XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment—
Present
377. 09
Absent
110. 86
Total 487.95
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
182
Duty and
employment.
Marches and
service.
Hospital.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OP THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
injurious to health. The want of some system of latrines for the station has frequently,
but hitherto in vain, been brought to notice, though it urgently calls for a remedy.
XI. Duty and employment.— T h e s e
a r e t h o s e u s u a l l y p e r f o r m e d b y c a v a l r y r e g i m e n t s
on the Punjab Frontier. I have no reason to suppose that they are in any way exceptional
in this regiment; but on the other hand, I cannot explain the higher percentage of sickness
in this than in the other regiments of this garrison, except on the assumption that the
duties are heavy in proportion to the number of men available for them. The daily average
percentage of sick to strength in the three infantry corps of this garrison was 3.78 last year,
while in my regiment it has been 6.71. I do not think the percentage of accidents insep
-erable from cavalry corps, which I roughly estimate at .95 per cent. of the daily average
sick, will account for this difference. It seems that the percentage of sick generally in
cavalry corps on the frontier is higher than in the infantry, for I find that for 5 years, from
1870 to 1874 inclusive, the percentage of sick to strength has been 5.87 in the cavalry to 4.95
in the infantry. In my own regiment, for the last 6 years it has been steadily in excess of
that of the infantry corps with which it has been quartered. Out of the total strength, 36 per cent.
were constantly absent throughout the year on different duties and on furlough, and the actual
number of nights passed in bed by sowars at head-quarters was 2.8 to 1 on duty—too
low an average, in my opinion, to be compatible with health. It is difficult to give a satis
- f a c t o r y e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h i s l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e o f s i c k n e s s . I a m d i s p o s e d t o t h i n k t h a t s e v e r a l
causes contribute to it. Among them the smaller and poorer physique of men in the cavalry
than in the infantry; the larger amount of duty, including the care of his horse, that falls
to the lot of men in this branch of the service than to those in the infantry; the frequent
duties and leave entailing long journies to and fro from head-quarters; and finally, the com
- p a r a t i v e l y s m a l l n u m b e r o f m e n p r e s e n t a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e r o u t i n e d u t i e s o f t h e r e g i m e n t .
Though the percentage of sickness to strength is large, yet its type is mild, and there are
fewer deaths at head-quarters in and out of hospital in the cavalry than in the infantry.
In my own regiment they have averaged for the last 5 years 1.19 per cent. of the strength,
while they have been 1.70 per cent. of the strength in the infantry corps with which it has
been stationed.
XIII. Marches and service.—At the beginning of the year the regiment marched from
the camp of exercise at Delhi to Kohat. The march occupied nearly two months, and during
it the men were exceptionally healthy. Recently, a squadron of the regiment was employed
at Thul, on the frontier of this district, where it joins that of Cabul; but this service calls for
no sanitary remarks.
XIV. Hospital.—The regimental hospital is well built and conveniently situated, and
affords sufficient accommodation.
Water-supply Clothing.
VII. Water-supply.—Has been before described, and is both good and sufficient.
X. Clothing.—The men appear to be sufficiently and suitably clothed, and to be supplied
with sufficient bedding.
S T A T I O N .
P E R I O D .
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
O F
Daily
average number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRNGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
A d m i s - sions.
D e a t h s .
A d m i s -
s i o n s .
D e a t h s
Daily
average sick.
Head-quarters, Delhi
1st Jan. 1876 18th Jan. 1876
310.79
„ „ en route to
Kohat
19th Jan. „ 13th Mar. „
682
1 20.86 219.44 .32 6 . 7 1
Head-quarters, Kohat
14th Mar. „ 31st Dec. „
Detachment at Kohat
1st Jan. „ 13th Mar. „ 108.97 24 1 .98 110.14 4.58 . 8 9
„ „ Abbottabad 6th Mar. „ 31st Dec. „ 30.87
5
.04 19.69 .13
„ „Bahadur
Khel
18th Mar. „
Ditto „
20.90 21
.35 127.25
1.67
Detachment at Hangu
7th Dec. „ 21st Dec. „ 80.
3
.05 91.46 .06
TOTAL
377.09 735
2 22.28 194.91 .53 5.90
Number of deaths in hospital 2; out of hospital 5; total
7; per cent. of total strength
1.43
„ invalided
10; „ „ 2.04
„ sent on sick leave
17; „ „ 3 . 4 8
„ of days spent in hospital 8,124; per admission
11.05; per man of total strength
16.64
„ „ on sick leave 2,154; per man
126.70; „ „ 4 . 4 1
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
21.06