
. 110.59
Total
.
. 1137.41