Lines.
Water.
Food.
Duty.
Hospital.
Sickness, mor
-tality and invaliding.
Prevalent
diseases.
Deaths.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
137
RAWAL PINDI DIVISION.
5th Bengal Cabalry—Dhelum.
Surgeon P. D. Palmer, M. D., who, on return from sick leave, resumed
charge of the regiment in
April, reports:—
11 Stations, &c.—The regi
-ment was stationed at Jhelum
from 1st January to 9th Novem
-ber, with a detachment at Rawal
Pindi, consisting of 140 men
and 1 European officer, from 1st
January to 6th March. On the
10th November, the regiment
marched to Rawal Pindi for the
camp of exercise, leaving a de-
-tachment at Jhelum of 71 men.
Dr. Palmer describes the
season as being unusually
cool owing to the abundant
rainfall. The men are well housed; but not so, he reports, the camp
followers, though the officer commanding avers that they are as well off in
this respect as in other regiments. The lines are well drained and kept clean.
The trench latrine system is in use, but the trench ground is said to be too far
off, and the fields are used in consequence. The wells were discovered to be foul
during the hot weather, and were cleaned out with satisfactory results. Food
supplies were cheap and good, and duty very light; nights in bed 6.24. The hos
-pital affords ample accommodation, but there is want of housing for hospital
servants. This defect has been duly represented.
XV. Sickness mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment—present 404.5;
absent 53.08; total 457.13.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily aver
-
age Sick.
1869 . . . Nowshera, Dec.1868
230.8
3.
5.8
1870 . . .
from Sitapur . . .
222.
3.5
4.7
1871 . . .
Do. do. . . .
200.9
1.6
4.7
1872 . . . Jhelum, Nov. 1871 . . .
161.9
1.
4.9
1873 . . .
Do. do. . . .
45.5
1.1
1.5
Average . . .
. . .
172.2
2.04
4.3
1874 . . . Jhelum . . .
69 47
.87
1.78
Location and
movements.
Season.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL
NUMBER OF
D i a l y a v e r a g e n u m b e r o f s i c k .
P E R C E N T . O F
STRENGTH PER
ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions.
D e a t h s .
Admis-
sions.
D e a t h s .
D a i l y a v e r a g e s i c k .
Head-quarters at Jhelum. 11th Jan. 74 9th Nov, 74 369.44 259
2 6.75 70.11
. 5 4 1.83
Do. Rawal Pindi 10th Nov. 74 31st Dec. 74
Detachment at do. . . . 1st Jan. 74 . . . 6th March 74 107.81
22
. . . 1.43 57.50 None 1.32
Do. Jhelum . . . 10th Nov. 74 31st Dec. 74
TOTAL . . .
. . .
. . .
404.5 281
2 7.23 69.47
. 4 9 1.78
Number of deaths in hospital, 2; out of hospital, 2; total 4; per cent. of total strength . . .
.87
" Invalided 7; " " . . . 1.53
" Sent on sick leave 4;" " . . . .87
" days spent in hospital 2,358; per admission 9.37; " " . . . 5.76
" " on sick leave 792; per man 198 " " . . .
1.73
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . . 7.49
The regiment has been very healthy; ague, contusions, dysentery and syphi
-lis being the chief causes of sickness. Two deaths, which occurred in hospital,
were due to bronchitis and pneumonia, respectively. No epidemic occurred; 33
men were vaccinated, of whom only four were successful. Dr. Palmer considers a
different system of latrines would be an improvement, and would recommend
their erection in the lines, the excreta being removed in closed vessels. The
drainage might also, he thinks, be improved, so as to prevent the flooding which
is apt to ensue on heavy rains, and he points out that there is no lock-hospital
in Jhelum.
Deputy Surgeon-General G. Banister's inspection took place on the 11th of
October. The sanitary condition of the lines was then in a satisfactory state,
and the hospital duties properly attended to.
Inspection.
L I