154
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Detachments
—
Shabkadar from 31st January to 4th March.
„ „ 3rd April to 18th May.
„ „ 2nd August to 31st October.
Michni „ 31st January to 4th March.
„ „ 19th May to 1st August.
„ „ 1st November to 3rd December.
Abazai „ 31st January to 4th March.
Mackeson „ 31st January to 2nd April.
Durbungie „ 5th October to 13th November.
Topography,
&c.
Meteorology.
Lines, &c.
Conservancy,
&c.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Marches, &c.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
III. Topography, &c.— T h e t o p o g r a p h i c a l f e a t u r e s o f P e s h a w a r h a v e b e e n f r e q u e n t l y
described.
IV. Meteorology. —Nothing very noticeable occurred during the year, with the exception
of a tremendous flood on the 28th August, by which a large portion of the Peshawar valley
was inundated, and a great number of villages were entirely washed away.
V. Lines, &c.—No alterations were made in the lines or huts during the year; they were
kept clean and in good repair. Drainage, the same as last year, very good.
VII. Conservancy.—Conservancy, in the immediate neighbourhood of the lines, good.
The latrines are the same as described last year. The water-supply was the same as described
last year; the well water is apparently very good; no analysis has been made of it.
IX. Diet.—The bazar supplies have been good and plentiful, and the price rates moderate.
Underfeeding does not prevail to any extent.
X. Clothing. —The clothing is the same as used last year, and is well suited to climate
and seasons.
XI. Duty and employment. —The duties have been rather severe during the year. The
average number of nights in bed was 2.33; the largest number for any month was 3.51; while
in September, November and December, it was under 2.
XIII. Marches, &c. —The regiment marched from Peshawar towards Mooltan on the
24th December. With this exception, there were no marches except the detachments relieving.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital is the same as described last year.
XV. Sickness mortality and invaliding. —Strength of regiment:—
Present
392.03
Absent
62.12
Total
454.15
Principal
causes of
sickness.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Admis-
sions. Deaths. Daily
average sick.
Head-quarters, at Peshawar 1st Jan.
23rd Dec.
330.22 482
1 12.30 149.22
. 3 1 3.73
Ditto, Marching
24th Dec.
31st „
332 7
9.5 96.71
2.86
Detachment, Shabkadar
31st Jan.
4th March
50 2
.17 43.06
.34
Michni
31st „
4th „
48 2
.41 44.78
.85
Abazai
31st „
4th
„
50.11 3
.73 64.59
1.45
Mackeson
31st „
2nd April
57.47
8
1.11 80. 86
1.93
Michni
9th May
1st, Aug.
48.16
7
.52 70.90
1.09
Shabkadar
2nd Aug.
31st Oct.
50
13
.57 104.57
1.14
Michni
1st Nov.
3rd Dec.
50
21
2.42 465.81
4.84
Total
392. 03
545
1 13.15 139.01 .25 3.35
Number of deaths in hospital 1; out of hospital 3; total
4; per cent. of total strength
.88
„
invalided
31; „
„
6.82
„
sent on sick leave
14; „
„
3.08
„
of days spent in hospital 4,818; per admission
8.84; per man of total strength
10.60
„
on sick leave 2,666; per man190.42;190. 42;
„
„
5 . 8 7
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
16.47
XVI. Principal causes of sickness. —There were 560 treated in hospital during the year
against 649 in 1875, being a decrease of 102. The difference is almost accounted for by the
decrease in the number of cases of fever. In 1875 there were 481, and in 1876, 379 cases.
The most unhealthy months were January, October, November and December. The greatest
number in hospital was on the 26th October, 27, against 84 on the 11th November in 1875.
In addition to the number of cases of fever being less during the past year, the disease was of
a milder type and not so frequently attended with visceral affections. In other diseases there is
a marked correspondence between the two years. One troop was sent into camp at Durbungie,
3 miles from cantonments, on account of cholera, on the 5th October, and remained there till the
13th November. The change appeared to have a good effect regarding fever; for, while no case
occurred in camp, there were 58 admissions at head-quarters. Though there were no admissions
into hospital for scurvy, several men, admitted for other diseases, shewed unmistakable symptoms
of it.