Water supply.
Diet.
Principal
causes of sick--
ness.
Causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
36
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Latrines.
latrines has been much more strictly attended to, and more dry earth has been used. The
latrine behind the officers' bungalows, in 9th Native Infantry lines, should be removed.
Latrines.— Latrines have been built in all the villages in cantonments, and the
greater cleanliness consequent on their compulsory use has been most marked. I regret
to state that no latrine has yet been built in the 9th Native Infantry lines, things
remaining as they were last year, excepting that a movable latrine on wheels, consisting of a
wooden frame-work covered with tarred canvas, has been in use for some months past as an
experimental measure. Beyond securing privacy, the thing is a mistake, being an eyesore and
very cumbersome.
VIII. Water-supply.— This is obtained now from two large built wells and one small
one. Eleven unbricked wells, the water of which was unwholesome, have been filled in during
the year.
IX. Diet, &c.—The diet is reported to have been of good quality and obtainable at moder
-ate prices. The clothing is the same as that reported on last year; the medical officer recom
-mends the issue of cholera belts to the sepoys. The duty has not been heavy, and the men have
had unwards of 5 nights in bed.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of regiment
—
Present
. . .
619.52
Absent
.
.
.
85.06
Total
. . .
704.58
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER OF
Daily average
No. of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions.
Deaths.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily average
sick.
Head-quarters
at Morar.
1st January
1875.
31st Decem-
ber 1875.
619.52
744
3
29.88
120.10
.48
4.82
Number of deaths in hospital 2; out of hospital: 4; total 6; per cent. of total strength . . .
0.85
„
invalided . . . 15; " " . . .
2.13
,,
sent on sick leave . . . 2 9 ; " " . . .
4 . 1 1
" of days spent in hospital 10,854; per admission 14.58; per man of totalstreugth . . . 15.40
" " on sick leave 4,529; per man
156.17; " " . . .
6.43
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . . 21.83
Vaccination.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— As last year, the chief number of admissions has
been from intermittent fever. I am convinced that the chief cause of this disease here is
the exposure of the body from want of proper clothing when the men are off-duty.
XVII. Causes of mortality.— Six deaths occurred during the year, three among men
on sick leave, one from dysentery, one splenitis, one bronchitis. One man shot himself.
Two men died in hospital, one from phthisis, one from dysentery.
XVIII. Epidemics.— A mild epidemic of varioloid occurred in May, seven men being
attacked; they were treated in a building far removed from the lines;— the lines were thoroughly
disinfected, as also were the huts and clothing of the patients, with sulphurous acid, carbolic
acid, lime, &c. An outbreak of cholera occurred in the station, but not a single case oc-
-curred in the 9th Native Infantry. This, I think, was chiefly due to the filling up of
several uubricked wells, the tainted water of which had been used for drinking, &c., by some of
the men.
XIX. In June, when small-pox occurred, vaccination. was attempted; but not a case was
successful. In December all the children of the sepoys and residents in the regimental bazar
were vaccinated successfully.
Inspection.
Dr. Thorpe, Deputy Surgeon-General of the Agra Circle, made his sanitary
and medical inspection of this regiment on the 15th February 1876. There is
but little that calls for any special remarks as regards the lines, conser
-vancy and water-supply of this regiment. The hospital remains unchanged,
and all the details and arrangements in it for the proper care and treatment
of the sick were quite satisfactory.