General
plan of
operations.
Medical
stores and
instruments.
Panniers and
field com
-panions.
Depôt
hospital
and stores.
APPENDIX.
MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE DUFFLA EXPEDITION.
Report on the Duffla Expedition, by Deputy Surgeon-General J. T. C. Ross, F.R.C.S. Dacca
Circle, Principal Medical Officer.
1. Strength and composition of the force.—Medical arrangements were required to be
made for 1,000 native troops;* a transport
corps at least 1,200 strong; and a proportion of
followers estimated at 600: altogether a force of
2,800 men, with 40 British and 6 non-com-
missioned officers. About 140 men of the infantry
were to occupy a line of ten outposts on the
frontier, right and left of the base depôt.
The number of followers had been reduced as much as possible. Yet, when a muster was
taken at Narainpore on the 8th December, the
number of all amounted to 637†: however, the
average daily number employed throughout with
the force was only 522.
2. The main depôt.—The base of opera
- t i o n s s e l e c t e d f o r t h e m a i n d e p ô t o f s t o r e s a n d
supplies was fixed at the village of Narainpore, on
the right or west bank of the Dikrung river, seven
miles by land, from the ghât of disembarkation
on the Loohit river, a channel of the Brahma
-pootra, a bar at the mouth of the Dikrung
preventing water transport direct from the vessels.
3.
General plan of operations. —A masterly sketch of all details for the proposed ex
- p e d i t i o n h a d b e e n p r e p a r e d b y t h e Q u a r t e r M a s t e r G e n e r a l o f t h e A r m y : a c o p y w a s g i v e n t o
each staff officer.
4.
Medical stores and instruments.—Appendix A. shows the medicines and instruments
indented for. The quantities were for 2,800 natives and 46 British officers for five months,
estimated chiefly by the supply taken on the Looshai campaign. A provision for all classes and
ranks was made; for efficiency depended on the health of all being maintained. The table
shows also the actual expenditure. It will be observed that some medicines were not used at all;
while of others the supply was only just sufficient. Medicines for cholera, bowel complaints,
chest affections, fever and debility were those principally used. As there was no fighting, there
were few surgical cases treated.
Packing.—The articles were arranged for water carriage to the base depôt. They were
packed in 22 "three dozen" cases, each case averaging 174lbs., 1 mineral acid box of 112lbs., and
two cases of splints. Each box had a padlock, and was numbered; a list of contents was inside;
opposite each article in the invoice was placed the number of the box that contained it.
Panniers and field companions.—The indent included the requirements for 7 pairs of
panniers and 7 field companions, which were supplied complete from the medical depôt
Calcutta, and were replenished from time to time from the main stores.
Depôt hospital and stores. —A medical officer and assistant apothecary were subsequent
ly appointed to the charge of the Narainpore depôt hospital and stores; their work was occasion
- a l l y a r d u o u s . D u r i n g t h e t h r e e m o n t h s t h e d e p ô t w a s e s t a b l i s h e d , 7 7 i n v o i c e s o r r e q u i s i t i o n
for medi ci nes, &c. , were suppl i ed from i t . The st ores mi ght have i ncl uded more conveni ences
for packing medicines sent out as above; such as 1 and 2-oz. stoppered bottles, more 1 an
d 2-oz. phials, spare tins and gallipots, &c. English machine-spread adhesive plaiste
r would have been more useful than the sticks supplied. The splints were fragile and cum
-bersome; probably wire splints would be the best for these occasions.
5.
Carriage of medicines and contents of panniers and field companions.— Medicines and
all hospital requirements were to be carried in the field in pairs of panniers. Each pair
was marked No. 1 medicines, No. 2 instruments and necessaries. They were of wicker work,
covered with painted canvas, and had wooden compartments. Each pannier with its contents
was only to weigh 40 lbs., or one man's load. They were found very handy and useful. The field
companions were to be carried by the dressers of each detachment hospital. The contents and
weights of panniers and companions are shown in Appendix B. Directions for carriage and for
the issue of medical stores are given in Appendix C.
6.
Bazaar medicines.—An indent, Appendix D, was sent to the Commissariat for bazaar
medicines, hospital necessaries and medical comforts. The main supply was to be taken to
Narainpore. An additional supply, column No, 2, was provided for use on board each tra
n s - p o r t . O n t h e a d v a n c e o f t h e f o r c e f r o m N a r a i n p o r e , m e d i c a l o f f i c e r s t o o k a s m a l l s u p p l y o f e a c h
article for current use, and applied to the Commissariat from time to time to replace expenditure
* Artillery with 2 guns
36
Sappers and Miners
64
16th Regiment, Native Infantry
200
42nd Assam Light Infantry
250
43rd Assam Light Infantry
200
44th Sylhet Light Infantry
250
Police
25
† Artillery
27
Sappers
25
16th Native Infantry
3 6
4 2 n d "
27
43rd " 28
44th " 31
Transport Corps
9
Commissariat
241
Elephant attendants
116
Survey
79
Private servants
18
637
Strength and
compositi
on of the force.
The main
depôt.
Packing.
Carriage of
medicines;
and contents
of panniers
and field com
-panions.
Bazaar
medicines.