General Health and Physique,
Recruiting.
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY. 47
three days out from Málegaon the weather was cool and pleasant; cloudy and oppressive
weather was then experienced. The change was followed by an increase of the sick list,
admissions from fever became frequent, and a few cases of conjunctivitis occurred. During
the return march to Nagar, between the 20th and 25th December, the admissions from fever
were very numerous.
6. 13 cases remained in hospital at the commencement of the year. The admis--
sions were 517; of these 135 were re-admissions; giving 382
as the actual number of persons treated during the year. The
admissions and percentage of treated to strength were consider--
ably higher than in the previous year, as under:—
1874.
1875.
Admitted
334
517
Percentage of treated to strength
54.3
87.17
The increase of sickness occurred chiefly in the last three months of the year whilst the
regiment was under canvas at the Camp of Exercise at Poona and on the march to and from
thence. Of 231 cases of febricula and ague during the year, 98 were admitted in December.
1 Punjabee died of cholera. 5 men were sent to their homes for different periods for
change. 13 were invalided; with one exception they all had served for periods en-
-titling them to pension, their services averaging nearly 21 years—the longest time served
being 32, the shortest 17 years. The causes of unfitness for further service were:—1
d e a f n e s s , 1 v a r i c o s e v e i n o f l e g s , 1 e p i l e p s y , 1 c h r o n i c e n c e p h a l i t i s ( s i n c e d e a d ) , 1 a s t h m a , 2 c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
syphilis, 3 chronic rheumatism, 3 debility from age and service. 1 Native officer and 6
privates were otherwise discharged.
7. As already remarked, a very large proportion of the cases of ague and febricula
occurred during the last quarter of the year when the men
were under canvas, and due, in my opinion, in a great measure to
the insufficient protection afforded by the present form of tents in use for sepoys: the tent
walls do not reach the ground by about a foot, and exposes the men to the cold and wind
at night. Ganja-smoking and opium-eating continue pregnant sources of ill-health, and the
effect of spirit-drinking in the ranks came more frequently under observation than formerly.
8. The influence of rainfall on the sick list was shown by an increase of febrile disorders,
chiefly ague and fabricula, immediately subsequent to the first
heavy falls, the admissions from these complaints numbering
23 in July, whilst in June they were but 7.
9. Cholera made its appearance in the sadder bazaar in April, the first case occurring
on the 20th. On the 4th of May the mother of a sepoy living with
her son in the lines was attacked. She was at once removed
to the old hospital building at the opposite end of the bazaar now in use as an isolation ward,
and the house in the line closed and disinfected. A sepoy of the regiment was attacked on
the 24th; and died on the 28th May. These were the only 2 cases that occurred in the
lines. Cases continued to occur amongst Natives in the bazaar and other parts of camp until
the end of September
10. 69 children of the regiment have been vaccinated during the year.
11. The physique and general health of the corps conti--
nues good.
12. 19 recruits were enlisted. Their average height was
5 feet 5 inches, and their chest measurement over 33 inches.
Detachment H. M.'s 4th Regiment N. I. and Staff and Details.
ASIRGARH.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major F. R. O'KEARNEY; Strength, 137.
1. The detachment 4th Regiment N. I. (Rifles), as referred to in last year's report, was
quartered here from the 1st January to the 18th December; it
left for Poona, and thence marched to head-quarters at Satara.
On the same date it was relieved by another detachment of the
same corps; strength, 148 men. With the exception of a monthly escort party to Burhan--
pur, there has been no detachment duty.
2. The annual mean of highest and lowest temperature, as given by relf-registering
thermometer, was 83.63 and 76.08 respectively; the mean daily range was 7.54. The num-
- b e r o f d a y s r a i n f e l l w a s 7 9 ; t h e a m o u n t c o l l e c t e d , 3 9 . 9 3 i n c h e s .
Sickness, Mortality, and Invalid--
ing.
Principal Causes of Sickness.
Influence of Rainfall,
Epidemics.
Location and Movement of
Corps.