Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Cholera.
8
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
he merely describes his symptoms as "láchári." The Officer Commanding the regiment has
used every endeavour to dispel this miserable feeling, and to make his men understand that
even when ill they should not succumb to their feelings in an unmanly way, but should make
some effort to combat their sickness ; and this on the part of the Commanding Officer has had
in a great measure a salutary effect.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— The following table shews the causes of deaths :—
S T A T I O N S
D e b i l i t y .
A g u e
.
D y s e n t e r y .
D i a r r h œ a .
C h o l e r a .
B r o n c h i t i s
.
P h t h i s i s
.
R e m i t t e n t f e v e r .
H e p a t i t i s .
A p o p l e x y .
TOTAL
Head-quarters,—Barrackpore ..
. . . .
. 3
2
4
2
4
1
1
1
. . .
. . .
18
Detachment,—Dum-Dum
.
.
.
.
.
.
1 ...
...
...
...
...
... .. .
1
1
3
TOTAL
.
.
4
2
4
2
4
1
1
1
1
1
21
Most of the above fatal cases had a malarial origin. The cases of debility, dysentery,
diarrhœa and chest diseases had at some time previously been the subject of malarial fever
in one form or another. Two men died out of hospital—one from pneumonia while on recruit-
ing duty at Fyzabad, the other when on sick leave at his home.
XVIII. Epidemics.—There were 4 fatal cases of cholera during the year. Cholera occur-
red between March 2nd and April 21st. During the occurrence of these cases, cholera
was reported as existing in the adjacent villages, and at Serampore on the other side of the river.
Diarrhœa did not prevail to any great extent previous to the outbreak. There was nothing
peculiar in the meteorological observations. Of these 4 cases of cholera, 2 occurred in the
regimental hospital at Fultah and 1 at the mess-house. There were no movements made
during the outbreak. All these cases were treated in a separate ward in the regimental hospital.
It is probable that the disease was imported from some of the neighbouring villages. The
general character of these cases of cholera was typical of the disease, and the symptoms
were severe from the first. Collapse to an extreme degree set in at an early period. The
general health of the remainder of the regiment was comparatively good. Most of the cases
then in hospital were admissions for ague.
Vaccinations.
Inspection.
XIX. Vaccinations.—There were 109 recruits vaccinated, 64 of them successfully. Most
of the men are protected by previous attacks of small-pox, or by inoculation. Several of the
cases vaccinated produced unhealthy sores, the large resulting scab resembling the crust of
rupia or ecthyma.
Inspection.—Inspected by the Deputy Surgeon-General of the Presidency
Circle on the 19th January 1877.
Health of the
regiment.
Mr. Cockburn reports that the lines were in good repair, well ventilated,
and afforded ample and good accommodation. The drainage was fair, but, after
escaping from the boundaries of the lines, " the surface water is not carried
away readily, and the ground is in consequence swampy." The latrine arrange-
ments were satisfactory, the " dry-earth " system being the system in force.
Regarding the general health of the regiment, Mr. Cockburn reports as
follows : " The whole of the men off duty were inspected in undress at their
lines. In the Inspection Report of last year they were stated to be, as a rule, of
very inferior physique and sickly-looking, and on this occasion no improvement
was observed ; on the contrary they were found to be in worse general condition
and more sickly-looking. During the whole of the past year, fever has been
extremely prevalent among them, and still continues : there were 73 in hospital;
a large majority suffering from fever and its sequelæ, general debility and en-
largement of the spleen, at least four-fifths of the total number in hospital with
the latter in a greater or less degree. This unsatisfactory state of things appears
to be due to several causes, viz., the men originally enlisted, when the regi-
ment (as the Bareilly Levy) was raised in a hurry during the mutiny, were of
very poor physique. The regiment was for three years in a malarious station
(Baxa) before coming to Barrackpore ; also a station where fever is prevalent.
Perhaps there is something insalubrious (though it is difficult to say what) about
their lines. The 10th Reginent, Native Infantry, which preceded this regiment, in
them having also suffered greatly from fever ; whereas the other Native regiment
located in a different part of the station remains remarkably healthy. Mea-
sures, which it is hoped may improve the salubrity of the lines—better drain-
age, removal of an excess of trees, and otherwise opening out the site—are being
undertaken ; but, viewing the present condition of the regiment, the undersigned
is very doubtful whether its general health will much improve, unless removed
to some station with a drier and healtheir climate up-country."