PESHAWAR DISTRICT.
153
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
The total of chest diseases (including phthisis) was 74 against 44 last year, and bowel
complaints were 71 against 102 in 1875. But as only one case died from chest disease, and
none from bowel complaint, it may be fairly inferred that they were not very severe.
The cases of venereal disease were only 15 in the year. On the whole, the admissions have
been moderate, especially when it is the practice of the regiment to have no convalescents, and
to take even the slightest eases into hospital, and 1876 has been the healthiest year since 1871,
as will be seen in the table at the head of this report.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—Only one man died in the regiment hospital, a
Subadar, who, being admitted with pleurisy, went on to pleuro-pneumonia and gangrene of the
lung, his death being caused by fibrinous concretions in the heart. 2nd. —One man died
suddenly while praying in a mosque, from the bursting of an aneurism into the peritoneal
cavity. The sac is reported of the size of a fœtal head. 3rd.—One died while on sick leave
from dysentery. 4th.—One from disease of carpus with tubercular deposits in both lungs.
5th.—One on sick leave, from synovitis following a sprain. 6th.—One died at his home of
remittent fever, and in one case the cause of death was not reported, but he was on leave after
a bad attack of the same disease. In all, one died in hospital and six out of it. Total 7.
XVIII. Epidemics.—There was no epidemic of any kind. Ague cases were admitted
in every week of the year excepting two, those ending 11th August and 15th December.
XIX. Vaccination.—The unprotected recruits (22) and children (34) in the lines were
successfully vaccinated by a district vaccinator in October 1876. Very nearly every man
I have seen has distinct marks of inoculation or small-pox, and I examined 101 men in the last
week of December and found only one with doubtful marks, and one who had marks of inocula
-tion and also of vaccination.
Inspection. —Inspected by the Deputy Surgeon-General of the Rawal Pindi
Circle on the 19th February 1877. Regarding the site and healthiness of
the station, Mr. Allen reports as follows:
—
"The site possesses every requisite for health, and in this respect might favorably compete
with Rawal Pindi itself, so long considered one of the healthiest stations in the plains of India.
I think that Talagang should be considered a sanitarium to which a native regiment, which
had suffered much from exposure at Peshawar or elsewhere, should be sent to recruit its health.
Its good climate, water, cheap food and lightness of the duties at so small a station would
soon prove beneficial to the health of a regiment. The chief want of Talagang is a good supply
of vegetables, should any trace of scurvy lurk in the men of the regiment stationed there,"
The lines of the regiment were clean and free from any obstruction to
the perflation of the prevailing winds. Although there were latrines for the use
of the men, it appeared that they were seldom resorted to, as the men preferred
going some distance away into the ravines. Mr. Allen considers that the
hospital, which is a temporary erection, is quite sufficient for the requirements
of the regiment. It is well ventilated and lighted by windows as well as by doors.
The water-supply of the cantonment was obtained from three deep wells,
viz., one to each wing, and one for the hospital. The water was of good quality
and abundant at the time of inspection, but is said to be scanty in the hot
weather. The depth from the surface at which water is reached is 140 feet, and
it is no light labour for the bhisties to raise it such a height.
PESHAWAR DISTRICT.
(INCLUDING THE STATIONS OF PESHAWAR, NOWSHERA, AND THE DOABA OUTPOSTS.)
Principal
c a u s e s o f mortality.
Inspection.
Average daily strength present during the year Cavalry 1,125; Infantry 3,073.7
Average daily sick per cent. of average strength „ 4.83 „
4.80
Ratio of mortality per cent. of average strength „ 59 „
1.4
8th Regiment, Bengal Cabalry—Peshawar.
I. Medical Officers. —Surgeon-Major E. O. Tandy, by whom this report has
been compiled, was in medi
-cal charge of the regiment
during the entire year, ex
-cept from 11th June to 26th
August, while employed on
special cholera duty at Mur
-ree, when Surgeon Martin,
30th Punjab Infantry, held
charge.
II. Location and movement
s — H e a d - q u a r t e r s a t P e s h a w a r , f r o m
1st January to 23rd December.
Head-quarters marching, from
24th to 31st December.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1 8 7 1
Meerut, Feby. 1870.
80.9
1.3
3
1872
„ 101.9
. 6
3.3
1873
„ 155.6
. 8
4.3
1874 Peshawar, March 1874
134.07
1.1
3.5
1875
Ditto, ditto
163.31
. 8 8
4.53
Average
127.15
. 9 3
3.72
1876 Peshawar
139.01
. 8 8
3.35
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
o 1