247
EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT.
The left half battalion left Dacca on the 8th December, proceeded by steamer to Goalundo,
arrived there on the 10th, started by train on the 11th from Goalundo, and arrived in Calcutta
on the 12th December, when they went into camp on the maidan.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—In the right half battalion, fevers have, as during
the last two years, caused by far the largest number of admissions, being between six and
seven times as numerous as diarrhœa, the next great cause of admissions. The total admissions
for the year are less than last year's by 57 cases. The fever is amply accounted for by
the stations in which the regiment has been quartered, both Assam and Jalpaiguri being malari
-ous. The number of admissions for fever is, however, less than that of last year by 41, or 442
to 483 for 1874.
Principal
causes of
sickness.
Bowel complaints, the next important class of disease, also show a falling off of 92 cases, or
171 to 262 last year. These diseases are probably partly due to climate and partly to food.
The inhabitants of Assam and Jalpaiguri do not live on atta, and they say that eating it causes
dyspepsia and diarrhœa; this is, of course, partly due to its being food to which they are
unaccustomed; but even up-country men often change their food in these places, eating more
rice and less atta. It has also been shown that the men sometimes had a difficulty in getting
extra articles of diet. A large number of itch cases were admitted, 28 in 1875 against 8 in 1874.
This is probably not attributable to the men being less cleanly, but to their having lived a good
deal in tents and barracks, where they all slept on the same ground or on the same machans,
instead of on separate charpoys, and thus communicated the disease in this way. Goitre shows
a slight increase: 12 cases against 10 last year. In the left half battalion the principal causes
of sickness were: fevers, 53 cases; dysentery, 18 cases; diarrhœa 20 cases; and dyspepsia, 34
cases.
Bowel
complaints.
Itch.
Two suspected cases of snake-bite were admitted, but were not followed by any bad
symptoms: they both occurred at night.
Snake-bite.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality. During the year, five cases died in the regimental
hospital at head-quarters. This was an increase of three on the previous year; but as
two were due to cholera, and one to suicidal poisoning, there are only two left for ordinary
causes, and these were both due to fevers. There were two deaths in the left half battalion
hospital at Dacca, and one at the Duffla Expedition, from dysentery.
Mortality.
XXI. Special observations —The most noticeable feature in the return is the large number of
fever cases treated, although the mortality from them in hospital has been small; the total
number of deaths has, however, increased, and this may be partly due to the generally depressing
influence of malarious diseases. Goitre cases have been common; several were treated success-
fully by the inhalation of iodine vapour from a perforated pill-box suspended round the neck.
There is a falling off in the number of admissions and in the temporary loss of service, but
deaths have increased.
In the left half battalion, the admissions for the year 1874 exceeded those up to the
16th of December 1875 by 44 cases; the same tendency to diseases of the digestive organs,
as contrasted with fevers in the right half battalion, is observed in both years. In 1874
there were 58 admissions for malarious fevers, and 92 admissions for diseases of digestive
organs. During the 11½ months of 1875 in which the right half battalion was separate,
there were 58 admissions for fevers, against 74 for diseases of the digestive organs. The whole
regiment appears to be in fairly good health; but there is no doubt a tendency to fever and
anæmia in the right half battalion, and to dyspepsia in the left.
Special obser
-vations.
Dr. Irving, Deputy Surgeon-General of the Dinapore circle, inspected
the head-quarters and right wing of this regiment at Jalpaiguri on the
25th October 1875. He reports that "the men live in long mat barracks, and
sleep on a long row of wooden 'machans'; they seemed to be cramped for
room."
Dr. Irving considered many of the men to be below the mark in health
and physique, and he was told that there were several men in the lines who
had frequent attacks of fever, but who kept at their duty. The sepoys have
great belief in the use of milk as being conducive to health in the climate
of Jalpaiguri, and nearly all of them have cows, or a share in a cow, for which
there is ample free pasturage about the lines.
Inspection.
Physique.
The hospital is a long mat building raised on piles, and it stands on an
open plain close to the river Teesta, and has an enclosed verandah on either
side. There were 3 cases of scurvy in hospital, and several others had
been treated. The supply of medicines and instruments were ample and
were all in good condition.
Hospital.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. C. Bow, M. D., inspected the left wing
of this regiment at Dacca on the 8th November 1875. He considers
the two sleeping rooms occupied by the sepoys to be greatly superior
to the accommodation which usually falls to the lot of the native
soldier. A very large and elaborate latrine, with a store-room and an oven
Left wing.
Scurvy.