Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Recommenda
-tions.
178
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Principal
causes of
sickness.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Remarks.
X V I . P r i n c i p a l c a u s e s o f s i c k n e s s .—
I n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y , a g u e s s t a n d h i g h e s t ; 4 2 9 a d m i s -
sions were due to this cause out of a total of 1,101; next in frequency come blisters of feet,
7 0 ; b o i l s a n d b r o n c h i a l c a t a r r h , e a c h , 6 9 ; l u m b a g o a n d s c i a t i c a , 5 3 ; c o l i c a n d c o n s t i p a t i o n ,
31; chronic rheumatism, conjunctivitis and diarrhœa, each 38; slight wounds and contu-
sions of the lower extremities, 38. Ninety men were admitted on return from leave.
February was the healthiest and August the most unhealthy month in the year.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—Two deaths occurred from small-pox, one was a
Goorkha recruit who joined ill with the disease. Acute bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhœa,
lumbar abscess, and gun-shot wound of the lower extremity, each caused one death. The
latter case was a musician who shot himself in the heel with a shot-gun; tetanus set in on
the fourth day and death on the sixth. Out of hospital there were ten casualties, five while
on sick leave, one Goorkha died down-country while on recruiting duty, three on furlough, and
one man was murdered whilst proceeding on furlough a few miles from Mardan.
XVIII. Epidemics. —No epidemic disease has prevailed in cantonments, although cholera
was prevalent in Peshawar city and district for several weeks.
XIX. Vaccination. —Three Goorkha recruits were successfully vaccinated; they were the
only unprotected men who joined during the year.
XX. Recommendations.— Owing to the appearance of epidemic cholera in the Peshawar
valley, a system of quarantine was established, and no one allowed into cantonments who
came from infected districts. All sepoys coming from leave were detained for seven days
before being allowed into the lines. In the autumn, tents were pitched for the men to sleep
in at night. No other recommendations were required.
XXI. Remarks.—The corps has been healthy as compared with former years, more so in
reality than appears from the above averages, as men suffering from intermittent fevers were
kept much longer under treatment than was the custom formerly, before being permitted to
return to duty. The health of the regiment is excellent; the men could scarcely be in better
condition for any service than they are at present. There have been three cases of pneumonia;
the first was admitted on the 22nd of November; the subject of it was a young Goorkha who
was enlisted in the previous spring. He became ill in the lines the day before. He was a
strong, healthy lad. Death occurred on the ninth day. It does not appear how the disease
was originated. The next case occurred on the 29th of November, and was admitted into
hospital on the 1st December. He became ill on the return march from Tera, where he
had been on leave, and was admitted into hospital on arrival in Mardan. He had no bedding
with him and no warm clothes except an old and worn-out choga, and attributes his present illness
altogether to the great cold experienced on the march. The third case became ill on the 2nd
December, and was admitted on the 3rd. This man had not sufficient bedding, merely having
one thin rezai, and nothing to lie on. The two latter cases can, I think, be easily accounted
for by exposure to cold. The first is of doubtful origin. They were all of necessity treated in
the regimental hospital, as there is no separate ward where they could have been put. None
of the other patients were attacked by the disease.
No. 4 Zasara Mountain Battery—Kohat.
Medical
Officers.
Location and
Movements.
Lines and
barracks.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-sup-
ply.
I. Medical Officers.—The following Medical Officers held charge of the
Battery during the year:—
Surgeon, Major J. W.
Johnston, from 1st January
to the 15th February; Sur-
geon T. Moloney, from .15th
February to 10th March;
Surgeon C. J. McCartie,
from 10th March to 14th
April; Surgeon T. E. L.
Bate, from 14th April to
6th June; Surgeon C. J.
McCartie, from 6th June
to 1st December; Surgeon
T. Moloney, from 1st to 31st
December, The last named officer has furnished the annual sanitary report.
II. Location and movements. —The Battery has been stationed at Kohat throughout the
year.
V. Lin es and barracks. —Vide former reports; the lines are in good order and barracks in
excellent repair, and are not overcrowded.
VI. Drainage. —Drainage natural and satisfactory; vide former reports.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. —Vide former reports; the men have recourse to neigh-
bouring fields for purposes of nature; latrines are much needed. The conservancy arrange
- ments of cantonments are carefully looked after, and the system works well.
VIII. Water-supply.—Vide former reports; the supply is abundant and of good quality.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1871
Kohat, March 1871
224.4
1.1
4.2
1872
Ditto ditto
228.6
2.3
3.5
1873
Abbottabad Feb 1873
148.
1.2
2.9
1874
Ditto ditto
178.3
3.1
1875
Kohat, March 1875
284.96 1.2
5.65
Average
212.85 1.16
3.87
1876
Kohat
269.35 .60
4.30