XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment :—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 646.29
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
59.05
Total
.
. 705.34
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Inspection.
PRESIDENCY DISTRICT. 9
instead of stopping at the ankle as at present. It would thus answer the purpose; of a stock-
ing, and prevent much of the rubbing and consequent blistering that now occurs. A strap
and buckle would also be an improvement on the present foot-lace. During the year 11 men
were admitted into hospital for blistered feet,—1.5 per cent.
XI. Duty. —This consists of the usual drills, parades and musketry practice, and is by
no means excessive. The nights in bed for the various ranks were as follows :—
Native Officers
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 7
Havildars
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 19
Naicks
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
8.25
Buglers
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 14
Sepoys
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
10.25
Duty.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
O F
Daily
average
number of
sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis- s i o n s . Deaths.
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Bhagulpore 1st Jany. 1878 31st Dec. 1878 509.41
449
8
15.40 88.14 1.57
3.02
Detachment at Nya Dumka
Ditto .
.
Ditto .
. 136.88
91
...
3.47 66.48
...
2.53
TOTAL
.
...
...
646.29
540
8
18.87 83.55
1.24 2.92
Number of deaths in hospital 8; out of hospital 6; total
14; per cent. of total strength .
.
1.98
„ invalided
.
.
.
.
.
.
22;
„
„
.
.
3.12
„ sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
19;
„
.
.
2.69
„ of days spent in hospital 6,735; per admission .
12.47; per man of total strength
.
.
9.55
,, on sick leave 2,131; per man
. 112.16;
„
.
.
3.02
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
. 12.57
The general health of the men has undoubtedly improved during the two
years' residence at Bhagulpore. Agues have greatly decreased. The daily average
of sick was almost identical in 1877 and 1878, but the deaths of 1878 rose to
1.98 from cholera. As in former years, the admissions from ague were much
in excess of any other type of sickness. Dr. Nixon mentions the next cause of
admission to have been chronic rheumatism, which, he says, reached the extra-
ordinarily high number of 49 admissions,—"a figure which I believe capable
of considerable reduction." While fully admitting the ordinary application
of the latter remark, it is to be remembered that the 5th Native Infantry were
but lately convalescent, and had to a great extent been saturated with malaria
at Meerut in 1873 and 1874.
General health.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality. —The mortality of the year comprises
cholera 5, enteric fever 1, obstruction of the bowels 1, ulcer of the stomach 1;
and in addition 6 deaths occurred out of hospital.
Inspection. —Deputy Surgeon-General R. Cockburn inspected the regiment
on the 26th February 1879, and found the hospital, establishment and equip-
ment serviceable and efficient. Mr. Cockburn was especially satisfied with the
cleanliness, comfort and room of the hospital buildings. The medical subor-
dinates received a few words of commendation. With the exception of the
cholera which took place in December, there was nothing in. the sickness,
invaliding and mortality of the regiment during the year to call for particular
notice. The general physique of the corps is good, that of the Sikh Companies
at Nya Dumka especially so.
C