XIX.
Vaccination.—Several recruits were vaccinated in March last year, but as the
regiment did not arrive in Peshawar until near the end of the cold weather, little could be
done. At present, vaccination is being actively carried on amongst recruits and camp fol--
lowers.
XX.
Recommendations.—Recommendations were chiefly with reference to the undress
clothing, which was in many cases insufficient for the cold weather ; to the practice of under--
feeding which was believed to exist, especially amongst a certain number of men, candidates
for the invalid pension list ; and with a view to check malingering. Orders were issued on
theses subjects, and every attention has been given to matters affecting the health of the
men by the Officer Commanding.
160
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Sickness.
Principal
causes of sick.
ness.
The number of, admissions Which took place the 7th Native Infantry during the past
ye a r , c hi e f l y f r om a gue , wa s unus ua l l y l a r ge , e ve n c ons i de r i ng t he c ha r a c t e r of t he s t a t i on a nd
t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e r e g i m e n t ,v
i z .
2 , 1 9 4 . O n r e f e r e n c e t o f o r m e r r e p o r t s , I f i n d t h a t
native regiments generally suffer most during their first,
y e a r ' s s e r v i c e i n P e s h a w a r .
The 36th Native Infantry had 1,823 admissions into hospital during its fir
st year (1870),
and only 998 during the third year. The 29th Punjab Native Infantry had 1,712 admis-
s i ons dur i ng i t s f i r s t year ( 1873) and 1, 480 dur i ng t he t hi r d year . Bot h t hes e r egi ment s
occupied the lines of ' the 7th Native Infantry. In 1870 (first year in Peshawar) the 15th
Native Infantry had 1,972 admissions ; while in 1872 (last year) there were only 920 ad--
missions.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—About two-thirds of the total admissions through--
out the year Were on account of intermittent fevers, viz., 1,432, being equal to more than
twice the present strength of regiment. There were 210 admissions from rheumatism, 77
from blistered feet, 59 from diarrhœa, 57 from dysentery and 38 from bronchitis.
Mortality.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Three deaths were due to intermittent fevers, 1 to
cholera, 1 to heat apoplexy and 1 to pvæmia.
X X V I I I . E p i d e m i c s .
— C h o l e r a
broke out in the city of Peshawar on 13th, and in can--
tonments, in the lines of Sappers and Miners, on 27th September ; on that day 2 men of the
Sappers who occupied the same hut were attacked with the disease. There were only two cases
in the Native Infantry ; on the 7th the first case occurred, the second and last case, on
9th October,—sepoys in both cases. The first case was fatal, but the second case recovered.
Previous to the outbreak of cholera in the city, quarantine was established at Attock,
with a view to prevent its importation into the Peshawar district from Murree, where the
disease had been very severe from about the middle of July ; and immediately on the report
of its outbreak in the city, a strict quarantine was established between it and the canton-
meats. The lines of the Sappers and Miners which were first attacked, are, with the 17th
Bengal Cavalry and 7th Native Infantry, situated on the left flank of the station furthest
from the city, and on the highest part of the ridge upon which the cantonments are built.
Careful examination and enquiry failed to discover any clue to the origin of the disease.
T h e e p i d é m i c b r o k e o u t a l m o s t S i m u l t a n e o u s l y i n d i f f e r e n t p l a c e s , w i t h o u t a n y c o m m u n i c a t i o n
of the cases with each Other ; and between the 27th September and 1st October, cases were
reported in every corps in the station. On 2nd October, troops and companies of all the native
regiments in the station, in which more than one case bad occurred, were ordered into cholera
c a m p i n t w o b r i g a d e s , t h e 1 7 t h B e n g a l C a v a l r y , 7 t h N a t i v e I n f a n t r y , a n d 2 0 t h P u n j a b
Native Infantry being included in the left brigade ; the 8th Bengal Cavalry, 14th Sikhs, and
30th Native Infantry forming the right brigade. I was directed to take medical charge
o f d e t a c h m e n t s f r o m t h e l e f t b r i g a d e w h i c h a t o n c e m a r c h e d i n t o c a m p a t B u d h b e e r , 8 m i l e s
from Peshawar, on the road to Fort Mackeson, Dr. Martin of the 30th Native Infantry
taking medical charge of detachments from the right brigade. The cholera camps for
native troops were broken up on 30th November. I believe the experiment has seldom been
tried here of sending native troops into camp on the outbreak of cholera, and last year
the results were certainly most satisfactory, as the reports will show ; but instead of waiting
until the disease has attacked cantonments, I am of opinion that, as a sanitary measure,
as well as to prevent unnecessary alarm in case of an outbreak, detachments of the troops
ought to be removed from the station and nuclei of cholera camps formed as soon as
the disease shows itself in the adjacent city. Rum should be issued to the men, and tents and
buildings fumigated With sulphur daily.
Vaccination.
Recommen.
dations
Inspection
Ispection.—The hospital and the sanitary state of the lines were in--
spected by the Deputy Surgeon-General of the Rawal Pindi Circle on the 2nd of
April 1877. This regiment had been for twelve months at Peshawar, and the
Medical Officer reported that there had been a decided falling off in the general
health of the men as compared with what it was during the two previous years
at Jullundur. The hospital was in a satisfactory state as regards its cleanliness
and supply of medicines and instruments. It was sufficiently ventilated; but
when the purdahs are down, Mr. Allen considered the minor wards to be too dark
and gloomy, as they only received light through a small window high upon
the wall at either end. The lines were found to be clean, well kept, and, with
their sanitary arrangements, to be generally in a good sanitary condition. The
system of water-supply was not considered to be satisfactory.