CABUL EXPEDITION. 103
15. On field service a Regiment is much broken into detachments; some increase of
the hospital establishment is therefore desirable. When this
Regiment was ordered on field service the Medical Officer was
ordered to indent for dandies at the rate of 10 per cent. of
strength; bearers 4 per dandy, and a certain proportion of muccadums. This amount of
sick carriage would not have been superfluous if the Regiment had been sickly on the march
or been engaged with the enemy. In a country where local carriage is not obtainable, and
where, as for instance when we left Dozan, it may be impossible to leave any sick behind, sick
carriage should be provided for at least five per cent. of strength. Dandies, though in some
respects and for some cases objectionable, are from their lightness preferable to doolies. The
doolies we have weigh about 140 lbs., and I have found that six ordinary bearers will not
carry a sick man over a march of ten miles or more in good time; they eventually straggle
in, but the sick are on the road without proper food, medicines, or attendance for a length of
time, which must be more or less injurious. There should be, I think, eight bearers per dooly,
and six per dandy, and 5 per cent. to replace those who may fall sick. The bearers should
be carefully selected men. Many of those sent up to this Regiment in December are not
strong enough to carry a dooly or dandy.
The field panniers are excellent, but would be improved if iron rings were attached to
them, by which they could, by means of ropes, be slung on a mule. The straps and buckles
get soon worn out.
I regret the incompleteness of this report, which, however, is unavoidable, as I had not
an opportunity of obtaining from Surgeon-Major Cates any details from which to supplement
the facts in the hospital records. It has seemed to me right to compile a report, however
imperfect, of the Regiment during the year as a contribution towards the medical history of
the campaign.
16. The hospital establishment has worked well since I took charge of the Regiment,
and I beg to bring to notice the energy and ability of Hospital Assistant Gopal Cuddum.
H. M'.S 30th Regiment N. I.
QUETTA.—In medical charge of Surgeon K. R. KIRTIKAR.
Average Strength
730
Deaths in Hospital 40
Do. present 723
Do. out of Hospital 4
Admissions 1,620
Invalided 38
Daily Sick 62.5
Sick Leave 12
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
present of
Admissions. Daily Sick.
Deaths in H o s p i t a l .
1876
Jacobabad
248.8
6.0
7.2
1877
Do.
139.3
4.1
2.1
1878
Mitre, Jacobabad, & Quetta.
230 .9
5.4
0.5
Average
206. 3
5.1
3.3
1879
Quetta
224.0
8.6
5.5
1. At the commencement of the year 1879 the head-quarters and Left Wing of the
Regiment, consisting of 344 men, were at Quetta under canvas.
The Right Wing, 260 strong, was at Khelat, and the depôt,
consisting of 97 men, was at Jacobabad. In the months of August and September, small parties
of the Left Wing relieved similar parties of the Right Wing till the wings at Quetta and
Khelat had changed places. Thereatter the wings remained in their respective places till
the end of the year. Both the wings have from time to time furnished treasure, transport,'
and other escorts between Kandahar and Dadur. Small detachments from Khelat were
also furnished during the year as Commissariat guards at Tiri and Mustoong.
Requirements and recommen-
dations.
Location and movements.
Lines and surroundings.
2. From the time the Regiment arrived here on the 3rd:
of November 1878 to the 1st of April 1879, the men were under
canvas in the Fort.