MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Invaliding.
Principal
causes of
sickness.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Inspection.
Lines.
Latrines.
The number of admissions during 1875 has been much greater than in former years.
This was owing to the prevalence of "foot-scres" and other affections incidental to marching
and camp life.
1874.
1875.
Admissions . . .
522 . . .
783
Invalided . . .
10 . . .
9
Deaths . . .
12 . . .
6
Of the 9 men invalided, 5 were declared unfit for the service on account of diseases incidental
to old age and long service. Of the remaining 4, one had a large spleen, 1 suffered from
caries of tarsus, 1 from a severe contusion of the hand, and I had his leg amputated while
on famine duty.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness .—There has been a marked increase in the number of
admissions from the malarial class of diseases. There have been 201 admissions against
140 in 1873. There has been also a considerable increase in the number of admissions from
rheumatic complaints. The admissions for blister of feet has risen from 79 to 143.
X VII. Principal causes of mortality .—Three men died in hospital during the year; 2
from dysentery and 1 from ague. Three men also died while on leave at their homes.
The Deputy Surgeon-General of the Lucknow Circle made his medical
inspection of this regiment on the 12th September 1875. The regiment was
to have marched from Fyzabad to the camp of exercise at Delhi on the 26th
October, and from thence was to proceed to Agra, the station for which
it was detailed in the annual relief for the native troops. The lines were well
situated, and were kept in good sanitary condition; the ventilation of the huts,
though still defective, was considered to be better than is generally met with
in native houses. The regimental latrines were a modification of the "dry
-earth" system, and they appeared to answer very well. Although the admis
-sions into hospital were more numerous than during 1874, yet the cases of
sickness which came under treatment were not so severe. The Deputy Surgeon
-General has not made much mention of the hospital arrangements for the
treatment and comfort of the sick.
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
Meteorology
and climate.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Diet.
7th Regiment, Bengal Eabalrg—Sitapur.
I. Medical Officers.— Surgeon-Major Theobald Ringer, M.D., has held
medical charge throughout
the year. The detachment
at Fyzabad was under the
medical charge of Surgeon
A. S. Reid, M.B., 8th Regi
-ment Native Infantry.
Dr. Ringer furnishes the
Annual Sanitary Report.
II. Location and movements . —
The head-quarters of the regi
- m e n t w a s s t a t i o n e d a t S i t a p u r
until 6th November, when it
marched to camp of exercise,
Delhi, viâ Shajehanpoor, Bareilly
and Moradabad. The detachment at Fyzabad joined head-quarters on 12th October.
IV. Meteorology and climate .—The rain-fall during past year was 31.3 inches, being less
than the average quantity by about 13 inches. The rains commenced on 8th July and ended
on 25th September. The climate may be pronounced as one of the best and most healthy in
the plain stations of the Bengal Presidency. The mean of highest temperature during the
year was 89.6, of lowest 67.5; mean for the year 88.5.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—The trench system has been worked for regimental
purposes, and has been extensively used by the sowars and camp-followers, and the ground has
been brought under cultivation as soon as manured. New burning enclosures were made during
the year at the cost of cantonment fund, one at each flank of the lines, where the horse litter
was burnt, no other means of disposal being available.
IX. Diet.—During the past year the system of troop messingh as been adopted in the
regiment in all the troops except the 4th, which consists of high-caste Hindoos, who will not
eat in a body. Two cooks per troop are entertained at Government expense. The system is
found to work well, and has considerable advantage over the old system of each man providing
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1870 . . . Nowgong, November
1867, from Lucknow . . .
227.3
.22
6.99
1871 . . .
Ditto ditto . . .
239.7
.86
7.34
1872 . . . Sitapore, April 1872 . . .
104.7
.66
3.86
1873 . . .
Ditto ditto . . .
78.3
.22
2.47
1 8 7 4 . . .
Ditto ditto . . .
63.1
.44
2.50
Average . . .
142.62
.48
4. 63
1875 . . . Sitapur . . .
69.03
1.32
9.19