PUNJAB FRONTIER FORCE.
193
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—During the year, the causes of sickness have been
fevers in common with all the stations on the frontier. The present year gave 572 admissions
from the fevers, of which the largest proportion, amounting to 369, occurred during the months
of October, November and December. The months of October and November are the worst
months for fevers. The cause of fever is due to the nature of soil, while the actual proportion
of cases in each year depends on the amount of rainfall. The present year being noted for
small amount of rainfall, the proportion of cases of fever is less than in the previous year; the
number for 1875 was 807, and that for 1876—572 cases. Dysentery ranks next. The number
of admissions from it being 35, while abscess, boil, &c., and other diseases make up the total
number of admissions.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality. —Has been cholera. Six men died out of 8 at-
tacked. The disease prevailed in the month of October. There were four deaths from fevers.
The year is also noted for the few cases of pneumonia, there being only one death from this
cause in the commencement of the year. Anæmia and bronchitis each caused one death.
Secondary syphilis followed with ulceration of the intestines, and a rupture of a vessel in the
brain in a case of bronchial catarrh gave each one case of death, the total deaths in the
hospital being 15.
XVIII. Epidemics. —The year is noted for the prevalence of cholera and small-pox in the
district. Cholera prevailed in the cantonment in the month of October. The exact cause of
the disease could not be traced. It was noticed that two Wuzeeries died of cholera on their
way back to the hills from the weekly fair where cholera was prevailing at the time, and from
whence they came. On the 10th the first case that occurred in the 3rd Punjab Infantry was
the wife of a bunniah living in the bazar; on the 11th the bazar chowdrie was attacked with
cholera. The first case among the men of the regiment occurred on the 13th October about
3 in the morning. The disease did not spread to any extent; only the two days—that is the 14th
and 15th October—cholera was at the worst. The cholera in the 3rd Punjab Infantry was
stopped at once by the removal of the men into tents. The companies which were put into
the tents suffered from fever during the successive week more than the others. The
principal measures adopted were the thorough isolation of the sick from the healthy,
complete disinfection and fumigation with sulphur of the infected barracks and the removal
of the men from them and putting them under the tents outside the fort.
XIX. Vaccination.—There has been no case of vaccination during the year; all the men
are either marked with small-pox or inoculated.
Inspection.T h i s h o s p i t a l w a s i n s p e c t e d b y D e p u t y S u r g e o n - G e n e r a l F . F .
Allen, c. B., on the 16th November 1876. He reports that the lines are inside
the fort, and that the ventilation was fairly good. The cleanliness of the
barracks was very carefully attended to. The hospital consisted of two wards,
with a separate room for any case requiring isolation, and the ventilation
good. No bath-room was attached to the hospital. All the hospital equipment
for the proper care and treatment of the sick was complete and in serviceable
condition.
Principal
c a u s e s o f
s i c k n e s s .
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Inspection.
6th Regiment Punjab infantry.—Edwardesabad.
I. Medical Officers. —Surgeon J. T. B. Bookey held charge from the com-
mencement of the year till
14th August; Surgeon H.
Mallins officiated from this
date till 26th September;
Surgeon F. C. Ghose then
assumed charge till 22nd
November, when Surgeon J.
T. B. Bookey again took over
the regiment and retained
it till the end of the year.
II. Location and move-
ments.—Head-quarters remained
at Edwardesabad from the com-
mencement of the year till 26th
October; the regiment then went
into cholera camp and remained
there till 13th November, on which
date it returned to Edwardesabad, where it remained for the rest of the year. The usual
detachments were supplied to Kurram, Latammar, Jani Khel, and in the hot season to
Shekh Budin. In November, one of the Dera Ismail Infantry regiments having been ordered
to Delhi, the 6th Punjab Infantry relieved the garrisons of Zam and Kirgee on that frontier.
IV. Meteorology and climate. —There were no instruments available. The rainfall was,
I think, less than on previous years.
Y 1
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1871
Dera Ghazi Khan, Jan.
1869, from Kohat.
133.3
2.6
5.4
1872
Dera Ismail Khan, Feb-
ruary 1872.
174.
1.6
3.4
1873
Ditto
151.5 1.6
6.5
1874
Ditto
159.8
1.6
5.4
1875
Edwardesabad, 3rd Feb.
151.26
1.8
5.16
Average
153.97 1.84
5.17
1876
Edwardesabad
119.45
2.80
3.41
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
Meteorology.