Topography
and physical
geography.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines,
barracks
or huts.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Clothing.
Duty, &c.
Exercise, &c.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
192
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Diet.
Water-supply
Edwardesabad and occupied the barracks inside the fort Dulleepghur. It supplied detachments
to Jani Khel, Latammar and Kurram outposts, and other places, every alternate month.
Besides the above, it supplied escorts to prisoners conveyed from here to Dera Ismail Khan,
and also for bringing ammunition from Bahadur Khel from Kohat.
III. Topography and physical geography. —Of Edwardesabad has been exhaustively treated
by Dr. P. Colles in the anuual report of the year 1871, page 275. The changes which are
noticed since the report is the extensive progress in cultivation, that now hardly a small plot
of ground is left uncultivated with the enormous increase of irrigation. The growing of the
high crops near the cantonment have been put a stop to by the order of the Officer commanding
the station.
IV. Meteorology and climate. —The year under report is remarkable for the small amount
of rainfall, and the absence of rain during the Christmas week, consequently the winter has
been very mild up to December.
V.Lines, barracks or huts. —The lines consist of barracks which form the three sides of
a rectangle inside the fort Dulleepghur, the fourth side being occupied by the officers' barracks
and the out-houses attached to these quarters.
VI. Drainage.—Owing to the gradual incline towards the Kurram river from the west
to the north-easterly direction of the cantonment, the drainage may be said to be very satis
- f a c t o r y , s p e c i a l l y t h e i n s i d e o f t h e f o r t , w h i c h i s g r e a t l y i m p r o v e d b y a r t i f i c i a l c h a n n e l s . T h e
water of the Kurram is brought in for irrigation and for other purposes inside; a portion of
this water is let out to flush the drains in the front of the barracks in compliance with my
recommendation on the subject.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. —The 3rd Punjab Infantry has no latrine except one in the
hospital; the men resort to the fields, but this, year by year by the gradual increase of cultiva
- t i o n , a n d t h e r e b y f r o m e n c r o a c h m e n t o n w a s t e , i s b e c o m i n g a s e r i o u s c a u s e o f n u i s a n c e i n t h e
cantonment. The subject of construction of latrines on the trench system with movable screens
for the regiment is now before the Government. Owing to the absence of latrines, the general
conservancy arrangement has become easy and it is satisfactorily carried out.
VIII. Water-supply.—The great portion of drinking water is procured from a well inside
the fort. The supply is abundant, from the well being very deep, and the water is much liked
by the men although it contains a fair portion of salts and a good deal of chlorides, and abounds
with animalculœ. Recommendation was made for clearing the well and improving the character
of the water, but it has been postponed owing to the advanced state of the season.
IX. Diet.—The men, as a rule, are very fairly fed. A few are found now and then
suffering from diseases which can be attributed to insufficiency of food or of its bad quality
among men of the most thrifty habits. The food in this cantonment, as a rule, is very cheap.
X. Clothing.—The men wear khakee colored drill uniform while on duty during the
hot weather, and broad cloth of the same color during the winter. Postheens and chogas form
additional clothing.
XI.Duty and employment.—Nights in bed 5.28 days out of 7 days in a week during the
year.
XII. Exercise, amusements and occupation. —The men, as a rule, avoid exercise during the
hot months in the year, except swimming in the tank; while in winter they practise foot-ball,
jumping or running, more for prizes in the annual games, but not as a regular exercise.
XIV.Hospital—The hospital at present occupied by the 3rd Punjab infantry is in the
same state as described by Dr. Colles in 1871; no alteration of any importance has been made.
XV.Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment—
Present
5 9 1 . 7 5
Absent
1 4 6 . 0 4
Total
737.79
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 Edwardes-
abad
1st Jan. 1876 31st Dec. 1876 560.81 865 15 20.79 154.24 2.67 3.70
Detachment at Jani Khel 2nd Jan. „ 3rd Feb. „
30.78 17
.39 102.61
1.26
Ditto ditto
3rd March „ 7th April „
Ditto ditto
2nd May „ 2nd June „
Ditto ditto
2nd July „ „ Aug. „
Ditto ditto „
2nd Sept, „ „ Oct. „
Ditto ditto
3rd Nov. „ 5th Dec. „
Ditto at Shekh Budin 12th June „ 31st July „ 42.85
2
.19 34.18
.44
Ditto at Zam 3rd October „ 22nd Dec.
22.78 6
.46 119.02
2. 02
TOTAL
591.75 890 15 21.25 150.40 2.53 3.59
Number of deaths in hospital 15; out of hospital 3; total 18; per cent. of total strength
2.43
„ invalided
13; ,,
„
1.76
„ sent on sick leave
6; ,, ,,
.81
„ of days spent in hospital 7,757; per admission 8.71; per man of total strength 1 0 . 5 1
„ „
on sick leave 823; per man 137.16; ,,
„
1.11
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
11.62