61
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
3 . T h e l i n e s , w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o a v a i l a b l e s p a c e , v e n t i l a t i o n , b a z a a r , n e i g h b o u r i n g v i l l a g e s ,
drainage, and tanks, are precisely as described in last year's
report on the 2nd Grenadier Regiment. The conservancy
and sanitary arrangements are, in my opinion, most satisfactory.
4. Condensed water is supplied by Government for drinking and culinary purposes and
well water for other purposes. The quantity of each seems to
be sufficient for the fighting men, but the lesser allowance
dealt out to the public followers might be increased with advantage. Government supplies
the troops with rations sufficient in quantity and of fairly good quality. The ordinary red
coat, woollen forage cap, with white puggree and blue trowsers, are worn at present; in
the hot weather a white American-drill patrol coat will take the place of the red. A better
protection for the head would seem called for, and suggestions for an improvement in this
respect are under consideration.
5. The parade and guard duties, on which the troops are usually engaged, do not seem
to influence their health injuriously. Gymnastics have not
been practised by the troops since the arrival of the regiment in
Aden, nor have they had any amusement for the same period. Some of the men are en
-
gaged in shoe-making, tailoring, and carpentering in leisure hours, and a workshop is
being instituted.
6. The hospital has recently been reconstructed. It is well situated in an open space,
exposed to the breeze, with no unpleasant surroundings, and has
through ventilation by means of doors and windows, abundant
accommodation, a large amount of shade on the northern aspect secured by means of a
double verandah, a plinth of about 3 feet, and the superstructure is of excellent material
solidly put together. The conservancy continues to be of a most satisfactory nature. The
Government supply of water is sufficient for sick fighting men, but scarcely so for the public
followers.
7. The sickness, mortality, and invaliding for the past year in percentages were
—
treated to strength 59.2, deaths to strength 0.6, deaths to
treated 1.1. The daily average of sick was 11.1, and the
daily average proportion per cent. of sick to strength 1.8. The greatest amount of
sickness occurred in September, when there were 55 admissions, half of which was from
ague; and the least in August, when the admissions fell to 13. In Belgaum as well
as here in Aden fever was constantly the greatest factor in the aggregate of sickness;
of other diseases none was very prevalent, and individual notice is, therefore, unnecessary.
7 deaths in and out of hospial occurred among the fighting men: 1 was from diarrhœa in April
—the man being on leave, 1 from apoplexy in June in the regi
-
mental lines, 1 from cholera in August—the man being on leave,
3 from cholera in September, and 1 from pneumonia in December. 27 men were invalided.
Cholera was the principal cause of mortality. 6 of the 7 who died were Hindus, and the
other a Mussulman.
8 . T h e r a i n f a l l i n B e l g a u m u p t o t h e 2 3 r d O c t o b e r w a s 6 1 i n c h e s 1 7 c e n t s , a n d i n
Aden, from the 11th November to date, 53 cents. An increase
of ague seems to be the immediate effect of rain in Aden.
9. Of epidemic diseases among the troops there were 2 cases of small-pox—1 in
February and the other in March. Of chicken-pox 12 cases
—
2 in January, 5 in February, 3 in March, and 2 in May. Of
measles 3 cases—1 in February and 2 in April. Of cholera 4 cases—one in August and
3 in September.
10. Among the children of the regiment there were 230 primary vaccinations; of these
169 were males. 182 were over and 48 under 1 year of age.
Among the children of followers there were 15 primary vac
-
cinations; of these 5 were males, and all were above 1 year of age. All the operations were
successful.
11. The men of the 6th Regiment are tall, well-proportioned and lithe, and enjoy pretty
good health, so far as my experience of them entitles me to speak. The men have enjoyed a
comparative immunity from sickness during the past year; and if we exclude the deaths from
cholera—which may be considered, so to speak, accidental—the mortality was very slight
indeed.
H. M.'s 12th Regiment N. I.
DHARWAR.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major C. F. OGILVIE, M.D.; Strength, 685.
1. During the year the regiment has been stationary. The remaining two-thirds
of the regiment have been moved from the old condemned
lines to the new.
B 66—p
Lines.
Water, Rations, &c.
Duties, &c.
Hospital.
Sickness, &c.
Deaths.
Rainfall.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Location and Movement of
Corps.