Epidemics.
Vaccination.
172
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Principal
causes of
sickness.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Inspection.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—Malarious fever produced the greatest number of
admissions, and prevailed most towards the end of the year, especially in the months of August
and September. There was nothing unusual in its character, but the aggregate of cases was
much larger than in the previous year. Rheumatism—subacute, chronic, synovial, and muscular
— p r o d u c e d a g r e a t m a n y m o r e c a s e s t h a n d u r i n g t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r , b u t t h e d i s e a s e w a s o f t h e s a m e
ordinary character, and required no unusual treatment. Ulcers, boils, and abscesses gave more
admissions than in the previous year, but there was nothing worthy of note in their character.
Diseases of the respiratory system were not numerous. They were very much less in their
total than last year, and, excepting a case of phthisis, all were sufficiently amenable to treat-
ment. Accidents, as sprains, contusions, wounds, &c., in most cases the result of falls whilst
doubling or jumping on regimental or brigade parades, and foot-sore, yielded, as usual, a good
many cases, but none were very severe in their character. Diseases of the eye were neither
numerous nor severe.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Two deaths occurred in hospital during the year,
both from dysentery; one in the regimental hospital at Sialkot, and the other in the native
general hospital of the Delhi camp of exercise. Two deaths occurred out of hospital during
the year, both on sick leave. One man had been suffering from chronic pneumonic phthisis,
and the other from scrofulous suppuration of the lower extremeties. The immediate cause
of death in both cases is. unknown, but in all probability was the result of the diseases above
specified.
XVIII. Epidemics.—No epidemic occurred amongst the men during the year ; but a
mild form of measles prevailed in the station and cantonments for a portion of the year.
X1X. Vaccination.— Seven men of the regiment, whose protection was considered doubtful,
were vaccinated in the early part of the year ; but the resulting pustules or vescicles were
very immature, and Could not be considered, I think, in any degree vaccine pustules. The men,
like nearly grown-up people in the Punjab, had passed through small-pox when young, and
hence the failure I expect. Sixty-eight children of sepoys and followers were also vaccinated,
and of these 35 were successful, 25 doubtful, and 8 were failures.
Inspected by Dr. G. H. Ray, the Deputy Surgeon-General of the Lahore
Circle, on the 10th April 1876, who states that the same complaints as regards
want of accommodation, and the bare exposed state of the lines, still exist.
Fire-places had been constructed in hospital since the last report, but their
full value had not been experienced owing to the regiment having been at
the camp of exercise. Huts for the hospital subordinates and servants still
remain a want. On the day of inspection, there were 14 patients in hospital,
and none of them were suffering from serious ailments.
19th (Punjab) Regiment of Native Infantry—Talagang.
Medical
Officers.
I. Medical Officers.—Surgeon-Major T. S. Veale, M. D., was in charge of the head-quarters
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1870 ... Peshawar, November 1868,
from Allyghur
...
229.7
1.4
5.1
1871
. . .
D i t t o d i t t o
. . .
1 1 7 . 5
3.2
2 . 7
1872 ... Talagang, October 1871 ...
114.8
. 7 2.8
1873
. . .
Ditto
ditto ...
123.9
. 5
2.
1874
. . .
Ditto
ditto
. . .
98.9
. 7 2
1 . 7
Average
. . .
136.96
1.30
2.86
1875 ... Talagang . . .
...
81.44
1.01
1.73
during the whole year ; 3rd class
hospital assistant Soonder Singh,
detachment at Talagang, from
1st January to 11th February ;
Surgeon-Major Thomson, M. D.,
Garrison Surgeon, Fort Attock,
detachment at Fort Attock, from
22nd February to 7th June ;
native medical pupil Inaiat
Ahmed, detachment proceed-
ing from Talagang to Mooltan,
from 16th to 24th October ; 1st
class hospital assistant Ma
homed Shuffer, left wing at
Talagang, from the 1st Novem-
ber to the 31st December.
The annual sanitary report has been submitted by Dr. Veale.
Location, and
movements.
II. Location, and movements.— The head-quarters and chief strength of the regiment at the
commencement of the year formed part of the force collected at Rawal Pindi for instruction
under Major-General McDonel, C. B. The camp broke up in the last week in January and
corps returned to their respective cantonments. The regiment arrived at Talagang on the 12th
February. A detachment of the strength of 150 protected the lines at Talagang during the
absence of head-quarters at the camp of instruction. A detachment of two companies formed
part of the garrison at Fort Attock from 22nd February to 7th June. A detachment,
strength 104, under a European officer, marched from Talagang on the 16th of October and
arrived at Mooltan on the 24th of the same month. The head-quarters commenced its
march from Talagang on the 1st November and proceeded by resgular marches to Mooltan,
arriving on the 24th of November. The left wing remains at Talagang until regularly
relieved by the 29th Regiment, Punjab Native Infantry.