93
CABUL EXPEDITIO
N .
The Regiment marched out of Quetta en route to the front on January 1st without a man
in hospital, four only being left behind sick, and there were no admissions into hospital up to
the time of the Regiment reaching Kandahar. On the arrival of the Regiment there it was
medically inspected, and the inspecting Officer remarked "that it was the first Regiment he
had ever inspected in which he had not sent men into hospital from the ranks."
From the 1st January to 31st March, during which time the Regiment was continually
on the march, and fought an action, and for two weeks during the period had only 4/5 5
a n d ½ 9 / 6
minimum nights in bed respectively, the rate per cent. of daily sick was 2.2 per cent.
The chief causes of admissions during the period were fever, wounds received in action, and
diseases of the respiratory system.
From 1st April to 30th June the rate was 3.0 per cent.
From 1st July to 30th September the rate was 5.1 per cent., and during the period fever,
diarrhœa, and pneumonia were prevalent, and the Regiment suffered from an epidemic of
cholera, and the continued hard work began to tell on the men.
From 1st October to 1st December the rate was 2.6 per cent.
It was only found necessary to send sixteen men on sick leave and to invalid five during
the year.
From the above it will be seen that the health and condition of the men were excellent,
under the circumstances, up to the end of June. During the month of July, August, and
September the health of the Regiment was reduced owing to the prevalence of fever, diarrhœa,
and pneumonia, and to the continued hard work it had undergone. An epidemic of cholera
also occurred in the month of August. However, during the months of October, November,
and December the health of the men greatly improved, and now the men are in capital condi
-
tion and health.
The physique of the men is good, as I think is clearly shown by the health of the
Regiment during the campaign.
9. The climate of Jacobabad, where the depôt was stationed during the year, differs
considerably from the climate of Beluchistan and Afghanistan,
where the majority of the Regiment served during the same
period. The former has a very severe and trying hot season,
and a cold season a moderate severity, the thermometer rarely falling below the freezing
point; the latter have a severe cold season, the thermometer falling nightly several degrees
below the freezing point during several months of the year; falls of snow and bitter cold
winds occur, and the alternations in temperature are great. The heat of the hot season was
not excessive, and the nights very fairly cool. Dust-storms are of frequent occurrence. The
climate is dry, the rainfall during the year was 2.65, rain falling on the first six months of the
year, the others being rainless.
Jacobabad is well known for its malarious climate. Beluchistan and Afghanistan are not
free from this evil, as is shown by the prevalence of fever during the months of August,
September, and October.
The following table will show the prevalence of different diseases under the two climates,
but at the same time, it must be remembered, that a large majority of the men at the depôt
were recruits new to military life and the climate of Jacobabad, and that those serving in
Beluchistan and Afghanistan had been stationed nearly continuously at Jacobabad, and that
they were, during the year, on active service and doing very hard work.
Return showing the rate per cent. to average strength of admissions (total and principal diseases)
at Jacobabad and in Beluchistan and Afghanistan during the year 1879.
Jacobabad.
Beluchistan and
Afghanistan.
Total admissions . . .
131.7
125.6
Ague . . .
94.1
37.1
Diarrhœa . . .
1.2
20.5
Dysentery . . .
8.7
8.7
Pneumonia . . .
2.5
5.0
Bronchitis . . .
. . . 2.7
Ulcers . . .
6.2
2.7
Boils . . .
3.7
2.5
Conjunctivitis . . .
. . . 1.1
Influence of climate or local
circumstances on health.