PRESIDENCY DISTRICT.
3
northern extremity of the plain, and opposite a large town called Lalpoora, on the left bank
of the river. It is a mud fort, about 400 yards square, with walls of great thickness. There
are rows of mud barracks built into the walls; these are occupied by :the troops. When the
place was first taken possession of, there were a number of broken-down buildings in the
middle of the square. These were pulled down, and the materials used for filling up unsightly
holes, which disfigured the place and would doubtless have added to its insalubrity. On the
southern side of the fort, where the chief gateway is situated, a small part of the square is
divided from the rest by a wall and row of huts. In this part the bazar is located and the
baggage animals are picketed.
IX. Diet. —Since arrival at Jumrood, free rations have been allowed both to fighting-men
and camp-followers.
The scale for fighting-men was—
1
1 S e e r A t t
a.
2 C h i t t a c k s D h a l .
1 Chittack Ghee.
1 / 3 C h i t t a c k S a l t .
For camp-followers 12 chittacks atta and ½ Chittack ghee is given, the others being the
same as for fighting-men.
I consider it would have been advisable to give say 6 or 8 chittacks fresh or compressed
vegetables every alternate day, instead of dhal; fresh vegetables, however, have always been
procurable and have been purchased freely by the men, so no bad effects have resulted as yet
from the restricted diet.
X. Clothing.—On service the men wear a khakee coloured cotton jumper over their
ordinary cold weather uniform and under-clothing. As the weather gets warmer, of course, less
clothing will be worn under the jumper. Knickerbockers and puttees are worn. The brown
leather country shoe described in last year's report seems to answer well. They do not
last long in marching over rough ground, but they do not cause sore feet. Very few cases
have occurred during the year. The cross belts and pouches, referred to last year as objection-
able, have been changed, and white leather belts of the valise pattern have been supplied. They
appear to answer very well. The great-coats are in many cases too short; the men are all
very tall and probably the great-coats were supplied in proportions suitable enough for a regi-
ment composed of men of the average height. Each man has received, free from Government,
one blanket, one warm jersey, two pairs socks, one pair warm gloves. These articles, however
were not received until late in December, and the blanket was of inferior quality and small
size. One water-proof sheet was also to be allowed to each man, but up to the present time has
not been received.
XIV. Hosipatal —Two
sepoys' tents have furnished ample accommodation for the sick. A
large barrack inside fort Dakka was at one time occupied as a hospital; it was found so dar
k a n d u n c o m f o r t a b l e t h a t i t w a s d e e m e d a d v i s a b l e t o r e m o v e t h e s i c k i n t o t e n t s a g a i n , a n d t h e
men themselves appeared to like the tents best and to recover more quickly Plenty of straw
is allowed for bedding. The hospital latrine is conveniently situated, and the dry-earth system is carried out in it.
Diet.
Clothing,
Hospital.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment :—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 621.56
Absent
.
.
.
. . . . . . . .
88.20
Total
.
. 709.76
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength
TOTAL NUMBE R
OF Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admi s -
sions. Deaths.
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Alipore marching Fort Dakka 1st Jan. 1878 31st Dec. 1878 603.36
881
6
19.48 146.01 .99
3.23
Depôt at Jhelum
. . 25th Oct. „
Ditto
...
91.5
47
5
12.90 27641 29.30 14.09
TOTAL
.
...
...
621.56
928
11
21.69 149.30 1.77
3.49
Number of deaths in hospital 11; out of hospital 8; total
19; per cent. of total strength
. .
2.68
,,
invalided
.
.
.
.
.
. . .
21;
„
, ,
2.95
,,
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
31;
„
/I
.
.
4.79
„
of days spent in hospital 7,918; er admission . 8.53; per man of total strength .
.
11.15
,,
„
on sick leave 4,262; per man
125.35;
„
, ,
6.00
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
. 17.15
XXI. Special Observations. —Dandies to the extent of 10 per cent, of strength have been
allowed for the carriage of the sick. There has been no necessity as yet for such a large number;
1
Since the middle of January the quantity of atta has been reduced to 12 chittacks, and compensation in money
is given for the 4 chittacks reduced.
Special obser-
vations,