201
PUNJAB FRONTIER FORCE.
yards of cantonments. Great success has, however, attended the erection of large bunds com
- p o s e d o f f a g g o t s , s t o n e s a n d p i l e s p l a c e d o p p o s i t e t h e t h r e a t e n e d s t a t i o n , a n d a l s o a b o u t t h r e e m i l e s
above the station, and the river has been directed again into an old channel and its course is now
at least five miles from cantonments. The gradual subsidence of the water which commenced
in October. leaving a large area of moist banks exposed which have slowly dried up, has
exerted little of the deleterious effect upon the health of the men of the regiment which
bad been anticipated. Admissions from fevers, however, were considerably more than during
the previous year.
IV.Meteorology and climate. —The heat during the first-half of the month of July
was very great, some men and animals dying of heat apoplexy, but otherwise the tempera
- t u r e o f t h e y e a r w a s b e l o w t h e a v e r a g e .
V.Lines, barracks and huts.—The barracks are kutcha, and divided into sections
placed parallel to one another. During the past year doors have been provided which are
of great use in keeping out dust in the summer and cold in the winter. Verandahs are still
needed.
VI.Drainage.—The drainage is as good as the nature of the soil permits of.
VII.Conservancy and latrines.—The sepoys at present resort to the jungle for the
purposes of nature. Hospital latrines, movable screens—good and sufficient.
VIII. Water-supply.—Wells good and abundant.
IX. Diet.—Food good; abundant.
X. Clothing.—Khakee; knickerbockers with leggings have been substituted for
trousers, and the native shoe for the ammunition boot.
XI. Duty and employment.—Duty has not been heavy, and the average number of nights
in bed at head-quarters was 4.83 in 7.
XII. Exercise.—The recruits are regularly put through gymnastic exercises, and sports
are held annually.
XIII.
Marches.
—The regiment marched from Dera Ismail Khan to Tonk Zam on March
16th 1876, for inspection by the Brigadier General, and for the purpose of going through
ma n œu v r e s o n t h e h i l l - s i d e . T h e y r e t u r n e d t o t h e s t a t i o n o n t h e 2 9 t h Ma r c h 1 8 7 6 ; h e a l t h
during absence being very good.
XIV.Hospital.—The sick of the regiment, who were formerly quartered in the station
hospital which was deficient in accommodation, light, and full of many defects, are now
quartered in the regimental lines. Two lines of barracks facing each other have been
fitted up with verandahs. They are divided into eight separate wards capable of holding
five sick men. Two very small rooms at the end of each barrack have been set apart for
the use of special cases. The many and glaring defects of this temporary hospital have
been brought to the notice of the Deputy Surgeon-General.
XV.Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
624.13
Absent
8 4 . 4 1
Total
708.54
PERIOD.
TOTAL NUMBER
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
OF
Daily
PER ANNUM.
STATION.
Strength.
average
number
Daily
Head-quarters Dera Ismail
From
1st Jan. 1876
To
15th Mar. 1876
A d m i s -
ions. Deaths. of sick. Adm i s
sions. Deaths. a v e r a g e sick.
Khan.
„ Tonk Zam 16th Mar. „ 28th Mar. „ 474.18 756
2 20.23 159.43
. 4 2 4.27
„ Dera Ismail 29th Mar. „ 31st Dec. „
Khan.
Outposts Girni
1st July „
Ditto
69.77 47
1.77 141.42
2.53
„ Draband
1st Jan. „ 7th April „ 74.00 3
.30 15.09
.41
„ Zam and Kirgi
1st April „ 30th June „ 70.23 12
.72 68.53
1.02
„ Shekh Budin 4th Aug „ 6th Oct. „ 37.47
1.24 91.32
3.31
Mangrotha
1st Jan „ „ 28th Mar. „ 39.66
.13 31.43
.35
TOTAL
624.13 827
2 21.31 132.50 .32 3.41
Number of deaths in hospital . 2; out of hospital 1; total
3; per cent. of total strength
.42
„
invalided
20; „
2.82
„
sent on sick leave
4; „ „
.56
„ o f d a y s s p e n t i n h o s p i t a l „
on sick leave
7,956; per admission 9.61; per man of total strength
504; per man 126;„
„
11.23
.71
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . 1 1 . 9 4
XVI.Principal causes of sickness. —The admissions from all causes during the year have
only. exceeded by 30, the number of the previous year. Fevers, as usual, give the greatest
number of admissions, but were generally of a mild type. The admissions from chest diseases
have also remarkably diminished in number.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines, bar
- c a c k s a n d
h u t s .
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty and em
-ploy ment.
Exercise.
Marches.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
Sickness.