Principal
causes of
sickness.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
109
ROHILCUND DIVISION.
V. Lines, barracks, &c.— T h e m e n l i v e i n k u t c h a h u t s , w h i c h a r e v e r y p l e a s a n t l y s i t u a t e d
under the shade of trees. This plan of construction is, however, very faulty, owing to the
fact that they are divided into small rooms, each of which accommodates two men, and whose
ventilation is entirely dependent on the door, there being no other opening. The cubic space
allotted to each man is, roughly speaking, 500 cubic feet; and it is not to be wondered at that
they should resort to sleeping outside during the hot months—a practice which, I am convinced,
often gives rise to cases of ague and dysentery.
VI. Drainage.—The drainage is very good, and has been reported on fully on another
occasion. Shahjahanpur is very favorably situated for this purpose, being on somewhat higher
ground than the surrounding country.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. —The conservancy is very good, in so far as the actual
removal of excreta and offal is concerned; but the latrines, which consist of screened
trenches, are situated too far from the lines, being about a quarter of a mile distant. This
circumstance, whilst effectually ensuring the lines from all chance of any evil effects from efflu
- v i a , c a u s e s t h e m e n g r e a t i n c o n v e n i e n c e . A u r i n a l i s , h o w e v e r , p l a c e d q u i t e c l o s e t o t h e l i n e s ;
and any man on duty who may have urgent cause to use the latrines has permission to go to
that belonging to the hospital. The hospital latrine is adapted for the dry-earth system,
which has not as yet been properly carried out.
VIII. Water-supply. —Water, in abundant quantity, is obtained from pucka wells. Its
quality is very good.
IX. Diet.—The bazar-supplies has been very good throughout the year, and the men show
every sign of being well fed.
X. Clothing.—The uniform consists of khakee during the hot, and red cloth during the
cold season, both of which are suitable to the respective seasons. When off duty, the men
wear clothes which are rather thin and scanty, not being a sufficient protection from the cold,
especially on the line of march.
XI. Duty.—The duty at Shahjahanpur is very light, there being very little guard duty,
whilst the number of nights in bed is proportionately large.
XII. Exercise and amusements.—Wrestling and running are the chief active amusements.
Nothing like a system of gymnastic education exists in the wing.
XIII. Marches.—From Delhi to Shajahanpur on return from the camp of exercise of
1875-76, and again from Shahjahanpur to Delhi to be present at the Imperial Assemblage,
1876-77. These marches improved the physical condition of the men very much.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital is a long one-storeyed building of brick, roofed with tiles,
and having a verandah on each side: it is raised about 2½ feet from the ground, and has 32
beds. At each end there is a small room shut off from the general ward, one of which is used
as a dispensary and office, whilst the other is used at present as a bath-room, but could be
taken advantage of as an isolated ward.
Lines,
barracks, &c.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty.
Exercise and
amusements.
Marches.
Hospital.
XV. Sickaiess, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of Left Half Battalion,—
Present
2 0 0 . 3 3
Absent
93.50
Total
2 9 3 . 8 3
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER OF
Daily aver
are num- b e r o f s i c k .
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis- sions. Deaths.
A d m i s -
sions. Deaths. Daily
average sick.
Left-Half Battalion, 28th
Regiment, Punjab Na-
tive Infantry.
1st Jan. 1876 31st Dec. 1876 200.33 146
7.78 72.87
2.88
Number of deaths in hospital none; out of hospital 7; total. 7; per cent. of total strength
2 . 3 8
„ i n v a l i d e d 1 ; „ „
.34
„ s e n t o n s i c k l e a v e 1 8 ; „ „
6 . 1 2
„ of days spent in hospital 28.07; per admission 19.22; per man of total strength
9.55
„ „ on sick leave 4,323; per man 24.01; „ „
14.71
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
2 4 . 2 6
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—Of the 146 admissions during the year, 45 were
for ague, which was therefore the principal cause of sickness, and in many cases was originally
contracted at Alipore. Ulcers caused 16 admissions, and dysentery 11.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality. —The deaths which took place during the year
occurred whilst the men were on sick leave, and in four instances resulted from malarial fever, in
one from dysentery, and in one from hypertrophy of the spleen, whilst one man died when
performi ng t he dut y of si ck at t endant , t he cause of hi s deat h bei ng report ed t o be chol era.
XVIII. Epidemics.—One case of confluent small-pox occurred in the lines in the
person of a son of a native officer. Circumstances prevented his being removed from his father's
house, but he was nevertheless strictly isolated; and after his recovery, every precaution
was taken to prevent the spread of the disease, the house being fumigated and its walls
leeped and scraped. No other cases occurred. Three cases of measles occurred in the lines
in the persons of the children of a havildar. They were at once removed to a tent pitched
c1