Duties, exercises, and amuse-
ments.
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings.
79
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
H. M.’s 28th Regiment N. I .
RAJKOTE:—In Medical charge of Surgeon J. F. KEITH, M.B.
Average Strength
...
678
Do.
Present
612
Admissions
1,542
Daily Sick
40.6
Deaths in Hospital
15
Do. out of do.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
Invalided
18
Sick Leave
35
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions. Daily Sick.
D e a t h s
in H o s p i t a l .
1875
Rajkote
130.3
3.6
2.2
1876
Do.
310.5
3.8
2.1
1877
Do.
60.5
2.4
0.6
Average
100.4
3.3
1.6
1878
Rajkote
251.9
6.6
2.4
1. The regiment was stationed at Rajcote till the 6th December, when Head-quarters.
marched from Rajcote to Surat arriving on the13th December.
The Head-quarters marched from Rajcote to Wadwan, thence
by train to Surat. The Left Wing followed, leaving Rajcote 30th January, and arriving at
Surat on the 7th February 1879. One Detachment, consisting of 82, left Dwarka 1st
January and arrived at Rajcote 14th March 1878. Another detachment left Rajcote 9th
February for Dwarka ; this detachment left Dwarka 25th January 1879 and arrived at Surat
on the 5th February 1879. Another party of 13 men accompanied the Political Agent from
4th January to 31st December.
Location and movements.
The lines and their surround-
ings.
2. The same as in last report.
3. There are three well built latrines, situated at a good distance from the lines, about
due North. During the Monsoon months these are made use of,
but the Station conservancy establishment is very deficient, and
3 t o 4 d a y s ’ a c c u mu l a t i o n f r e q u e n t l y t a k e s p l a c e . I h a v e s e e n t h i s o f t e n h a p p e n a t h o s p i t a l ,
and repeated representations had to be made before its removal was effected. On account of
this difficulty the latrines are abandoned during the dry season and trenches are used instead ;
but they are too far away and would not be reached at night. The conservancy establish-
ment should be rendered efficient at the earliest possible opportunity.
4. Is from wells, and in ordinary seasons is good and abundant. The mode of drawing
_
the water is by leather buckets, which form a source of impurity.
Various impurities always floating in the atmosphere adhere in
large quantities to the damp leather, which in a moist heated atmosphere forms a field for
the production of fungoid elements, which rapidly become developed during the interval the
utensil is not used, and which are washed off directly it is thrown into the well. Again,
there is a large tree over one of the wells, and leaves and bird droppings are continually
falling into the water from it.
5. Vegetables were extremely difficult to procure and very dear. The sepoys suffered,
in consequence, from scurvy, which complicated and intensified
every disease ; and the unusual mortality, I believe, was in a
great measure owing to this complication. The first symptoms appeared as giddiness,
inability to double, a disinclination and want of power for sustained exertion ; neuralgia
and muscular pains in large muscular masses, as in back and calves of legs ; pain in principal
joints, without any swelling. Afterwards scurvy appeared in its true character, giving rise
to subdermic and subaponeurotic effusions of blood, with the usual gum lesions.
6. The duties, exercises, and amusements are of the usual kind. A talimkhana exists
Conservancy.
Water supply.
in the lines, but the men were towards the end of the year,
before leaving Rajcote, so sickly that all parades had to be
suspended for a time.
7. Hospital is a good one, well situated, well ventilated,
clean, and in good repair. Accommodation for hospital estab-
lishment is defective, as has been frequently reported.