214
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Principal '
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
_Recommend;
tions.
Inspection.
the drying up of a mass of decaying vegetation. In examining the registers of admissions,
I have found that recruits and young soldiers are the greatest sufferers, and that the rate of
admissions progressively diminishes in each quinquennial period up to the age of 40, when it again
increases. With regard to race influence, I find that the Sikhs give a percentage of admission
to strength of 213.56, the Goorkhas 183.23, and the Up-country Ilindustanees, most of
whom come from Arrah and Ghazipur, 227.23; the excessive sickness amongst these is perhaps
due to the fact that they were at head-quarters during the most unhealthy season. Finally,
many of the men are still suffering from the effects of the past season. A very large percentage
suffer from enlarged spleens and malarious cachexia. Both invaliding and discharge for
physical unfitness is likely to be excessive always at Gauhati.
X VII. Causes of mortality.-There were four deaths from malarial fevers: one from
small-pox, which occurred from the man' s over-eating when convalescent, diarrhœa setting in
and carrying him off quickly; one from phthisis in hospital, and one On sick leave; one from
acute bronchitis at head-quarters; two of dysentery, one on detachment and one at head-
quarters. Four of the cases of deaths out of hospital occurred on medical certificate, one on
furlough, and one accidentally from drowning at Gauhati.
XVIII. Epidemics.— With the exception of a short and mild outbreak of small-pox, there
was no epidemic disease. The first case of small-pox was introduced from Tezpur, where an
inoculator had been at work. The man and his family were carefully isolated as far as was
possible, and two sepoys, showing good vaccination marks, were put as attendants over him.
Both of these and a third attendant with their families got the disease. It then ceased, and di
d n o t s p r e a d b e y o n d t h e s e m e n t o a n y o t h e r s i n t h e r e g i m e n t .
XIX.
Vaccination.-
Twenty men and a number of' children were vaccinated in January
and February with fair success. A careful inspection was made to ascertain the state of the
regiment as regards protection, and it was found that there remained no unprotected men at
head-quarters.
XX. Recommendations.—As a rule, all sanitary recommendations were made through
the medium of a monthly sanitary report submitted to the military authorities, and all the
defects noted in the foregoing paragraphs have been frequently brought to notice. During
the height of the sickly season, a recommendation for the cessation of the musketry course
then in progress had to be submitted ; the men had become so weak from repeated attacks of
fever, that they were unable to hold their rifles. The course was accordingly stayed until
the health of the men improved, and the country around the range became less dangerous to
their health.
Inspection. —Inspected by the Officiating Deputy Surgeon-General of the
Dacca Circle on the 16th February 1877. Mr. Adley describes the lines as lying
very low, and situated on the edge of a swamp; the situation is so bad as to pre-
clude the hope that much can be effected by drainage. The huts are made of
"wattle and daub," and are not so freely ventilated as is considered necessary.
River water is used for cooking and drinking purposes. The sepoys resort to
the jungle for necessary purposes, as latrines are not in use. The hospital can
accommodate about 60 men, and, when this number is exceeded, huts are
made use of for the sick. The accommodation for the hospital establishment
was considered to be insufficient. All the hospital arrangements were carefully
superintended, and were satisfactory. Mr. Adley inspected the men on parade,
and he reports that they had recovered to a great extent from their former
sickly condition. He also reports that some of the recruits, " especially the
Goorkhas or Goorkhalis," were inferior in physique.
44th Regiment (Splhet) Hight Infantrp-Dibrgarh.
'Medical
Officer.
Location and
movements.
I. Medical Officer.—Surgeon-Major J. B.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1871
Shillong
1 8 2 . 4
1 . 9
5 . 8
1872
Ditto
1 7 1 . 1
4 . 8
5.1
1873
Ditto
4 8 0 .
4 . 1
5.3
1874
Dibrugaarh
2 0 9 . 9
2 . 8
5.4
1875
Ditto
1 9 9 . 6 5
2 . 9 4 5.12
Average
2 4 8 . 6 1
3 . 3 0
5.34
1876
Dibrugarh
1 4 6 . 0 6
1 . 3 7
4 . 0 3
W h i t e h e l d m e d i c a l c h a r g e o f
the regiment throughout the
year, and has written the
following report. The de-
tachments at Sadiya, Puba-
mukh and Golaghat were in
subordinate charge of hospi
- t a l a s s i s t a n t s d u r i n g t h e y e a r .
II. Location and movements.—
Head-quarters, average strength
492.33 men, was stationed at
Dibrugarh during the entire year.
Detachments of one officer and
206 . 35 men at Sadiya and Puba-
mukh during the entire year.
Detachment of 77 . 01 men at
uoiagnat during the entire year. The two last detachments were relieved every six months.