186
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
30th (Panjab) Regiment Native Infantry—Peshawar.
Medical Offi-
cers.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admistions. Deaths. Daily Sick.
1870 ... Jhelum, December 1868,
from Cawnpore
...
89.6
1.4
2.1
1871 ...
Ditto,
ditto ...
74.5
.9
2.9
1872
. . . Nowshera, Nov. 1871 ...
138.8
.7
4.6
1873 ...
Ditto,
ditto ...
116.7
1 .
2.9
1874
. . . Peshawar, March 1874
249.8
1 .
3.8
Average
...
133.88
1 .
3.66
1875
. . . Peshawar . . .
...
225. 35
2.44
6.29
I. Medical Officers.—The re-
giment has been in medical
charge of Surgeon D. N. Martin
uninterruptedly during the year,
with the exception of ten days in
April and ten days in October,
when the duties were performed
by Surgeon Tuohy of the 12th
N. I. The detachments quartered
from time to time at the Doaba
outposts were in charge of
Surgeon Daphtary.
Surgeon D. N. Martin has
submitted the Annual Sani-
tary Report.
Location and
movements.
Topography.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines, bar-
racks, &c.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
II. Location and movements.—The head-quarters of the regiment remained in Peshawar
throughout the year. The regiment furnished detachments for the periods shewn in paragraph
XV to the Doaba outposts. During the cold season, each detachment remained out one
month ; and during the hot season the detachments remained out for two months at a time.
Topography.—The position of Peshawar as regards latitude, longitude, altitude, &c.,
is so well known as to need no description in this report. The large swamp on the right front
of the station, called the artillery jheel, has been drained to some extent ; but from a personal
inspection it does not seem to me that it can ever be thoroughly drained with the amount of
fall obtainable by the present plan and direction of the system of drains. I have
not heard any engineer speak on the subject, and know nothing about these matters
beyond what we might know from mere casual observation of such work ; but I should
think that the only complete way of draining the jheel would be to run drains from it into the
"Boodnia" river, which runs between it and the rising ground of the station, and at a consider-
able lower level than it (the jheel). The drains would have to be very deep, as the ground
rises a little between the jheel and the river. I believe some people expected that the autumnal
malarious fever of Peshawar would have been very much less prevalent amongst the troops this
year in consequence of this drainage, but the fever has been just about as prevalent as usual.
In fact, the drainage as yet has made so little difference in the amount of water in the jheel
that no sensible differences in the amount of fever could have been expected.
IV. Meteorology and climate.—The highest temperature during the year was registered
in July, 103˚. The lowest registered in January was 52˚. The mean of all highest tempera-
tures was 83 .41˚; the mean of all lowest was 71 . 91˚. The greatest range during any
month was in March, viz. 20˚. The least range in any month or months was registered in
May and June, viz. 5˚. The figure 103˚ does not represent the degree of discomfort felt in
July, as at that time the air was full of vapour. The quantity of rain which
fell during the middle and latter end of the year was considerably greater than during the
year 1874. During the beginning of the year the amount of rain-fall appeared to be much
less than in the previous year.
V. Lines, barracks, &c. —The lines have been already so fully and frequently reported on,
that any further description is unnecessary. As stated in last year's report, verandahs have
been built to the huts, and are of the greatest benefit and comfort to the men as a lounge
during the heat of the day and during the wet weather, and also as an awning under which to
sleep in the fever season, when it is too close to sleep in the huts.
VI. Drainage.—The drainage is efficient, the station drainage remaining as previously
described. The main portion of the drainage from the European lines runs down into
the broken ground in front of these lines. The drainage from the centre and south side of the
station runs off towards the ground skirting the south side of it. The station generally has
been greatly improved in its drainage and cleanliness during the last five or six years. Except
after heavy falls of rain, no stagnant pools of water are now seen about, and those which
remain after rain only remain in large drains, the slope of which is not sufficient to take off a
large quantity of water quickly. These drains are not many. Peshawar is a station always
easily drained, as it is on a rising ground, with ground on a lower level on three sides of it.
The only cause of anxiety would be lest the ground surrounding it should ever become so
saturated with drainage as to be unhealthy. However, as a great part of this ground is under
cultivation, it is not likely to become unhealthy under ordinary circumstances.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.— The conservancy system has been the same as that
carried out during the previous year. It seems to work well under the strict supervision of the
cantonment magistrate, who pays great attention to this particular.
Water-supply.
VIII. Water-supply.—The source for the supply of water to the sepoys for all purposes is
still the stream from the Bara river, uncovered throughout its entire course and carrying the
usual amount of mud and other impurities. The European lines have got wells in them for
drinking water, and European residents can always get water from the various wells in the
station ; but with the exception of the 12th Bengal Cavalry, which regiment has built a good
well for itself in the lines, all the native troops have to drink the water of the Bara.