Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise and
amusements.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality ant
invalidiing.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Recommend.
ations.
Special
observations
128
MEDICAL AND SANITARY IMPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
moderately priced. The men, as a rule, live well; and I have observed no cases of disease attri
- b u t a b l e t o u n d e r f e e d i n g , o r s a m e n e s s o f d i e t .
X. Clothing.—The clothing was the same as in previous reports, and suitable. The
native clothing was, as a rule, good and sufficient; but I think I observed, more particularly
among Sikhs, cases of chest disease that in all probability resulted from insufficient protection
against vicissitudes of temperature.
XI. Duty and empl oyment.— T h e d u t y c o n s i s t e d i n r e g i m e n t a l a n d b r i g a d e d r i l l s a n d
parades, orderly and guard duties, and stables. It was not excessive, or proved injurious to
the men. Nights in bed from 6 to 8.
XII. Exercise and amusements. —The men indulge in the usual cavalry sports to a
great extent. Some are keen shikaris, and a few are not to be despised when making up
an "eleven."
XIV. Hospital. —The hospital is conveniently and well situated, and consists of one long
ward, with four small corner verandah rooms, which were used as office, dispensary, store-room,
and bath-room. It is in good repair, and afforded good and sufficient accommodation for
ordinary requirements; but during the unhealthy season it was necessary to supplement it by
tents. The ward is well lighted and ventilated; and during the cold weather, by economising
the fuel, it was warm and comfortable at nights. There is no detached ward for contagious
or other cases requiring isolation; and this might be added with advantage. There are no
dwelling-houses for the hospital assistants, which is a serious defect; but plans and estimates
have been sent in with the view to remedy it. The houses for the rest of the hospital staff
are in good repair. During the year a number of rezaies were provided under regimental
arrangements for the use of recruits that came under treatment with insufficient bedding.
During the months of September, October and November there was a daily average of 11 sick
attendants. Surely this great loss of service could, to some extent, be obviated by the em
-ployment of hospital cooks. Moreover, the present system of patients that are able going to
the lines twice daily to cook and eat their food, is utterly subversive of hospital discipline and
physically injurious.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment
—
Present
373.23
Absent
82.78
Total
456.01
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
number of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
P E R ANNUM.
From
To
Admis- sions. Deaths.
Admis- sions. Deaths. Daily
average sick.
Head-quarters at Mooltan 1st Jan. 1876 31st Dec. 1876 373.23 694
8 19.65 185.94 2.14 5.26
Number of deaths in hospital 8; out of hospitain one; total 8; per cent of total strength
1. 75
" invalided19; ” ” 4. 16
" S e n t o n s i c k l e a v e 9 ; " " 1. 97
" of days spent in hospital 7,186; per admission 10.35; per man of total strength 15. 75
" " on sick leave 990; per man 110; " " 2. 17
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
17. 92
Principal
causes of
sickness.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness. —During the year there were 494 cases under treat
-ment, against 644 admitted in the previous year. As usual, ague heads the list with 500 ad
- m i s s i o n s , a g a i n s t 3 1 3 i n 1 8 7 5 ; r h e u m a t i c a f f e c t i o n s y i e l d e d 1 5 , a g a i n s t 2 4 i n t h e p r e v i o u s
year; diseases of the respiratory system caused 32 admissions; dysentery and diarrhœa, 14; and
injuries, 62. Ague was of the ordinary quotidian type, and presented no uncommon features,
either in regard to its symptomatology or behaviour under treatment. For one month, begin
-ing on the 16th October, the regiment was paraded in the evening at the hospital, and each man
received a draught, composed of quinine, cinchona and arsenic, and the spirit-drinkers after their
evening meal had each a small ration of rum. This measure had, I think, a good effect, and
tended to ward off that depression which cool nights following upon hot days produce, and in
which disease frequently has its beginning. The other diseases presented no unusual features.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality. —During the year there were 8 deaths in the re
- g i m e n t : o f t h e s e , 3 r e s u l t e d f r o m p n e u m o n i a , 2 f r o m c h r o n i c b r o n c h i t i s , 1 f r o m a g u e , 1 f r o m
secondary syphilis, and 1 from pleurisy.
XVIII. Epidemic s.—No epidemic disease prevailed during the year either in cantonments or
neighbourhood.
XIX. Vaccination. —None.
XX. .Recommendations. —A number of minor recommendations, bearing on the health and
comfort of the men, were made by me during the year, and they were promptly and cheerfully
carried out by the Commanding Officer.
XXI. Special observations.—There were 35 recruits entertained during the year; all of
them well-developed young men. The health of the camp-followers has been very good.