Huts.
Drainage.
LAHORE DIVISION.
115
the particulars given above regarding the rainfall, the temperature in the early months of the
year was considerably below the average of other years, whilst that of July and August was
several degrees higher.
The men's huts are kept in good order, and are probably no worse than those
of other native cavalry regiments. Still, Surgeon-Major Watson would like to
see a better style of accommodation available for native soldiers. The dwellings
of the regimental servants and camp-followers were improved in the hot weather.
The trees which were planted last year have not made much progress. The
drainage of the lines is not quite satisfactory owing to backwater during heavy
rains. A sluice gate has been put on the principal drain, but the water regurgi-
tates through the others. Banking with earth temporarily during heavy rain
would, it is believed, be a better plan. Some of the drains were widened; deepened
and bridged during the year. The same system of latrines is in use and Works
well. The trees planted round them have made good progress. Urinals have
been placed in the lines at the end of each troop. The water-supply
i s a s
previously reported. F ood was dear, but the men are well nourished. No change
has taken place as regards clothing and diet. The authorized scale of blankets
has been drawn. The regimental gymnasium is in full working and gives goo d
results as regards the muscular development of the men. Tent-pegging, foot-ball
and polo are kept up as sports.
XIV. Hospital.—The ;
e hospital is the same as last year; it is in good repair and meets all
requirements. Purdahs for the archways were supplied on the 4th of January, and are a grea
comfort in the cold weather. Fires were continued up to 15th February, and resume
a g a i n o n 1 s t D e c e m b e r .
A m o r e l i b e r a l s u p p l y o f h o s p i t a l f u r n i t u r e a n d n e c e s s a r i e s h a s b e e n s a n c -
tioned. Sanction has also been given for the construction of a zenana compound to the two
side-rooms of the hospital assistants quarters but the work has not yet been commenced. A
chimney and fire-place are still needed in each of these rooms, to prevent the introduction of the
inevitable choola, by which the walls and roof are blackened with smoke.
XV. Sickness; mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 401.87
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . .
.
.
55.86
Total
. . 457.73
Latrines.
Water-supply.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
Food.
Clothing and
diet.
Gymnasium.
Hospital.
STATION.
PERIOD,
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
O F
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions.
Death s.
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
D a i l y
average
s i c k .
Head-quarters at Meean Meer let Jan. 1877 31st Dec. 1877 376.87
326
3
12.34
86.5
0.79
3.27
Detachment at Ferozepore
Ditto
Ditto
25.
2
. . . 0.10
8
.
0.4
TOTAL
......
. . . . . .
401.87
328
3
12.44 81.61 0.74
3.09
Number of deaths in hospital, 3 ; Out of hospital, 4; total
7 ; per cent. of total strength .
1.52
" invalided
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
15;
" „
.
. 3.27
" sent on sick leave
.
.
.
. . .
.
.
7;
" "
.
. 1.52
" of days spent in hospital 4,509; per admission . 13.74; per man of total strength .
9.85
"
"
on sick leave 925; per man
. 132.14;
" "
•
. 2.02
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
.
11.87
The sickness has been considerably .below the average of former years and very strikingly less
than in the previous year, during the greater part of which the regiment was in the same
station. It has also been much less than in the two native infantry regiments in the station.
The mortality has been rather high, being the same as last year, but above the average of
former years. The percentage of deaths in hospital has been less than in either of the two
native infantry regiments, but the percentage of total deaths in and out of hospital has been
rather greater than in one, and rather less than in the other of those. regiments. The number
of men invalided -has also been great and much above the average of late years ; most of them,
however, were old men, who were invalided for age and failing eyesight.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— Although ague has as usual given rise to more admis-
sions than any other disease, amounting to about one-third of the whole, the number is much below
the average of former years, and less than in any year, except in 1871 at Mooltan, during the
last 13 years. The past year presents a very marked contrast to the previous one in this respect,
and a glance at the subjoined table will show how great the difference has been between the
number of admissions from malarious fever from August to November 1876, and those for the
same mouths in 1877, the difference being most strikingly marked in September.
Comparison
with previous
years and
other regi-
ments,
Principal
causes of
sickness.