ALLAHABAD DIVISION.
29
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— The principal cause of sickness was, as usual, ague,
which caused 260 admissions out of a total of 632. Next comes syphilis ; gonorrhœa caused 16
admissions. Dysentery caused 27 and diarrhœa 24 admissions. Ulcers (13); boils (10) and
blisters of the feet (32) are the only diseases or injuries which produced many admissions.
The diminution of venereal in the regiment is satisfactory, and has continued since 1875 ;
thus we have—
1874.
1875.
1876.
Primary Syphilis
.
. . .
. . . .
67
45
29
Secondary ,,
3 7
22
15
G o n o r r h œ a
48
24
16
Phimosis.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1
0
0
Buboes
•
•
•
•
6
3
3
Total
. 1 5 9
94
63
Principal
causes of
sickness.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—There were 8 deaths, viz., 5 in hospital, 1 on sick
leave, 1 on temporary leave, and 1 while in Calcutta awaiting to appear before the annual
invaliding committee. Of the 8 deaths, 5 were due to phthisis pulmonalis, 2 to remittent
fever, and 1 to valvular disease of the heart.
XVIII. Epidemics.—There were four cases of cholera (not epidemic) during 1876, 2
among sepoys, and 2 among camp-fol l owers ; t he 2 sepoys recovered, and t he 2 camp-fol l owers
(one a female) died. No history of contagion or communication could be traced in any of
these cases. There were a few cases in the city of Benares in February, but no evidence of
having been exposed to contagion could be discovered. There were no cases in the city
or district in January. The regiment was moved into camp in January, after the occurrence
of the two cases in the lines on the 1st of that month.
Principal
causes of
mortality,
Epidemics.
XXI. Special observations and remarks.—The health of the regiment is good at the end
of the year, and the physique of the men very satisfactory. There are, however, a certain number
of men of short service who will have to be discharged with gratuity next April : most
of them belong to the detachment which rejoined from Berhampore as explained before.
There are also an unusual number of old men who will have to be pensioned off this year ; so
that the invalid roll will be heavier than it has been for the last three years.
Inspection.—The regiment was inspected by the Deputy Surgeon-Genera]
of the Agra Circle on the 21st March 1877. The hospital arrangements are all
favorabl y report ed on. The bui l di ng, however, i s sai d t o be defi ci ent i n havi ng
no special wards for ophthalmic and for contagious cases. The quarters for
the hospital assistants and medical pupils are also bad and insufficient. A new
hospital has been sanctioned, and it is hoped may be built before long.
Lock Hospital, Benares.—Deputy Surgeon-General J. P. Walker, M.D.,
inspected this hospital on the 12th February 1877. It was found clean and
tidy, and the treatment of the sick, general and therapeutic, satisfactory. On
the day of inspection there were 16 in hospital.
Primary syphilis
. . . . . . . . . . .
5
Secondary syphilis .
.
.
,
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
1
Gonorr hœa.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
9
Bubo (gonorrhœal) .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1
16
Special
observations
and remarks.
Inspection.
Lock Hospital
Benares.
The average strength of European troops in the station for the year 1876 was
576, and from this number 47.92 per cent. were admitted from venereal affections.
"It is doubtful," writes Dr. Walker, " whether the percentage would have been
greater if there had been no lock hospital." The Medical Officer in charge, how-
ever, points out the great difficulty there is in a cantonment like Benares, so close
to the city to which so many pilgrimages are made, also to the proximity of the
railway station to the lines, to prevent the spread of disease by unlicensed
women.
European Invalid Battalion, Chunar .—Inspected by Deputy Surgeon-
General J. P. Walker on the 15th February 1877. " Everything," writes
Dr. Walker, " connected with the lines and hospital buildings, water-supply,
H
European
In valid
Battalion,
Chunar.