XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—The principal causes of sickness were as follows :—
Fevers.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1877.
1876.
810
1,432
Rheumatism
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
109
210
Dysentery .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
56
57
Diarrhœa .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
23
59
Blistered feet
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
48
77
Principal
causes of
sickness.
151
PESHAWAR DISTRICT.
X VII. Principal causes of tnortality.—The principal causes of mortality were ague 3 and
bronchitis 2.
XVIII. Epidemics.—None.
XIX. Vaccination.—Eighteen recruits and ten children were successfully vaccinated
before the 1st of April last year. The new recruits are at present being vaccinated, and children
belonging to the regiment who are still unprotected.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
14th (The Aerosepore) Regiment, Aatibe Infantry—Peshamar.
I. Medical Officers.—Surgeon Herbert Boyd, M.D., rejoined the regiment
on the 1st of March, reliev-
ing Surgeon-Major J. E. T.
Aitchison.
II. Location and movements.—
The head-quarters have been in
Peshawar until the 28th Nov-
ember when they went on field
service with the Bori field force,
leaving a depôt in Peshawar. The
standing camp was made at
Shirgussa from which sorties
were made into the Bori valley
and through the Jowaki country
towards the Kohat force. The
detachments are shown in detail
in paragraph XV.
The ventilation of the huts has been improved, but they are still objection-
able, the floor being below water-level. The drains have been deepened. Con-
servancy and water-supply remains as previously described. The menfeed well
and get rum on payment, which Surgeon Boyd thinks does them good. He
believes that the diet on service ought to be more varied, mutton, goat, potatoes,
and other vegetables being occasionally issued. The men's shoes came in many
instances to pieces in camp and had to be tied on. This accounts for the large
number of cases of blistered feet. Duties in camp were severe, The men rarely
got more than 2 continuous nights in bed.
XIII. Marclzes and service.— The regiment went on service on the 20th November
marching to Mackeson, 19 miles, in one march. They then halted until December 4th, when they
marched towards Shirgussa, halting for the night about four miles from Mackeson. The next
day, 15th, the Shergussa ridge was taken, and the regiment camped there for four days, when
a standing camp was made below the ridge and the regiment moved down to it and remained
there until the end of the year, except when making raids into the enemy's country. The
standing camp at Shirgussa was on a small gravelly piece of ground, almost like an island
having nullaks all around it; it was nearly semicircular, about 120 yards long, by 180 wide at
its widest part. The drainage was very good. The water was from a mountain stream often
contaminated by the washings of the camp on the ridge, but kept as pure as possible; its source
was a spring, and, except after rains, it was very good.
XIV. Hospital has already been described in the report of last year. The same plan
of filling up part of the archways was adopted. Much greater advantage is derived from the
fires since this has been done. Usually, there is no over-crowding, but in October and part of
November I had two tents pitched in the hospital compound to accommodate the extra
number of sick. Extra lights were also needed then and since for the wounded. The hospital
fund has been very heavily drawn on this year in consequence of the campaign.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
. Rawal Pindi, Apl. 1872
65.8
1.1
4.6
1873
.
Ditto
53.3
1.5
2.1
1874
.
Ditto
72.5
.87
2.7
1875
.
. Peshawar, Dec. 1875 .
63.77
.58
2.65
1876
. Peshawar
.
.
.
306.18
1.29
5.54
Average .
.
.
112.31
1.06
3.51
1877
. Peshawar
.
.
.
228.9
1.44
4.41
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
Huts,
drains,
Conservancy
and water.
Diet.
Shoes.
Duties.
Marches and
service.
Hospital.