242
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Blistered feet.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
principal decrease was observed in malarial fevers, and was considered due to
the fact that the large number of these cases was caused by the exposure the
regiment was subjected to in maintaining the Duffla blockade from January
to May 1874, as well as, perhaps, to 1875 being a more healthy year than the
one preceding. There was an increase of bowel complaints, which chiefly
occurred in the detachment employed in the Duffla Expedition. There were 92
cases of blistered feet; but the medical officer observes that from the peculiar
urgency with which the Naga Expedition was conducted, with continued forced
marches in the plains at an advanced period of the year, blistered feet were
inevitable. There has been a most satisfactory absence of any kind of serious
disease throughout the year.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality. — S e v e n d e a t h s o c c u r r e d i n h o s p i t a l s , o n l y f o u r o f
which were from ordinary causes. One sepoy died from atrophy of heart whilst serving with the
Duffla Field Force; one from confluent small-pox, a recruit who arrived from Nepaul suffering
from the disease; one from remittent fever in the Sadiya detachment hospital; and one from
dysentery. Three deaths resulted from injuries: 2w e r e c a r r i e d i n m o r t a l l y w o u n d e d i n t h e a f f a i r o f
the 2nd February, and the third was accidental, the man having fallen on his kukrie and divided
the brachial artery, and bled to syncope before he was discovered; he was then taken to hospital
and the vessel at once secured, but he sunk from exhaustion soon afterwards. Nineteen deaths
occurred out of hospital: ten killed in action; one drowned whilst endeavouring to swim a torrent
under fire in the Naga Hills; five recruits died of cholera on their way to join the regiment in
the steamer Prince Albert; and one recruit of small-pox at the same time. One sepoy was
accidentally drowned whilst bathing in the Dibru River; and one sepoy is reported to have died
from fever whilst on recruiting duty.
3rd Regiment Native Infantry—Cachar.
Charge.
Location and
movements.
Topography.
Meteorology.
Surgeon M. D. Moriarty, M.B., has been in charge during the year, and re-
ports as follows:—
II. Location and movements.
— The head-quarters of the regi
- m e n t c o n t i n u e d a t C a c h a r
throughout the year. The de
- t a c h m e n t s , s t r e n g t h 4 1 e a c h ,
which were sent to Chargola and
Allynegar (in the Sylhet dis-
trict) at the end of last year, were
relieved by the 43rd (Assam)
Light Infantry, and returned to
head-quarters on the 19th and
20th March, respectively. A de-
tachment, strength 41, was
stationed at Manipur till 2nd
December, when it rejoined head
- q u a r t e r s . T h i s d e t a c h m e n t w a s r e l i e v e d b u t o n c e d u r i n g t h e y e a r , i n J a n u a r y . A s b e f o r e ,
the outposts of Moniarkhal and Noorband, on the Lushai frontier, were occupied
throughout the year; the strength of either detachment was the same as in last year,
viz., 31 during the hot weather and rains, increased in the cold weather to 51 in the case of
Moniarkhal, and 41 in the case of Noorband. These detachments were relieved three times
during the year, in February, May, and October. It is found to be next to impossible to relieve
them during the rains, owing to the state of the . roads, and Government will not sanction
w a t e r - c a r r i a g e .
III Topography.— T he low elevation of the district in general was painfully demonstrated
in the June and August floods, especially in the latter. Silchar, I believe, is somewhat less than
75 feet above the sea. There was formerly a good deal of grass ("kus-kus") jungle in canton-
ments. This is diminishing year by year; it is no easy matter to eradicate it. In the cold
Weather of 1874-75, a number of young trees were planted along the road which runs through the
northern border of cantonments. They are coming on very well, and will be a great improve-
ment a few years hence.
IV. Meteorology.—The rainfall is said to have been much above the aver
- a g e , a n d w a s r a t h e r u n e q u a l l y d i s t r i b u t e d , h a v i n g b e e n e x c e s s i v e i n t h e
months of June and August. The river Barak and its tributaries overflowed
their banks and flooded the entire country. The lines both at Cachar and at the
outposts escaped from this inundation, but the officers' bungalows were not so
pleasantly situated, as a rise in the flood of but another foot would have neces
- s i t a t e d t h e i r e v a c u a t i o n .
Year.
Station.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths.
D a i l y s i c k .
1870
Meerut, March 1870
185.2
4 . 2 5.9
1871
Do. do.
153
1.6
3.6
1872
Cachar, November 1872 128.3
2.1
2.8
1873
Do. do.
132.3
2.8
3.9
1874
Do. do.
106.6
1.7
3.2
Average
141.1
2.5
3.9
1875
Cachar
129.06
2.57
3.26