185
PESHAWAR DISTRICT.
The wards are lighted by means of common cherags, one to each ward. There is no hospital
bedding, but the men, with exceptions, bring an ample supply with them. In these cases the
matter is reported to the Quartermaster, and steps are immediately taken to remedy the
deficiency. Numdahs were supplied in the cold season of 1874 by the commanding officer,
and are still in use.
Lighting.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
... ... ... ... ...
626.22
Absent
... ... ... ...
...
75.58
Total
...
... 701. 80.
Sickness, mor-
tality and in-
validing,
STATION.
PERIOD.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number of
sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH PER ANNUM.
From
To
Strength.
A d m i s s i o n s .
Deaths.
Admissions. Deaths
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Peshawar 1st Jan. ... 31st Dec. ... 536.22 1,388
8
29.87
258.84 1.49 5.57
Detachment at Michni ...
Ditto
3rd Feby....
89
10
...
2.38
120.55 ...
2.67
„
at Shabkadar... „ March... 1st April ...
90
6 ...
.61
75.90 ...
.67
„
at Michni ...
„ May ... 30th June... 89
15
...
2.33
100.82 ...
2.61
„
at Cherat ... „ July ... 2nd Augt.... 116
2
...
.48
19.
...
.41
„ at Shabkadar... „ Sept. ... ,, Nov. ...
90
40
...
5.12
257.46 ...
5.68
„
at Michni ... „ Dec. ... 31st Dec. ...
89
19
...
2.70
251.26 ...
3.03
TOTAL
...
... ...
626.22 1,480
8
31.14
236.33 1 .27 4.97
Number of deaths in hospital 8; out of hospital 2; total
10; per cent. of total strength
... 1.42
„ invalided ...
... ... ...
46 ;
„
„
.. , 6.26
„ sent on sick leave
...
... ...
40 ;
„ ,,
...
5.69
,, of days spent in hospital 11,021; per admission 7.44 ; per man of total strength
... 15.70
„ „ on sick leave 5,159 ; per man
128.97 ;
„ „
...
7.35
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
... 23.05
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— Ague, as usual, has caused by far the greatest number
of admissions, causing 1,122 out of a total of 1,480, or a little more than 75 per cent. of the
whole ; it was, however, slightly less prevalent during the autumn months than in the previous
year. The disease was not of a bad type, but. recurrences were very frequent during the months
of October, November, and beginning of December, especially among the recruits who joined
last summer. In January and February many of the cases were complicated with pneumonia
and bronchitis, and three cases proved fatal from the former complication. Sickness from other
causes was comparatively small. Next in order of frequency were bowel complaints, of which
102 occurred, viz., of dysentery 88 and diarrhœa 14. These cases were generally mild, and
yielded easily to treatment. Chest affections were the next most prevalent, giving 44 admis-
sions, of which 19 were for bronchitis and bronchial catarrh, 13 for pneumonia, 7 pleurisy, and
5 for phthisis pulmonalis ; 1 of the 13 cases of pneumonia proved fatal, and 3 of the 5 cases of
phthisis pulmonalis terminated in , a like manner, the 2 remaining having gone on sick leave.
Blisters and abrasions of the feet caused 38 admissions. The remaining cases do not call for
any special remarks.
Principal
causes of sick-
ness.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Eight deaths occurred in hospital during the year ;
of these, 3 were from 15 (a) pneumonia, 3 from phthisis pulmonalis, 1 from remittent fever, and
1 from pneumonia..
Principal
causes of mor-
tality.
XVIII. Epidemics.—There was no epidemic disease during the year ;
all the unprotected recruits and children were vaccinated in the early part
of the year. A few recommendations were made on matters of minor import-
ance, which at once received the immediate co-operation of the commanding
officer.
Mr. Banister, Deputy Surgeon-General of the Rawal Pindi Circle, made
his inspection of this regiment on the 3rd April. Although there had been a
great number of admissions into hospital, yet the mortality was inconsiderable.
A comparatively small number of men were absent on medical certificate, so
that the effective strength of the regiment was equal to, or perhaps greater
than, that of any other in the garrison. Mr. Banister reports that "the lines
were in admirable order, and the hospital arrangements as good as possible ; the
equipment also was fairly complete." All the 95 recruits were fairly developed,
but 6 of them appeared overaged.
Epidemics.
Inspection.