Principal
causes of sick-
ness.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Precautions
against
cholera.
Recommend-
ations.
General
health of the
corps.
30
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 389.05
Absent
.
. .
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
6 7 . 6 6
Total
.
. 456.71
STATIONS.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
A d m i s - s i o n s Deaths.
Admis-sions. Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Segowlie . 1st Jan. 1877 31st Dec. 1877 302.47 188
2
7.26 62.15
. 6 6 2.4
Detachment at Gorakhpur . 9th Mar. "
Ditto
. 49.95
8 ...
.28 19.59 ...
. 56
Ditto at Benares
. 1st Jan. "
Ditto
. 11.
2
. . .
.04 18.18 ...
. 36
Ditto at Dinapore .
Ditto
.
Ditto
. 13.79
2
. . .
.21 14.5
...
1.52
Ditto at Barackpore .
Ditto
. 21st Feb. 1877 134.62
26 ...
10.35 135.56
7.68
TOTAL
.
. . .
...
389.05 226
2 9.48 58.09
. 5 1 2.43
Number of deaths in hospital, 2 ; out of hospital, 2; total
4; per cent of total strength .
.
.87
" invalided .
.
. .
.
. .
.
11;
,,
.
.
2.41
" sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
5;
„
„
. .
1.09
" of days spent in hospital 3,460; per admission . 15.30; per man of total strength .
.
7.58
"
" on sick leave .580; per man
.
116;
,,
.
.
1.27
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
. 8.85
Vaccination.
Inspection.
Fevers, injuries, and bowel complaints were the main causes of admis
sion into hospital.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality. —There were two deaths in hospital—the one from an
accident involving concussion of the brain and injury of the skull; the other from diarrhœa in
an old worn-out man, who was to have gone on the invalid list, and who had been in hospital
for months with rheumatism and general debility. The cases of goitre that occur (nearly
always in recruits or young men) readily yield to treatment by the ointment of biniodide of
mercury, and do not need admission. Two men died at their homes—one from chronic
diarrhœa; the other from fever.
XVIII.
Epidemics.—No epidemic occurred during the year; and in this the corps was
remarkably fortunate, for during nearly all the hot season, from April to the end of September,
cholera was reported in the district and neighbourhood, and on several occasions two or three
hundred yards distant only from cantonments. The principal precautions taken were, all
unnecessary passing through the station stopped, and quarantine as far as practicable. The
regimental grass-cutters were taken out by the guard attending them in directions reported free
from sickness, and not allowed to enter villages. In the pamphlet of rules concerning cholera
received during the year, I observe there are some restrictions with regard to quarantine, but
it appears to me to be a great precaution, and in a small station like this, where the people of
the neighbourhood and travellers can be made to pass outside the place as easily as through
it, no doubt it is especially applicable and of use, even if preventing only the chances of out-
siders (who have passed through infected villages or belong to them) being taken sick with
cholera whilst in the station, and its thus spreading.
XIX. Vaccination. —Vaccine was received somewhat late in December. There appeared,
however, only two men amongst the recruits of the year requiring it, all the rest having
marks of small-pox.
XX. Recommendations were chiefly for the precautions abovementioned when cholera
was in the vicinity of the station, and the reduction of the number of camp-followers as far
as possible.
XXI. General health of the corps. —The general health of the corps has been good
throughout the year. In the detachment from Barrackpore, however, there were several men
whose health had suffered at that station, and after joining at head-quarters were weakly,
unfit for duty, and had to be sent on sick leave. The health of the camp-followers has also
been satisfactory during the year, and as their number has been rather high, 1,291, and there
was so much sickness in the neighbourhood in the hot season and rains, this has been especially
fortunate.
Inspection.—The annual inspection was made by Officiating Deputy
Surgeon-General R. F. Hutchinson, M.D., Allahabad Circle, on the 3rd
and 4th December. A full description is given of this remarkable station.
The sanitary arrangements were satisfactory ; hospital accommodation sufficient
and good ; and all the duties connected with the sick properly attended