EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT.
243
V. Lines.—There is nothing in the state of the lines calling for any special
remark. The huts were being repaired and put into order at the time of writ
- i n g t h i s r e p o r t .
The general drainage of the station remains unchanged, but some improve
-ments were effected in that of the cantonments, and, it is stated, with the most
satisfactory results, The conservancy has been well attended to, and the
"trench system of latrine" is reported to have been on the whole "markedly
successful"; and in the August floods were especially valuable, as at that time
the men had no choice but to make use of them.
The two new wells which were being made in 1874 were not completed
until May of last year, and. the water is considered to be pure and of excellent
quality. The majority of the men bathe at the wells, a few at the river.
Rations were supplied by the Commissariat up to 31st March, and their
issue was then discontinued by this agency. The men for the remainder of the
year purchased their food in the bazar, and received compensation for dearness
of provisions whenever the monthly rate of Rs. 3-8 was exceeded; the com
- p e n s a t i o n s o m e t i m e s a m o u n t e d t o m o r e t h a n R s . 5 p e r m e n s e m .
The clothing was considered as suitable in every respect. Mr. Moriarty
states that there were many admissions into hospital for "blisters of the feet,"
and some of the cases were very troublesome and difficult to heal. The men
wear no socks or bandages on their feet under the ammunition boots, and thus
the sores are caused.
As the men had an average of 12.8 nights in bed during the year, it will
be considered that their duty was light; and such was actually the case.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital has been in good repair throughout the year, and, I am
happy to say, has never been in the least over-crowded. Two additions have been made: (a) a
small store-room about 12 feet square, and a very useful addition this has proved; (b) a bath
-room with the necessary furniture, viz., a large bath on wheels, a grating, a ghurra stand wit
h g h u r r a s ;
( c )
a n d a l a r g e b r a s s v e s s e l (
d e k c h i
) i n w h i c h t o b o i l
water when required. The tw
o t u b s , o n e f o r H i n d o o s a n d o n e f o r M a h o m e d a n s , h a v e n o t y e t b e e n r e c e i v e d . T h e b a t h o n w h e e l s
is a very useful article, as is the dekchi, but the bath-room is practically useless. The Hindoos
never make use of it; the Mahomedans but rarely, and not very willingly.
The hospital furniture has been added to, viz., two new chairs for the office, a large and
excellent almirah in which I now keep the surgical instruments, poisons, &c. The beds
(charpoys) are in good repair and complete.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment—
Present
640. 8
Absent
59.9
Total
700.7
Lines.
Drainage.
Rations.
Clothing.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily 1
average
number of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis- sions. Deaths.
Admis- sions. Deaths. Daily
average sick.
Head-quarters at Cachar
1st Jan. 1875 31st Dec. 1875 509.32 648
9 16.89 127.23 1.17 3.32
Detachment, Monierkhal
Ditto
Ditto
39.25 96
1.8 244.6
4.58
Ditto, Noorband
Ditto
Ditto
34.97 33
1
.85 94.37 2.86 2.43
Ditto, Manipur
Ditto
2nd Dec. 1875 42.33 38
1.03 97.52
2.43
Ditto, Chargola
Ditto
19th Mar. 1875 41
8
.9 91.29
2.04
Ditto, Allynugur
Ditto
20th Mar. 1875 41
4
1.08 45.05
2.63
TOTAL
640.8 827 10 20.9 129.06 1.56 3.26
Number of deaths in hospital, 10; out of hospital, 8; total 18; per cent. of total strength
2.57
invalided 4; " "
. 5 7
" s e n t o n s i c k l e a v e 4 ; " " .57
" of days spent in hospital, 7,525; per admission 9.1; per man. " 10.73
" " on sick leave, 322; per man 80.5; " " .46
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
11.19
As regards total admissions, the year corresponds closely with 1873; the cases, however,
were of much shorter duration, and were, I think, on the whole, milder than in either 1873 or