Food.
Castes.
Daily food of each caste.
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
93
The food of the native soldier varies considerably according to caste. The Sikhs, Purda-
sees, Chutrees, and Brahmins eat no meat, nor fish, nor eggs, nor
anything that has within it the germs of animal life. The Maho-
medans eat any meat, except that of the swine. The Hindoos,
Mah rattas, Madrasees, and Deccanees, can eat fish and any meat, except-
that of the sacred cow. All the other castes and creeds eat any
meat they can procure. The accompanying Form C gives the
daily food of each individual of the various castes, and it appears
sufficient in quantity, providing they actually consumed it ; but I am inclined to think, on
enquiry, that few of them eat so much as is there stated, on account of the custom which pre-
vails amongst the natives of sheltering and feeding many relatives ; the more of these a man
has around him, and sponging on him, the less he can procure for himself. There are
numbers of men with so many dependants that they are compelled to underfeed themselves,
and they are, consequently, so much less fitted for the duties of a soldier. This praiseworthy
effort to support poor relatives by starving themselves, has such an injurious effect on the
stamina of the men, that it should be discouraged on all occasions or altogether prohibited.
The average strength of the regiment at head-quarters for the year
amounted to 472 of all ranks-not including European officers-con-
sisting of about 2 Indo-Britons, 3 Christians, 6 Sikhs, 23 Rajpoots, 38
Mahomedans, 43 Brahmins, 70 Purdasees, 166 Mahrattas, and 121 of other castes. Form D.-The
age, length of service and castes of the regiment at head-quarters is given in the accompany-
ing Forms D and E, and in quinquennial periods, by which it will be seen that those between
15 and 20 years' service are the most numerous ; and the next in numerical strength are those
Average strength of
regiment.
Married, single, and
children.
under six years' service. There are 370 married, and 102 unmarried.
men, and 332 children in the above strength at head-quarters.
There were 650 admissions into hospital from all causes during the year, being 229 more
than last year, although over one-third of the regiment was 'absent
from head-quarters on detachment duty at Burda Chowky and
Dwarka; thus the regiment may be said to have been much more unhealthy than it has been
since 1869, yet there were only three deaths during the year : one
from atrophy ( gradual wasting away without disorganization of any
special gland or texture), the second from remittent fever, and the third from typhoid fever.
The prevailing diseases have been fever, dengue 269 cases, ague 234, conjunctivitis 38,
dysentery 1.4, and boils 13, contusions (including shoebites) 10, chronic rheumatism 5, diarrhea
.5, abscess 4, hernia 3, eczema 3, psoriasis 3, scabies 3, remittent fever 2, typhoid fever 2,
bronchitis 2, phthisis 2, gumboil 2, toenia solium 2, orchitis 2, oedema 2, urticaria 2, burns
and scalds 2, simple cholera 1, syphilis primary 1, scrofula 1, atrophia 1, paralysis 1, trichiasis
1, inflammation of the ear 1, asthma 1, pleurisy 1, quinsy 1, jaundice 1, gonorrhœa 1, epidi dy-
mitis 1, nodes syphilitic 1, ulcer 1, debility 1. These are placed in their order of frequency.
The average daily sick was 141. The proportion of sick per cent. to strength was 140'2
The proportion of admissions to strength per cent. was 137.7. The
proportion of deaths to strength per cent. 0'6. The number invalided
in 1872 was 23, the number enlisted 25, and the number that proceeded on sick certificate for
a change of air was 6.
Form F.
Deaths.
Average daily sick, &c.
Heat associated with
special disease.
The unusual heat this summer was associated with an epidemic
of dengue fever and several fatal cases of heat apoplexy at this
station.
The epidemic of dengue in May and June swept through the cantonment with unusual
virulence, and was most impartial in its attacks, sparing almost none.
The healthy and robust were stricken down in common with the feeble
and the young. Age, sex, and condition, exempted none, and entire households-parents,
children, and their domestic servants-being all prostrated by it at the same time. The
hospitals were overcrowded to an extent seldom witnessed. Guards had to be reduced, and
duty considerably lightened from the difficulty to muster sufficient healthy men. The com-
mencement of an attack of dengue was frequently sudden and without warning-a slight rigor,
a flushed countenance, and an accession of ardent fever and utter helpless prostration, with
Tacking pains in every joint, being the work of an hour. Men were smitten by it while at
meals, when in the act of cheerful conversation, or on duty, who a few minutes previously
'were to all appearance in perfect health. The symptoms at the commencement of an attack
of dengue were most erratic; in some the acute pains were simultaneous with the first flush
of fever ; in others pain was comparatively absent, until the eruption and all febrile symptoms
had vanished and convalescence had commenced ; in many the eruption was the first symp-
24 s
Dengue.