Drainage.
Conservancy,
&c.
Water-supply
Clothing.
Duty, &c.
Exercise.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
Medical.
Officers.
Location
and movements.
Lines,
barracks, &c.
Diet.
190
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
5th Regiment Punjab Cavalry—
Edwardesabad.
I . Me d i c a l Of f i c e r s . —S u r g e o n W. J a c k s o n h e l d c h a r g e o f t h e r e g i me n t
from the 1st of January to
the 18th of December, except
for the following periods,
when the under-mentioned
Medical Officers officiated for
him:
—
Surgeon J. T. B. Bookey,
18th February to 25th Feb
- r u a r y , 1 8 t h M a y t o 2 1 s t M a y ,
28th May to 14th July, 23rd
July to 7th August; Surgeon
F. C. Ghose, 15th July to
22nd July; Surgeon H.
Mallins, 26th August to 3rd
September. Surgeon P. F.
O'Connor,who has forwarded
the following sanitary report,
took over medical charge of the regiment from Surgeon Jackson on December
18th and held charge from that date until the end of the year.
II Location and movements.—Head-quarters of the regiment were stationed at Edwardes
- a b a d t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r . S m a l l d e t a c h m e n t s g a r r i s o n e d t h e f r o n t i e r o u t p o s t s J a n i K h e l ,
Kurram, Latumamr and Bahadur Khel. With the exception of the Kurram detachment,
which was relieved weekly, the others were relieved monthly. In October a squadron was
detached to Dera Ismail Khan to garrison the outposts in that district vacated by the 3rd
Punjab Cavalry in consequence of their march to the Delhi Imperial Assemblage;
V. Lines, barracks, &c.—The regiment occupies the lines which previous cavalry regi
- m e n t s o c c u p i e d , a n d w h i c h h a v e b e e n d e s c r i b e d i n f o r m e r r e p o r t s . T h e h u t s a r e b a d l y b u i l t
and badly ventilated. They are not overcrowded, and are kept in a fairly good state of
repair.
VI. Drainage.—The drainage is both natural and artificial. The system is still defective,
but works are being carried on which will tend to materially improve the drainage of the
station. The drainage of the lines is sufficient for all ordinary seasons.
VII. Conservancy, &c. —The dry-earth system is in use for the regiment. The latrines are
removed some distance from the lines, and are kept clean by a staff of sweepers who carry away
the excreta three or four times a day. The system seems to work tolerably well.
VIII. Water-supply. —The station is supplied by water from the Kurram; quantity
abundant, quality apparently good. Drinking water is supplied from a well in front of the
lines. No recent analyses of it have been made, but it is considered to be pure. There are no
special arrangements for bathing. With such a large supply of water the facilities are abundant
for the men so inclined. Animals are supplied with water from tanks in the lines; clothing is
washed on the banks of some of the many streams which run through the station.
IX. Diet.—The men are dieted from the regimental bazar. The quality and quantity of
the articles supplied good. There is abundance of vegetables at moderate prices; the bazars
are frequently inspected, generally two or three times a month. The hygienic value of the
articles consumed as articles of diet is sufficient and very well adapted to the climate, race,
work, &c. There is no practice of under-feeding or improper feeding in the regiment, all the
men being remarkably well-nourished.
X. Clothing.—Warm uniform worn in the cold weather on parades, &c., at other times
postheens. In the hot weather their uniform and native clothing is used. Both are well
adapted for the season and the duty. Native shoes and hessian boots are worn.
XI. Duty, &c.—Number of continuous nights in bed=4.91. If we except the troop and
a half which were sent for outpost duty to the Dera Ismail Khan district in October, the duty
of the regiment during the year was the ordinary one of parade, sentry and outpost.
X I I I . E x e r c i s e .
— T h e m e n a m u s e t h e m s e l v e s w i t h r i d i n g , t e n t - p e g g i n g , l i m e - s l i c i n g , & c .
XIV. Hospital. —The hospital is conveniently situated with regard to the lines. It is
lofty and well ventilated and affords ample accommodation for the sick of the regiment. It
is kept in a very good state of repair. It is well lighted by the windows and doors in the day
and by lamps at night. The patients bring their own bedding which seems to be a very good
arrangement. There are two detached wards for the treatment of special diseases.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
381.06
Absent
109.38
Total
490.44
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1871
Dera Ghazi Khan, Feb-
ruary 1869.
191.9
1. 4
6.8
1872
Dera Ismail Khan, Feb-
ruary 1872.
175.5
8.4
5.2
1873 "
195.9
1.4
6
1874
" 200.9
1.02
7.4
1875
Edwadesabad, 20th Ja-
nuary 1875.
221.53 1.83
6.17
Average
197.14 2.81
6.31
1876
Edwardesabad
179.23 .81
5.68