PUNJAB FRONTIER FORCE.
207
comprising nearly four-fifths of the total admissions from fever, the remaining fifth
being composed mainly of tertian ague and a few cases of remittent fever. The
number of cases of fever of all kinds admitted this year falls nearly 50 short of the
number admitted in 1874. This may be due possibly to the greater healthiness of Kohat over
Edwardesabad, where the regiment was stationed in 1874, and to the removal of the regiment
from the frontier during the last three months of the year. The admissions from diarrhœa and
dysentery last year were double what they were in 1874. They chiefly occurred during the march
to and at Delhi. The attacks were generally mild and amenable to treatment, and were
probably, in the main, owing to the cold at Delhi and the bad water there and en route. The
contusions and injuries number much the same as they did in 1874 and require no remarks.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality. —Two deaths occurred in the regimental hospital at
head-quarters, one owing to fatal collapse, for which no sufficient cause was diagnosed during
life or after death by post-mortem; the second was due to remittent fever, complicated with
jaundice and enlarged spleen, and occurred on the march to Delhi. One death took place in
the detachment hospital at Bahadoor Kheyl from pneumonia. The total number of deaths in
hospital was 3 as against 4 in 1874. Six men died out of hospital—at their homes.
Mr. Banister made his inspection of this regiment on the 22nd September,
and he reports that on that date the lines "were in excellent order." The
hospital, a comparatively new building, was suitable in every respect, and had
appropriate out-offices, including two detached wards for infectious diseases.
The arrangements in it could not have been improved upon, and the equipment
was thoroughly complete.
The 32 recruits, though not first class, were tolerably good.
4th Regiment, Punjab Infantry—Rohat.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Inspection.
I . M e d i c a l O f f i c e r s .
—Surgeon-Major J. W. Jhonston, M. D., was in
medical charge throughout
the year and reports as
follows:—
II. Location and move-
ments.—The head-quarters of
the regiment was at Kohat.
Three detachments, of an
average strength of 59·85,
were detatched to Bahadur
Khel outpost for the fol-
lowing periods:
—
18th January to 8th February;
3rd July to 7th September; and
from 3rd November to 31st Dec.
There was no change in the sanitary conditions under which the men of
this regiment were placed, nor is any special remark called for as regards the
lines, drainage, conservancy, and water-supply. Dr. Johnston considers that
the sepoy on his present pay cannot feed himself so as to preserve his physique
and his health at that standard which will ensure him the greatest immunity
from disease. A military caped cloak has been sanctioned for the men instead
of the choga, in consequence of the insufficient protection to the chest which
the latter covering afforded. The duty was not severe; each man had on the
average 4·77 nights in bed out of 6·05. In the cold weather, the ventilation of
the hospital was considered to have been much too free, and the allowance
of two maunds of firewood with the present stove system could not supply
sufficient radiant heat to raise or maintain the temperature of the hospital
at a proper standard during the cold weather which is experienced at Kohat
; however, Dr. Johnston writes that as the executive engineer has been author-
ized to introduce a new stove system, he is in hopes that the question of
heating the hospital sufficiently will soon be settled.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1870
Kohat, Feby. 1869
247·3
2·4
6·1
1 8 7 1
D i t t o
234·9
3·7
4·5
1 8 7 2
Abbottabad, Nov. 1871
127·5
2·1
3·2
1 8 7 3
Ditto
110·5
·8
2·1
1 8 7 4
Kohat, Dec. 1874
131·9
1·3
2·5
Average
170·42 2·06
3·68
1875
Kohat
254·67 ·93
4·51
Location an
d movements.
Lines, &c.
Medical
Officers.
XV. Sickness, mortality, and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment—
Present
623·14
Absent
122·08
Total
745·22
Sickness,
mort al i t y, and i nval i di ng.