Principal
causes of
sickness.
XVI.Princial causes of sickness.—These have been fevers, contusions, and blowe com--
plaints. The admissions from the several types of fever are 49 per cent. of the total admis--
sions from all causes ; those from contusions are 13 per cent., and from bowel complaints 7 per
cent. The diseases next in order of frequency are ulcers, boils and rheumatic affections.
The chief type of fever has been the quotidian, from which 89 per cent. of the admissions
took place, while the remainder were of the tertian and quartan types, with a few cases of
remittent fever. The total admissions from fever are some 23 in excess of what they were in
1875, when the regiment was absent from Kohat during the so-called sickly season. Nearly
two-thirds of the fever admissions were in the 4 months from August to November, and
in general character was mild, and does not call for special notice.
The admissions from diarrhœa, and dysentery were 56 to 64 in 1875. These disorders
have increased in the last 2 years from what they were during the 3 years the regiment
was at Edwardesabad. The increase last year I ascribed to the march of the regiment to
Delhi, but during the last hot season there was an unusual prevalence of these disorders, the
cause of which I cannot explain. Some 71 per cent. of the total number of cases occurred
between May and September, but their general character does not appear to have been severe.
The admissions from the various forms of contusion have been some 30 per cent. in excess
of what they were in 1875, but do not call for any special remarks. The admissions last year
from all causes were 104, or 16 per cent. in excess of those in 1875. The chief causes of
increase have been fevers, contusions and constipation. The daily average sick of last year
was 22 against 19 the previous year, a difference of 13 per cent.
XVII.Principal causes of mortality. —Have been fever, complicated in one case with
pneumonia and bronchitis. Two deaths occurred in the regimental hospital from ague and
remittent fever ; another from ague and pneumonia on the march from Delhi. Two men
who had been sent on sick leave died at their homes, one of bronchitis, the other of diarrhœa.
Two men also died at their homes on furlough. The total deaths in hospital last year was 2
to 3 in 1875, and the total in and out of hospital was 7 last year to 9 in 1875.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
XXI. Special observations and remarks. —Forty-one recruits were enlisted last year ; their
average age was 20 . 5 years, and their chest measurement, 32 . 8 inches. They are not, as regards
physique, as favorable as could be wished, but they are perhaps the best obtainable under
our present system of recruiting. The distance from which a large number came for enlist-
-ment, as well as the money qualification required, practically restricts the election to a
single candidate who may or may not be up to the required standard. But as all men are
not equally favorable specimens of the same standard, its value decreases in proportion to the
limit of selection. Again, the small number of recruits enlisted annually are mostly relations
of men already in the regiment, which also limits the area of selection. I believe recruit depôts
in certain localities would be able to get recruits of a better physique than those now
generally enlisted. Ten men were invalided last year. Their average age was 42 .3 years, and
their service 19 . 9 years ; 50 per cent. were invalided for broken down constitutions, and some
30 per cent. for enlarged spleen. The present system of pensions has many drawbacks, an
incentive to malingering not being the least. I think it would be desirable, in the interests
of the service, to get rid of the half-hearted soldier equally with the physically unfit, but
there is no way open to do so.
The operation of laryngotomy was successfully perfomed on a patient with syphilitic laryn--
gitis. The disease presented the usual symptoms of that malady, and superadded some
paroxysms of dyspnœa from spasm of the glottis, which, becoming more frequent and prolonged,
threatened the patient with suffocation, compelling interference. The trachea should in
preference have been opened as further from the seat of disease ; but special circumstances
and difficulties attending the operation prevented this. being done. On opening the larynx,
a good deal of hœmorrhage ensued, which threatened to suffocate the patient, but he
eventually rallied and made a good recovery, though not without some subsequent bron-
chitis. Some 6 weeks after the operation he was able to go to his home, where the climate
would be milder than at Kohat. The ringing cough and dyspnœa characterising the primary
disease completely subsided after the operation.
I have used extensively the cinchona febrifuge powder in the treatment of the malarial
fevers occurring during the latter months of the year, and I have found it in the great
majority of cases as effectual as quinine. I have given it in 207 cases, including 75 camp-
followers ; the dose was 3 grains in powder three times a day, and nearly all of the above cases
recovered under this treatment. In some cases the above dose caused vomiting and purging,
and any larger dose very generally did so. Whether combined with opium this effect would
be lessened, I cannot say, but the remedy is one well worthy of general trial.
Special obser-
vations and
remarks.
Inspection.—The Deputy Surgeon-General of the Rawal Pindi Circle
made his inspection of the hospital, lines, &c., of this regiment on the 9th
February 1876. The condition of the lines, with the exception of the ventila--
tion, was considered to be excellent in every respect. The sick were not treated
in the station hospital, but in a building near the regimental lines, which
was found to be clean, sufficiently ventilated, and provided with wards for the
segregation of cases of infectious disease. All the details for the proper care
and treatment of the sick were complete, and well looked after. Thirty-seven
recruits joined during the year, and Mr. Allen considered them to be a well
set-up batch of young men.
Inspection.