211
EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT.
f a t a l , T h e d i s e a s e w a s e p i d e m i c a t t h e t i m e ( m o n t h s o f J a n u a r y , F e b r u a r y a n d - M a r c h ) i n t h e
Sylhet district and caused great loss of life amongst the coolies in the neighbouring tea planta-
tions. In some of the plantations work had to be suspended for a time owing to the flight
of the coolies into the jungles, anywhere away from the infected localities. There were seven
cases of enteric fever at Shillong, two fatal. There were 43 admissions for diseases of the chest,
chiefly bronchial catarrh and bronchitis; seven of the cases were pneumonia, one of which
proved fatal, showing a mortality of 12.5 per cent in the total number of cases of pneumonia
(8) treated. Rheumatism yielded 19 admissions, dyspepsia and diarrhœa 26, venereal 10, viz., 2
soft chancre, 7 gonorrhœa, 1 epididymitis. Abscess, ulcer and boils 40, injuries (for the most
part of a trifling nature) 54.
XVI I . Caus es of mor t al i t y. — D e a t h s
i n h o s p i t a l . T h e r e w e r e 1 2 d e a t h s i n h o s p i t a l ,v
i z . . ,
enteric fever 2, remittent fever 1, cholera 4, phtliisis 2, heart disease 1, pneumonia 1, diarrhœa 1,
total 12. Of the deaths out of hospital, the cause is unknown in four cases. One sepoy died
from fever, 1 dysentery, 1 bronchitis, 1 general debility.
XVIII. Epidentic8.— With the exception of the cases of cholera and enteric fever,
there was no epidemic disease of importance. Thirteen cases of small-pox were admitted
in the months of February, March and April. They occurred in men who had been
either inoculated or vaccinated previously. They were, for the most part, of the abortive
variety; and, had it not been for the fact that small-pox was epidemic amongst the Khasias at
the time, one would have had some difficulty in recognising the eruption. Even amongst the
Khasias the epidemic was one of singular mildness, and very few deaths occurred.
•
XIX. Vaccination.— Three men and 24 children were successfully vaccinated during the
year. A register of the state of protection of recruits is kept, and all men whose marks are
doubtful are vaccinated at the proper season.
Inspection.—Inspected by the Officiating Deputy Surgeon-General of the
Dacca Circle on the 24th of April 1877. Mr. Adley considers the site of the
lines to be a good one, inasmuch as it is open to currents of wind, is free from
jungle, well drained, and close to a pure water-supply from hill streams. The
huts afford sufficient accommodation for the men of the regiment and are well
ventilated. Latrines on the trench system were in use, and were freely made
use of ; but the staff of sweepers employed on them was considered to be in-
sufficient, as there were only six for the entire regiment, and two of them were
away with detachments. On this account the men are not discouraged from
resorting to the jungle.
The hospital is capable of accommodating 40 patients without overcrowd-
ing, and is in excellent repair with all the accessories in perfect condition.
Quarters -for the hospital assistants and medical pupils are described as being
very good.
Mr. Adley reports that the recruits of the regiment were carefully selected,
and were fine specimens of their class in physique.
420 Regiment (Assam) Eight Entantrp.- Gauhati.
Epidernics,
Vaccination.
nspection.
I. Medical Officers.— Surgeon Joseph Wilson,
Y E A R .
STATION.
PER CENT OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths.
Daily sick.
1871
Dibrugarh
1 4 6 . 0 8
1 . 8
3 . 5
1872
Ditto
1 9 7 . 0 2
5 . 8
4 . 6
1873
Ditto
1 4 4 . 0 5
1 . 4
3 . 5
1874
Gauhati
1 1 2 . 0 2
4 . 9
3 . 4
1875
Ditto
1 4 3 . 6 7
1 . 7 8
4 . 4 7
Average
1 4 8 . 5 6
3 . 1 3
3 . 8 9
1876
Gauhati
2 0 0 . 9 4
1 . 8 3
5 . 0 5
M.D., who has written the
sanitary report, was in
medical charge of head-
quarters through out the
year. Mr. Mithorne, civil
medical officer of Tezpur,
and Mr. Hughes, civil med-
ical officer of Nowgong,
werein charge of the detach-
ments of the regiment at those
stations. The escort party
of the Naga Hill Survey
was in medical charge of
a third class hospital as-
sistant.
Medical Officers.
II. Location and movements.—The head-quarters of the regiment remained at Gauhati
throughout the year. The detauhment at Tezpur, consisting of 162 men, was relieved annually
Location and movements.