Hospital
arrangements.
Recommend-
ations.
96
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL,
I nspection.
in the way of tobacco, goor and opium for the followers ; these were of great service and
much appreciated. At Dadur an extra camel was also sanctioned for rum.
Hospital arrangements. —The kahars, with all the hospital establishment, were immediately
under the medical officer; a minute code of rules for furnishing fatigue parties to lade camels,
strike and pitch tents, pack dandies, dig latrines, &c., were constructed for the kahars.
XX. Recommendations.—In future operations in a climate like southern Afghanistan, I
suggest the necessity of allowing the native soldier carriage for 20 seers in lieu of the 10
allowed during this campaign. I think too that every officer should be entitled to, at least,
one camel, where he is so very far removed from the base of available supply. A limited kit
compelled officers and men alike to endure considerable hardship from severe cold; more espe-
cially at night-time.
Inspection.—The inspection of this regiment took place at Almorah on
11th October 1878. Deputy Surgeon-General J. A. E. Hutchinson, M.D.,
is of opinion that the physique of the men, seen in undress, did not correspond
to what might have been expected, seeing the fine climate the regiment enjoyed.
He thinks more frequent change to the plains in the cold weather, and perhaps
reliefs to other hill-stations at shorter intervals would be an improvement. He
describes the medical arrangements as generally satisfactory.
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
SIRHIND DIVISION.
(INCLUDING THE STATIONS OF UMBALLA AND JULLUNDUR).
Average daily strength present during the year . .
. Cavalry 436.76 Infantry 2631.1
Average daily sick per cent. of average strength . .
. , ,
5.50
„
5.17
Ratio of mortality per cent. of average strength . . . „
1.35
„
2.69
10th Regiment, Bengal Cancers—Umballa.
I. Medical Officers.—The under-mentioned medical officers held charge
of the regiment :—Surgeon-
Major G. Vernon Currie,
from 1st January to 26th
March ; Surgeon C. H Beat-
son, from latter date up to
20th November, when he was
relieved by Surgeon-Major
G. Vernon Currie, who re-
mained in medical charge to
the end of the year, and who
furnishes the report.
II. Location and movements.
— T h e r e g i m e n t w a s s t a t i o n e d a t
Umballa from 1st January to 22nd
October, when it marched to
Hussun Abdool to join the second
division of the Peshawar Valley Field Force. On arrival at Rawal Pindi orders were received
to proceed to Nowshera. The greater portion of the second division having crossed the border,
the regiment reached Nowshera on the 3rd December, and on the 17th idem relieved the 13th
Bengal Lancers at Hoti Mardan, where it remained to the end of the year. A detachment con-
sisting of 126 men under the command of two European officers, was detailed on the 22nd of.
April to join the 9th Bengal Cavalry proceeding with the expeditionary force to Malta. They
returned to India. in November, and rejoined the head-quarters of the regiment at Nowshera on
the 10th of December. All the men, with the exception of three, benefited very much by the
change, excitement and sea-voyage.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT, OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1873 . Nowshera, Nov. 1871 .
127.
. 6 4.1
1874 . Ditto
. . .
180.
1.5
5.3
1875 . Ditto
. . .
108.31
7.06
5.6
1876 . Umballa, Jan. 1876 .
147.51
...
4.47
1877
. Ditto
81.14
. 6 6 2.93
Average . .
128.79
1.96
4.50
1878 . Umballa, marched on ac-
tive service in Afghan-
istan, October 22nd.
152.48
1.35
5.50
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment :—
Present
. . . . . . . . .
.
. 436.76
Absent
. .
. . . . . . .
.
. 77.98
Total .
. 5 1 4 . 7 4