Recommenda
- t i o n s .
Remarks by
the Officer
Commanding.
101
MEERUT DIVISION.
of the 5th. Previous to attack he was quite well. The disease passed through the stages of
collapse, with suppression of urine, and re-action, and terminated fatally by secondary fever and
uræmic poisoning. The next case among the men occurred on the 15th ; the attack also
commencing in the early morning, and passing rapidly into collapse, from which there was no
rally, death taking place in 8 hours after admission. From the 12th to the 21st September,
9 cases occurred among the camp-followers of the regiment, and of these, 3 died and 6 re
-covered. They were treated by the Staff Surgeon in a temporary hut erected for the emergency.
Most of these cases, including the two sowars who died, having occurred in the 6th troop,
this troop was placed in tents on the neighbouring maidan, and its lines thoroughly cleaned
and disin fected.
Altogether, throughout the outbreak, 1,023 deaths took place in the city and district of
Meerut, 15 admissions with 10 deaths occurred in the Artillery, 2 admissions in the 15th
Hussars, 1 admission in the 85th Regiment, and 11 admissions with 5 deaths in the 4th
Bengal Cavalry. The 5th Native Infantry had a complete immunity, no case having
occurred in this regiment. One case of cholera occured in the Delhi detachment of the 4th
Bengal Cavalry, and ended fatally in the stage of collapse about 8 hours after attack.
Mortality.
XIX. Vaccination.— No vaccinations were effected during the year.
Vaccination.
XX. Recommendations.—These have had reference to conservancy and other conditions
affecting the health of the corps, and have always received the prompt and cordial attention of
the officers in command.
Remarks by the Officer Commanding .—I have nothing to add to the above complete and
interesting report, but the remark that, except when the regiment was stationed in Scinde,,I
never remember so many cases of malarious fevers as occurred in 1874. The causes must have
been widespread, not merely local, as the whole district suffered in like proportion.
Inspection.— Mr . C. M. smith, F.R.C.S.,D e p u t y S u r g e o n - G e n e r a l o f
the Meerut Circle, made his inspection of the hospital and lines of, this regi
-ment on the 12th November 1875. He reports that no change has been made
in the lines since his last inspection, but that the huts were in good repair, and
the cleanliness and conservancy of the lines were well looked after and were
quite satisfactory.
The brick floor in hospital had been replaced by large flags of red sand
-stone imbedded in cement. Mr. Smith objects to this kind of floor on the
following grounds :—"In the first place, the stone itself is porous, and readily
absorbs any liquid matter thrown upon it ; and secondly, there is always a diffi-
-culty in laying it down evenly, which renders the joinings liable to open, and
to admit the fluid portions of excreta, &c., that may be spilt upon it, and which
cannot then be got rid of effectually without the removal of the entire flooring.
This condition might give rise to, and assist in, the propagation of infectious
diseases. The flag floor has, however, a very neat appearance, and its surface
can always be kept clean from dust and litter."
The hospital arrangements were all in a satisfactory condition.
Inspection.
5th Regiment Aatibe Enfantrg—Meerut.
I. Medical Officers.—Surgeon-Major Perkins held medical charge of the corps from the 1st
January to the 3rd April. Surgeon
J. L. Corbett, M.D., succeeded to
the medical charge of the regiment
on the 4th April, and held it up to
the 4th August. Surgeon A.
Barclay, M.B., was in medi--
cal charge from the 5th
August to the 30th November,
on which date he was succeeded by
Surgeon J. S. Gunn, M.B., who
remained in charge to the end of
the year, and by whom the annual
sanitary report has been written.
II. Location and movements.—
The regiment was stationed at
Meerut from the beginning of
the year to the 3rd of March. On that date the head-quarters marched to Del hi , arri vi ng there on the 6th and occupyi ng the ground on the east si de of the "Ri dge" on the 3rd Apri l , when i t returned to Meerut, where i t has been santi oned duri ng the rest of the year. A deatchment
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1870 . . . Benares, January 1868,
from Dacca.
110.1
.8
5
1871 . . . Ditto ditto . . .
1 0 1 . 5
. 7
3.5
1872 . . . Meerut, November 1872.
173.7
.8
4
1873 . . . Ditto, ditto...
2 4 1 . 1
.9
5.4
1874 . . . Ditto, ditto . . .
250
1.9
5.4
Average . . .
175.28
1.02
4.66
1875 . . . Meerut . . .
86.81
.2
2.35
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
A l