PUNJAB FRONTIER FORCE.
159
On the whole, the detached duties of the regiment were less frequent in the past than
in preceding years, and, as well as could be judged, they exercised no unfavorable influence on
the health of the men so employed.
IV. Climate. —The winter of 1873-74 was marked by unusual severity all over Northern
India, and the climate of Abbottabad formed no exception to the general rule. Cold was in
- t e n s e i n J a n u a r y a n d F e b r u a r y a n d M a r c h . S n o w , a l t h o u g h n e v e r h e a v y , w a s f r e q u e n t : f a l l s
were registered on the 1st, 2nd, 11th, 21st and 23rd of January, and on the 8th and 9th of
March. The only other meteorological phenomena deserving notice were, 1 st, an absence of the
usually well marked dry period of from one to two months between the spring and hot weather
rains, the rains being nearly continuous; and 2 ndly, excessive dryness in last quarter of year,
no rain having fallen from the 1st of October to the 31st of December. The total rainfall for
the whole year was only 40 inches, being 5 inches below the average.
The single men's barracks are reported to be damp owing to their mud
roof; those belonging to the married men are provided with water-proof shingle
roofs, which are a much more efficient protection against rain. Surgeon-Major
Johnson has introduced a register with a view to determining what effect on
health this difference exercises.
Food supplies were cheap during the year, and vegetables plentiful. The
men live well; they are also sufficiently clad, with the exception of recruits,
whose pay is small, and married men with large families. Some assistance
i s g i v e n t o t h e l a t t e r f r o m a p r i v a t e f u n d , f r o m w h i c h a l s o h o s p i t a l b l a n k e t s a r e
provided for those whose bedding is insufficient.
Duties are light; the number of nights in bed being 5 in 7.
Hospital accommodation is also satisfactory.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of regiment—present, 614.98; absent,
129.57; total, 744.55.
Climate.
Barracks.
Food.
Clothing.
Duty.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
Invaliding.
PERIOD
S t r e n g t h .
TOTAL 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 .
PER CENT. OF
STRENGTH PER
ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions.
Deat hs.
Admis-
sions.
Deat hs. Daily average sick.
H e a d - q u a r t e r s a t A b b o t t a b a d
1st Jany.
31st Dec.
580 620
8 24. 60
106 1.37 4.24
Detachments at Ughi in
Agror.
1st
„
3rd Jany.
66
53
1.40 135
2.12
2nd Feb.
8th Mar.
2nd April
6th May
2nd June 6th July
3rd Augt.
6th Sept.
22nd Oct.
6th Dec.
TOTAL
614. 98
673
8 26.
109 1.30 4. 22
Number of deaths in hospital, 8; out of hospital, 2; total 10; per cent. of total strength
1.34
„ invalided, annual committee 38; quarterly 1; „ 39;
„ „ „
5.23
„ sent on sick leave 4
; „ „ „
.53
„ of days spent in hospital, 9,326; per admission 13.86; per man
„ „
12.53
„ „on sick leave 318; per man 79.50;
„ „ „
. 4 2
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
12. 95
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—The regiment maintained a high standard of health
throughout the year, and enjoyed exemption from general sickness or marked prevalence of
any special forms of disease. Admission and death rates shewn in the foregoing table are
both lower than they have been for some years, and a daily average of 4.22 per cent. sick
represents the total extent of inefficiency due to disease or its consequences.
An increase in the percentage of invalids is due to the gradual elimination of old, weakly
men, who were enlisted to meet our pressing needs in the mutiny of 1857-58.
P r i n c i p a l d i s e a s e s .
Table showing, in order of frequency, the principal causes of admissions.
No.
Diseases.
Number
of admis-
sions.
Ratio per
cent. of
total.
1 Intermittent fevers
3 3 0
49.59
2 Diseases of digestive system
77
11.44
3 Rheumatic affections
44
6.53
4 Diseases of respiratory system
43
6.38
5 Feet blisters
43
6.38
6 Accidents
38
5.64
7 Eye affections
28
4. 16
8 Cutaneous diseases
26
3.86
9 Venereal affections
13
1.93
10 Phthisis
5
.74