Lines.
Drainage.
Conservancy,
latrines, &c.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Clothing
Duties.
Exercise.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality
and invalid
-ing.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER OF
Daily
average number of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis- sions. Deaths.
Admis- sion. Deaths. Daily
average sick.
Head-quarters at Dera
Ismail Khan and Camp at Delhi.
1st Jan.
31st Dec.
371 588
3 14.57158.49.81
3 . 9 2
Detachment at Dera Ismail
Khan.
17th March. 28th March 7 1
61
9.93 369.91
2.28
20th Oct. 31st Dec.
Ditto at Zann, &c. 1st Jan.
17th Oct.
25 13
.57 65.40
Ditto at Girni, &c.
"
"
70 29
1.26 52.11
1.80
TOTAL
394.5 691
3 19.01 175.16
. 7 6
4 . 8 2
Number of deaths in hospital 3; out of hospital none; total 3; per cent of total strength
.61
" invalided 10; " "
2.03
" s e n t o n s i c k l e a v e 8 ; " "
1.62
" of days spent in hospital, 6,305; per admission 9.12; per man of total strength
12.78
" "on sick leave 930; per man 116.25; " " 1.88
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
14.66
197
PUNJAB FRONTIER FORCE.
of the regiment improved greatly, and during the stay at the camp of the Imperial
Assemblage, comprising a period of 23 days, only fifteen admissions into the hospital
took place out of an average strength of 343.56 sabres, making the proportion of
admission to strength only 43.47 per 1,000. The average daily sick during the camp
came to 5.34, and the proportion of daily sick to strength to 1.87 per 1,000. The
encamping ground at Delhi was near Badli-ki-serai, and had an indifferent natural
drainage. The soil was impregnated with sulphate of soda, and water was only three feet
from the surface. From these causes the ground was damp and cold, especially at night.
Had there been rain during the stay of the regiment, there would have been a consider-
able increase of sickness due to diseases arising from damp and bad drainage. The
drinking water was procured from a well in the Shalimár Garden immediately behind
the camp of the regiment. It was good and abundant. The ordinary, or nullah water,
near the camp, was impregnated with sulphate of soda, causing diarrhœa, dyspepsia, &c.
The regiment began its return march from Delhi on the 8th January 1877. Detachments
of the regiment were stationed at the frontier outposts of Girni, Zam, &c., being
relieved bi-monthly up to the middle of October, since when those posts have been
held by a detachment of the 5th Punjab Cavalry. There has been a detachment or depôt
of the regiment at Dera Ismail Khan since 20th October, the date on which the head-quarters
began its march to Delhi.
V. Lines.—The lines at Dera Ismail Khan were kept in excellent order during the year.
VI. Drainage.—Since last year the drainage of the lines has been improved—several
surface kutcha drains having been made communicating with the main station drains.
VII. Conservancy, latrines, &c.—The latrines have been well looked after on the dry-earth
system. The refuse so deodorized has been used by the neighbouring cultivators.
VIII. Water-supply. —The water has been good and abundant, and has been procured from
four wells in the lines.
IX. Diet. —Almost without exception the men have dieted themselves well, as is generally
the case in cavalry regiments. The bazar supplies have been good and plentiful.
X. Clothing.—The winter clothing consists of cloth coats and American drill pants, great
- c o a t s a n d p o s t h e e n s . T h e s u m m e r c l o t h i n g o f b l u e A m e r i c a n d r i l l c o a t s w i t h w h i t e d r i l l p a n t s .
Boots are worn when mounted, and native shoes when employed on dismounted duties. The
clothing is suited to climate, &c.
XI. Duties.—Light; nights in bed, 4 in 7.
XII. Exercise.—The men are fond of "Niza Bazi," and other cavalry games which are
practised generally twice a week.
XIV. Hospital. —The sick at Dera Ismail Khan are treated in a small building near the
lines, which has been found convenient in many ways and more satisfactory to the regiment
than the old plan of treating the sick in the station hospital. The building referred to was
formerly the artillery hospital, and is fairly ventilated.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment—
Present 394.5
A b s e n t 9 8 . 9
Total 493.4
XVI. Principal causes of sickness. —The following diseases and results of accident or
injury in the order given were the chief causes of sickness viz. :—
Principal
causes of
sickness.
Malarious fever
Total admissions. 352
A c c i d e n t s a n d I n j u r i e s
106
Ulcers
55
Dysentery
2 6
Rheumatism, acute and chronic
22
D i s e a s e s o f t h e C h e s t
18
Z 1