219
EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT.
XXI. Special, observations and remarks.—The admissions and daily average sick have been
greater during the past than any previous year since 1869 ; the death-rate has also been
unusually large, Several causes have been in operation to produce this unsatisfactory result.
In the first place, owing to the season of the year in which the regiment came to Cachar the
river was very low, and the men had to proceed from Cuttuck in small and very much over-
crowded country boats; the water in use among the men, being taken from the river, was very
bad; the nights were cold and damp, and from decay in animal and vegetable matter on the
exposed banks of the river most offensive odours emanated; so that it would seem that
most of the conditions existed which are generally supposed to favour the production of
diarrhoea dysentery and cholera, diseases which were so prevalent not only among the
sepoys, but in the villages along the line of march. Then, again, our outposts have been most
fertile sources of disease ; the unhealthiness of Monier Khal has frequently been mentioned in
reports, and I do not think that it has improved. But it is to Mynadhur and Jheereghat,
—outposts that were handed over to this regiment from the Frontier Police,—that we are chiefly
indebted for the unhealthy state of the sepoys. The men at these outposts, though relieved
every month, almost without exception came into hospital on their return to head-quarters
suffering from a very severe type of ague, usually complicated with enlarged spleen : recovery
in these cases is, as a rule, slow and very often incomplete. I have been informed by planters
in the district that coolies from the North-West are never employed in the tea gardens in the
neighbourhood of Mynadhur and Jheereghat, owing to the large mortality among them and
the fact that a death-rate of more than 7 per cent. per annum is liable to lead to the closure
of a garden. With regard to the station of Silchar itself, we have little to complain of on the
score of health, as there has been very little sickness among the European officers or among
the recruits, who are never sent on outpost duty or in the regimental bazar.
Inspection.—This regiment was inspected by the Officiating Deputy Sur-
geon General of the Dacca Circle on the 25th October 1876. He reports that
the lines were situated on an elevated site, but were closely surrounded by an
unwholesome swamp formed by the drainage and sewerage of the city. This
defect has, however, since been rectified. The drainage of the lines was good,
the barracks were well ventilated, although affording somewhat limited accommo-
dation for the men. The water supply is reported to have been of good quality
and derived from wells, but in the dry season becomes rather scanty. The
trench system of latrine was in use and is stated to have answered well.
The hospital is a commodious building, situated on high ground, and can
accommodate 45 patients without overcrowding. Obcasionally, in times of
unusual sickness, a barrack had to be taken into use to relieve the hospital of
any overcrowding. The quarters for the hospital assistants and servants are
reported to be very small. All the arrangements in hospital for the comfort
and proper treatment of the sick were considered to be carefully attended to.
Mr. Adley reports that he was much struck by the cachectic appearance of the
men who had returned from duty at the outposts of Jheereghat and Myna-
dhur.
Special obser-
vations and
remarks.
Inspection.
10th Regiment, native Entantrp.—Halpaiguri and
Dacca.
I. Medical Officers.—Surgeon W. Duncan, 1st January to 15th December
1876 ; Surgeon-Major H.W.
Spry, 15th December to
31st December ; Surgeon
Fullerton in medical charge
of the Left Wing from 6th
January to 31st December
1876. The first-named me-
dical officer has furnished
the annual sanitary report-
II.Locationand vements.—
The regiment was stationed at
Alipore and in camp at Calcutta
and the maidan beside the Fort
froth the 1st to the 6th of January.
On the 6th January the head
quarters and right wing left Cal-
cutta, proceeding by rail to Sa
-
hibgunge. thence by road to
Jalpaiguri. The left wing was left at Calcutta and thereafter proceeded to Dacca .
Medical Officers.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1 8 7 1 .
Cawnpore, Jan. 1869 from
Shahjahanpur and Mo-
radabad.
1 7 7 . 9
. 9
4 . 2
1872.
Barrackpore and Alipore,
April 1872.
2 7 5 . 4
2 . 1
7 . 9
1873.
Ditto
ditto
1 7 5 . 9
3 . 3
5 . 6
1874.
Barrackpore
1 7 2 . 2
2 . 7
6 . 4
1875.
Ditto
ditto
2 3 0 . 9
6 . 4
1 3 . 3
Average
2 0 6 . 4
3 . 0 8
7 . 4 8
1876.
Jalpaiguri and Dacca,
Jan. 1876.
1 4 1 . 3 7
9 . 7 7
6 . 3 2
Location and
movements.