232
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL
EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT
(INCLUDING THE STATIONS OF SHILLONG, GAUHATI, DIBRUGARH, CACHAR, JULPAIGURI, AND BAXA.)
Average daily strength present during the year
Infantry, 4,249
Average daily sick per cent. of the average strength
„ 4 . 8 3
Ratio of mortality per cent. of the average strength
„ 2 . 3 3
43rd Regiment (Assam) Infantry—Shillong.
Surgeon J. O'Brien, M.D., reports as follows:—
Medical
Officers.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1870 Gauhati
160.7
2.9
4.0
1871
Ditto
180.5
1.4
4.4
1872
Ditto
169.6
2.5
5.5
1873
Ditto
178.5
2.9
6.1
1874 Shillong, 3rd January
141.5
3.6
6.3
Average
166.2
2.5
5.2
1875 Shillong
134.86 1.57
5.31
Location and
movements.
Meteorology
and climate.
I. Medical Officers.—(a.) Sur-
geon E. G. Russell, Civil Surgeon,
Gauhati, held medical charge
of the head-quarters of the
regiment from 1st January to
10th February, and Surgeon J.
O'Brien, M.D., for the remain-
der of the year. During the
absence of the head-quarters from
Shillong—viz., from 1st Janu-
ary to 10th February—Surgeon
O'Brien held medical charge of
the depôt.
(b.) The detachment which took
part in the Duffla expedition was
in medical charge first of Surgeon Bovill, afterwards of Surgeon Wilson.
(c.) The party of recruits who were attacked by cholera at Gauhati were treated in the
quarantine camp by the Civil Surgeon of that station.
(d.) All the other detachments were under the care of hospital assistants.
II. Location and movements.—(a.) The head-quarters were stationed at Gauhati from
1st January to 10th February, as a reserve to the Duffla Field Force. For the rest of the year
they were at Shillong. The distance from Shillong to Gauhati is 63 miles, a 4 days' march.
During the absence of head-quarters, the depôt of the regiment, strength 204, remained at
Shillong.
(b.) A detachment of 53 men was stationed for the entire year at Jowai, a large village
in the Jaintia Hills. Jowai is about 35 miles by the shortest road to the east of Shillong.
This detachment is relieved every 3 months.
(c.) The stations and marches of the . Duffla detachment, strength 204, will be found in
the medical history of the Duffla expedition. No sufficient information on the subject has
been recei ved by me. The l ast men of t hi s body— v i z . ,
t h e 5 1 w h o w e r e l e f t b e h i n d f o r s o m e
time at Gohpur—rejoined head-quarters on 26th April.
(d.) The outposts of Chargola and Allynuggur on the Lushai frontier in the Sylhet
district were each garrisoned by 46 men of this regiment from March to December. Up to
March the outposts were held by men of the 3rd Native infantry from Cachar. These outposts
are each about 4 days' march from Sylhet, and Sylhet is 5 days' march from Shillong. During
the rains most of the country in the Sylhet district is under water, so the outposts have to be
reached in boats. These detachments are relieved every 6 Months.
(e.) The detachment of 70 men who accompanied the Topographical Survey party into
the Naga Hills was broken up into small parties, and received medical attendance, some from
the civil medical establishment at Samaguting, others from the hospital assistant in charge of
the survey party; but no regular returns were received from them. There was, however, very
little sickness, as they were all picked men. This detachment rejoined head-quarters in the first
week in May.
(f.) A detachment of 58 men left head-quarters on 25th December to proceed to Udul
- g u r r i e o n t h e B h o o t a n f r o n t i e r . T h e d e t a c h m e n t r e m a i n e d t h e r e d u r i n g t h e B h u t i a f a i r ,
which began in January and ended about April.
IV. Meteorology and climate. —The rainfall in Shillong in 1875 was unusually heavy,—
heavier, indeed, than that of any year of which we have a record: exactly 100 inches were
registered, which is 23 inches above the average of the five preceding years. Rain fell on 162
days, which is also much above the average. There was almost incessant rain in the months
of Jnne, July and August. It seldom rained for an entire day; the evenings usually
being fine. There were 26 wet days in June, 27 in July, and 30 in August. The
temperature was equable throughout the year; the . highest recorded being 79° in July,