Topography
Lines.
228 MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Sickness.
Mortality.
Inspection.
XVI. Sickness.—There were 1,254 admissions during the year. The chief causes of sick-
ness were intermittent fevers, for which there were 711 admissions. Remittent fever caused
33 admissions, pneumonia 57, and bronchitis 34; dysentery 51; diarrhœa 22; abscesses,
ulcers and boils 75; general debility 19. It is often difficult to decide whether inflammation
of the lung is the primary disease or secondary result of an essential fever; almost every case
of remittent fever is complicated with bronchitis, and many exhibit the more dangerous com-
plication of pneumonia.
XVII. Mortality.— T h e r e w e r e 3 8 d e a t h s d u r i n g t h e y e a r ; o f t h e s e , 3 5 o c c u r r e d i n h o s p i t a l
and 3 out of hospital. Pneumonia was the most fatal disease; it caused 30 of the deaths; and
1 death was caused by pneumonia complicating remittent fever; 5 deaths were due to remittent
fever and 1 to phthisis. Of the 38 deaths, 29 occurred in January and February. It is note-
worthy that the regiment marched froth Edwardesabad on 1st January; and it is probable that
the excessive sickness that occurred during the march of 15 days, and afterwards at Dehra
Ghazi Khan was due to the influence of Abe climate of Edwardesahad.
On the 14th December, the date of his inspection, Mr. Banister reports
that the barracks were undergoing very great improvements; the hospital
arrangements were satisfactory. This regiment bad suffered more severely
from pneumonia than any other in the Frontier Force. No less than 49
cases of this disease had occurred in the first two months of the year, that is,
during and immediately after the march from Edwardesabad; in October, the
regiment moved to the camp of exercise at Delhi, and the change from the
Frontier proved of the greatest advantage.
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
Detachments.
Drainage.
Conservancy,
and latrines.
4th Sikh Infantry—
Dera Ghazi Khan.
I. Medical Officers. —Surgeon G. McBride Davis held charge of the re-
giment throughout the year,
and furnishes the report.
II. Location and movements.
—The regiment was from the 1st
to the 3rd of January on the march
from Kohat to Dehra Ghazi Khan,
and from the 4th January to end
of year at Debra Ghazi Khan.
Detachments were furnished
as follows:—At Rajanpur, from
9th January to 6th April, and
again from 27th September to the
end of the year; at Bundowalla,
from 9th January to 18th April,
and again from 22nd September
to 31st December; at Hurrund
and Digri, from the 9th to 26th
of January, and again from 27th March to the end of the year; at Mungrota, from 25th
March to 1st October; and with the Deputy Commissioner, Dehra Ghazi in the Bil-
o o c h h i l l s , F r o m 2 0 t h N o v e m b e r t o 3 1 a t D e c e m b e r .
III. Topography. —A description of the topography of Debra Ghazi
Khan has not been repeated, as it has been given in former reports.
V. Lines.—The regiment on arrival at Dehra Ghazi Khan took over the 2nd Punjab
Infantry lines, which have been described in previous reports. The huts are in process of being
re-roofed and heightened some 2 feet. The men have good accommodation, each man of total
strength having a superficial area of 35 square feet and 444 cubic feet of breathing space,
and of average strength present 53 superficial and 666 cubic feet. The huts are fairly venti
-
lated; no overcrowding took Place during the year.
VI. Drainage—Is by surface drains, which are usually sufficient; but after heavy rain (which
seldom occurs here) water lodges in a great many places. From the whole surrounding country
being nearly level, great difficulties exist in the way of efficient drainage.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. —No latrines exist except hospital ones. The men
resort for purposes of nature to ground north of cantonments, some 800 yards distant from the
lines. This system appears to work very well in a dry climate like Ghazi with little rainfall.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OT STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1870 Edwardesabed, February
1869.
256.8
3.8
5.9
1871
Ditto
212
3.1
6.7
1872 Kohat, February 1872.
203.1
4.4
5.4
1873
Ditto
181.4
2.3
3.9
1874
Ditto
173.5
1.4
3.8
Average
205.36
3
5.14
1875 Dera Ghazi Khan, Jany.
1875.
149.76 2.70
3.75
Water-supply
VIII. Water-supply.—From two wells in the lines; is plentiful, and appears to be of good
quality; a third well exists near the hospital, but as the water is brackish, it is only used for
washing purposes, the men not being allowed to wash at the other two wells. A large tank,
which is filled from the inundated canals, affords a . good swimming bath to the men in the
hot weather.