LAHORE DIVISION.
123
removal of a considerable rainfall, provided it be not obstructed by the flooding of the
Chenab during the rainy season.
I V . M e t e o r o l o g y , &
c . — T h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g f e a t u r e i n t h e m e t e o r o l o g y o f 1 8 7 7 w a s i n t h e
rainfall both as regards its amount, which was upwards of 14 inches, and also in its irregularity;
the cold season rains having been very deficient, while a comparatively heavy fall of 2.33
inches occurred in April, which was very unusual and prolonged the comparatively cold weather
far into May. The fall of 9.15 inches in September was almost unprecedented in the district
of Mooltan, but was not followed by any notable increase of paroxysmal fevers. The winter
of 1876-77 was a comparatively mild one.
I. The lines, &c.—The lines have been maintained in excellent sanitary order and repair.
There is no apparent overcrowding when the barracks are fully occupied.
II. Drainage.—The lines are provided with channels which serve the double purpose
of surface drains and of conducting water, during the period the canals are filled, from the
Walli Mahomed canal. It is desirable that they should be entirely reserved for drainage, as
their overflow during the rainy season would contribute seriously to the prevalence of fever
among the men. They have been kept clean and in good order.
III. Conservancy.—The arrangements detailed in previous reports have continued in
force and have worked quite satisfactorily. The excreta, after being treated with dry-earth,
are buried in shallow trenches.
IV.
Water-supply.—The water-supply for the regiment was taken from three solid
V.
masonry wells, amply protected from surface pollutions. The water of the hospital well is
apt to become putrid and offensive from leaves accidentally fallen into it from a large tree
• adjacent, and required cleansing three times during the hot season. A chemical analysis of
the potable waters of the garrison was made this year at the instance of Brigadier General
Macpherson. v. C., C . B., which has served to place the purity and excellence of the water-
supply beyond all question.
IX. Food-supplies in the regimental bazar have been invariably of good quality. Fresh
vegetables are procurable all the year round; fish and meat are purchasable at fair rates.
Instances of under-feeding and scurvy have not been observed.
X. Clothing.—Theclothing provided by the men themselves to wear, when not on duty,
appears to me to be generally insufficient to protect them from the rigours of the cold season.
This deficiency of warm undress clothing accounts for some of the cases of severe inflamma-
tion of the lungs which occur in that season, and are the chief source of mortality. Strict
orders were issued by the commanding officer to the men. to provide themselves with suitable
clothing against the severe cold, but they appear to have not been generally attended to.
D u t i e s
h a v e n o t b e e n o n e r o u s : n i g h t s i n b e d 9 . 5 5 .
XVI. Hospital.—No alterations or additions have been made during the year, although
the latter are much needed for the more comfortable accommodation of the hospital assistants,
medical pupils and hospital servants. Plans and designs have been prepared, but no work
has been commenced. The hospital itself is large, well ventilated, and fairly lighted, and
afforded ample accommodation for the sick during the year. The order which sanctions the
use of fires during the cold season might extend with advantage to the end instead of the
15th of February. The lavatory arrangements are complete.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
631.34
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
77.68
Total
.
. 709.02
Meteorolgy.
The lines, &c.
Drainage.
Conservancy.
Water-supply.
Food.
Clothing.
Duties.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sion. Deaths.
Admis-
sions.
Deaths.
Daily
averag
s i ck.
Head-quarters Mooltan
Detachment en route to
Jacobabad,
1st Jan. 1877 . 31st Dec. 1877
627.98 1,077
5
17.53 171.50 0.79
2.79
22nd Dec. 1877
Ditto
89.00
. . .
. . .
. . .
...
. . .
. . .
Total
...
. . .
631.34 1,077
5
17.53 170.58 0.79
2.77
Number of deaths in hospital, 5; out of hospital, 1; total
6; per cent, of total strength
.
0.84
” of men invalided .
.
.
.
.
.
.
7;
,,
”
.
.
0.98
”
sent on sick leave .
.
.
.
.
.
.
3 ;
,,
”
.
.
0.42
” of days spent in hospital, 6,397; per admission .
5.93; per man of total strength
.
9.02
”
”
on sick leave, 431; per man
. . 143.66 ;
„
” .
.
0 . 6 0
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
.
9.63
XVI. Principal causes of sickness—The health of the regiment has been more favorable
during this than the previous year, the difference resulting almost exclusively from the admis-
sions for paroxysmal fevers being smaller, the actual numbers being 794 for 1877 as compared
with 1,548 for 1876. It is interesting to observe that remittent fever furnished 22 admissions
in 1877, or 20 more than in 1876. The greater number of these cases occurred during the
Principal
causes of
sickness.
Remittent
fever,