Water-supply
&c.
Duties.
Gardens.
School.
Hospital.
A new hos
-pital and
detached
building
required.
90
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Meteorology.
Lines.
Drainage.
Conservancy.
The detachment at Ulwar was relieved in September, having been at that station since
February 1874. A detachment of two companies was furnished on the 14th December as
escort to the Lieutenant-Governor.
IV. Meteorology and climate.—The rainfall was not excessive as in the previous year.
The rainy season was on the whole favourable, although it terminated rather suddenly on the
12th September. The climate was remarkably good ; there was no long continuance of
exhausting heat, and the residents of all classes in cantonments maintained more than an aver
-age of good health. The cool weather set in towards the close of September.
The new lines described in the report of 1873, give satisfaction. The
natural drainage of lines and cantonments is defective, but the surface drains
were widened and deepened during the year. The ravines leading towards the
Jumna afford great facilities for good drainage. The lines are kept very clean.
The trench system works well in the dry months, but the trenches get flooded
in the rains.
No change has taken place as regards water-supply. Food-supplies were
abundant and good. The men are suitably clad, but the boots are blamed for
producing blisters and incapacity. Dr. Hutchinson recommends a laced boot of
undressed leather, kept soft by suet or ghee. In addition to their usual duties,
the men. were employed in building their barracks, and 160 men and native
officers were sent on famine relief duty. They did good service, but some of the
men suffered in health in consequence of the exposure and fatigue.
The gardens in the lines and the regimental school continue successful.
XIV. Hospital .—This building is of the standard plan ; it is perpetually needing repairs.
The roof leaks in heavy rain, and the water coursing down the inner walls leaves unsightly
stains of mud.
I am of opinion that a truly suitable and comfortable hospital remains yet to be designed.
There is much need of a permanent small building of brick masonry in the immediate
neighbourhood of the main hospital for the reception of any infectious diseases, as the present
plan of putting a patient into a pâl tent is not calculated to improve his condition either in
the hot or cold season. Persons suffering from small-pox are peculiarly sensitive to the great
heat of such a tent in the hot winds. Again, the main building itself ought to be divided into
at least three wards which could be closed when needed from each other. The wards to be of
different sizes, the first for two beds; this would be a suitable place for diseases of the eye, or
for offensive skin diseases; the second for six beds, for the reception of ulcers and syphilitic
cases, and the third or large ward, for the general diseases admitted into hospital.
Then again, each bed should be provided with a small table and locker in one. The sepoy
at present experiences much inconvenience from the want of a proper receptable for his cooking
vessels, for his pen, ink and paper, or other little articles he likes to have about him.
Sickness
mortality and
invaliding.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding .—Strength of regiment—present 546.69 ; absent
151.23 ; total 697.92.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUM-
BER OF
D a i l y a v e r a g e n u m b e r o f s i c k .
PERCENT OF
STRENGTH PER
.
ANNUM
From
To
Admis-
sions.
D e a t h s .
Admis-
sions.
D e a t h s .
D a i l y a v e r a g e s i c k .
Head-quarters at Agra . . . 1st Jan. . . . 31st Dec. . . . 441.75
624
4 21.71 141.25
. 9 0 4.91
Detachment at Fatehgarh . . .
Do. . . . 13th Feb. . . . 134.28
19
. . .
7.12 117.38
. . .
5.3
" " . . .
26th Sep . . . . 31st Dec. . . . 146.5
78
. . .
6.81 200.33
. . . 4.64
" at Ulwar . . . 27th Jan . . . . . 26th Sep. . . .
56.
66
. . .
2.80 177.03
. . . 5 .
Escort with Lieutenant Gov -
ernor, N. W. Provinces . . . 13th Dec. . . . 31st Dec. . . . 163.25
7
. . .
1.44
82.66
. . .
.88
TOTAL . . .
. . .
. . . 546.69
794
4 26.2 145.23
. 7 3 4.79
Number of deaths in hospital, 4 ; out of hospital, 5 ; total, 9 ; per cent. of total strength . . .
1.28
," invalided,
21
;
"
"
"
.
.
.
3.01
" sent on si ck l eave, 7 ; " " " . . .
1 .
" d a y s
s p e n t i n
h o s p i t a l , 9 , 5 8 6 ; p e r
a d m i s s i o n ,
1 2 . 0 8 ; p e r m a n " " . . . 13.75
" " s i c k
l e a v e ,
1 , 2 9 2 ;p
e r m a n , 1 8 4 . 5 5 ; " " . . . " . . .
1.85
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . . 15.60
A satisfactory reduction of sickness took place during the year, 3 cases
died of phthisis, and one of each of the following diseases : ague, remittent
fever, diabetes, bronchitis, diarrhœa and drowning (accidental). The cause of
one death (on leave) is unknown.