CABUL EXPEDITION.
99
H. M.'s 19th Regiment N. I.
BOLAN PASS.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major W. E. CATES, Surgeon D. A. GOMES,
and Surgeon-Major J . ARNOTT, M.D.
Average Strength . . .
842
Deaths in Hospital . . .
66
Do. present . . .
826
Do. out of Hospital . . .
3
Admissions . . .
1,612
Invalided . . .
57
Daily Sick . . .
39.4
Sick Leave . . .
8
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent to Average Strength
present of
Admissions.
Daily Sick.
D e a t h s i n H o s p i t a l .
1876 . . .
Sholapur . . .
51.6
1.7
0.5
1877 . . .
D o . . . .
117.1
5.2
1.4
1878 . . .
Kurrachee . . .
182.6
3.6
1.7
Average . . .
117.1
3.5
1.2
1879 . . .
Bolan Pass . . .
195.1
4.7
7.9
1. The Regiment was on field service during the whole of the year under report, and at
all times detachments of greater or less strength were absent
from head-quarters. On the 1st January 1879 the head-quarters
were at Jacobabad, and the strength, about 550, with a sick list of 39, of which 19 were cases
of malarious fever. Various detachments were sent to work on the road from. Jacobabad to
Dadur viâ Bagh, while the head-quarters, numbering a little more than 300 of all ranks,
proceeded on January 15th, 1879, viâ Mussaffur Shahapur, Chutta, Poolajee, Lehri,
Mull, and Mittree to Dadur, where they arrived on Saturday, January 25th, 1879. During this
march the sickness was about 5 per cent of the strength, and about one-half of the cases were
ague.
The head-quarters remained at Dadur till February 27th, the men during this time
being employed on escort duties and working on roads. The sickness was moderate. On
February 27th the head-quarters marched to Kundilani in the Bolan Pass, and on the
following day to Kirta, at which place it remained till March 8th. The health during this
time was good. On March 9th the Regiment proceeded to Bibinani, and remained there four
days. And at Abigoom, the next station, the Regiment remained eight days. At neither of
these places was there any unusual sickness. At Mach the Regiment remained from March
21st to April 10th, and was healthy. From Mach the Regiment proceeded to Dozan Nullah,
at which it is still stationed.
During May the sick list averaged about 5 per cent. In June there was a great increase
of sickness, the sick list running up to upwards of 10 per cent of strength, and there were
28 deaths, chiefly from cholera and diarrhœa. In July much sickness from hepatic affections
and jaundice : 14 deaths, 1 from cholera and 6 from diarrhœa, but towards the end of the
month the health improved. In August there was a marked improvement, and only one death.
In September and to the end of the year there was a steady improvement, and only three
deaths occurred, viz., ague and pneumonia one, ague and congestion of lungs one, and remittent
fever one.
2. The country between Jacobabad and Dadur is an alluvial plain, flooded during the
rainy season by overflow of the Nari and other rivers and their
tributaries. It is, with the exception of the desert between
Burshori and Kassim-ke-Joke, more or less cultivated, cotton and jowaree being the chief
products, and the waste land has a moderate growth of brushwood.
The water-supply is deficient and of bad quality. At Nilial-ke-Gote the only source up
to October last was from some kutcha wells, the surroundings of which were in anything but
good sanitary condition, and the water was scanty. At Burshori the water had an offensive
smell and taste, but I believe a supply is now obtained by a canal from the Nari. At
Location and movements.
Lines and surroundings.