95
CABUL EXPEDITION.
Horse was attacked, and the first case among the sowars occurred on 25th August. The
Regiment was moved into cholera camp on the 24th August, six cases having occurred up
to that date; after removal 21 cases occurred, the last case being on 1st September, making
a total of 10 cases and 4 deaths among the fighting men, and a total of 17 cases and 10'
deaths among the followers. The Regiment returned to its former quarters on the 16th
September. Six cases and five deaths occurred among the men, and 3 cases and 3 deaths
among the followers on detachment and outpost duty.
13. As the Regiment has been on service during the year no vaccinations have been
performed at head-quarters, but vaccination has been carried
out at the depot.
14. Five men were invalided during the year; their diseases were as follows:—Deafness
one, lordosis and ankylosis of spine one, general debility three.
Three were between the ages of 20 and 30, and two between 30
and 40. One was under five years' service and four were between 10 and 20 years' service.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Invaliding, and its causes.
Requirements and recommen
-dations.
15. A meat and vegetable ration while on service, or
that a liberal supply of both should be always obtainable by the
men at a cheap rate.
16. During the year the men on service in Afghanistan and Beluchistan have, in a few
instances, suffered from a very obstinate form of diarrhœa, for
which in extreme cases no treatment except change of air
seems to be of any use.
The disease appears to commence with flatulent dyspepsia, which after a time is followed
by diarrhœa, the number of motions passed during the twenty-four hours gradually becoming
more numerous and liquid.
When the man comes to hospital for relief, it is found that he is passing from four to six
motions during the day and night, is somewhat emaciated, and that there is slight jaundice
present. The diarrhœa chiefly occurs after food and at night; the stools are semi-liquid,
light in colour, and in severe cases contain indigested food. Flatulent dyspepsia is generally
complained o
f .
The majority of these cases recover when they are treated early, but if the diarrhœa
becomes established, no treatment seems to have any effect in stopping the disease; the
stools increase in frequency, and now almost invariably contain indigested food, the emacia
-
tions become greater, and there is considerable loss of strength. This state of things may
go on for some months, the diarrhœa may be somewhat checked for a few days, but only to
break out again, and the man gradually dies of asthema.
Quotidian ague was the usual form of malarial disease from which the men suffered
during the year, and was almost invariably accompanied by slight jaundice. Pneumonia
was very fatal, the mortality being 54.1 per cent. Cases occurred in every month of the
year, the greater number occurring in the months of January, March, April, August, and
December.
H. M.'s 1st Grenadier Regiment N. I.
AFGHANISTAN.—In medical charge of Surgeon A. DANE, M.D.
Average Strength . . . 837
Deaths in Hospital . . . 47
Do. present. . . 808
Do. out of Hospital . . . 2
Admissions . . . 2,145
Invalided . . . 10
Daily Sick . . . 31-5
Sick Leave . . . 20
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent to Average Strength present of
Admissions. Daily Sick.
Deaths in
Hospital.
1876 . . .
Ahmedabad . . .
124.1
4.2
1.5
1877 . . .
D o . . . .
94.3
3.3
0.8
1878 . . .
D o . . . .
171.3
3.7
2.2
Average . . .
129.9
3.7
1.5
1879 . . .
Afghanistan . . .
265.4
3.7
5.8
Special observations.