Medical
officer.
Location and
movements.
Detachments.
Sanitary
circumstances.
Marches and
service.
Military
operations.
Hardships.
178
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL
4th Regiment, Punjab Infantry—Kohat.
I. Medical Officer.—Surgeon-Major J. W. Johnston, M.D., was in medical
charge of the regiment from
1st January to 31st Decem
- ber.
II. Location and movements.—
The head-quarters were at Kohat
from 1st January to 9th Novem-
ber, and from that date to 31st
December, operating against the
Jowaki Afridis. Although the
head-quarters remained at Kohat,
the bulk of the regiment was in
camp at Gombut, 16 miles from
Kohat, from 17th September
to 9th November. Three detach-
ments were detailed during the
year—two to Bahadur Kheyl, and
one left at Kohat (vide table para. XV).
The sanitary circumstances of the regiment at Kohat have remained as
previously reported. Food-supplies were abundant, good and reasonable in
price. Duty while on service was severe.
XIII. Marches and service.—The regiment performed an arduous march of about 30 miles
on 30th August, operating during intense heat against the Jowakis; from 17th September
to 9th November the major portion of the regiment was at Gombut, blockading and acting
against the Jowakis; from 10th November to 31st December it was in Jowaki country.
The chief military operations engaged in were: In company with the Guide Corps, it led the
attack on Pya; along with the 5th Goorkhas, it advanced in the centre attack on Jamu; again,
with the Guide Corps; it took left attack at Gureeba; on the first occupation of Durgai Sir, it
held the right front; on the second advance to Durgai, the regiment, supported by the 5th
Punjab Infantry, also led the right attack. The 4th marched over a considerable amount of
ground, and took part in many minor operations on very trying and almost impracticable hill
slopes. Why it had the good fortune to escape with one sepoy Wounded on 30th August, and
another on 16th January 1878, I cannot understand. The spirit of the men was eminently
good; accepting heat, thirst and hardship in August, wet, rain and discomfort in November,
and extreme cold in December (having but a blanket and military cloak for bedding, and no
tents, at an elevation of 4,000 feet ), with praiseworthy endurance. I may remark that
the solar ray on 30th August was intense enough to melt a sperm candle wrapped in a flannel
shirt enclosed in my holster, reaching something like (I presume) 180° Fahr.; while there
were 8° Fahr. of frost on 31st December, water when poured out of a bottle freezing in
transit.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
.
Abbottabad, Nov. 1871
127.5
2.1
3.2
1873
.
Ditto .
.
.
110.5
.8
2.1
1874
. Kohat, Dec. 1874
.
131.9
1.3
2.5
1875
.
Ditto .
.
.
254.67
.93
4.51
1876
.
Ditto .
.
.
243.36
1.24
4.84
Average
.
.
.
173.58
1.27
3.43
1877
. Kohat .
.
.
.
186.78
2.33
4 . 3 6
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
The same hospital was in use at Kohat.
XV. Sickness. mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
606.6
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
121.1
Total
.
.
727.7
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER.
OF
Daily
average
number of
sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-sions. Deaths.
Admis-sions Deaths,
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Kohat
. 1st Jan. 1877
9th Nov. 1877
571.0
824
5
20.3 168.28 1.02
3.55
Ditto
at Shindi
. 10th Nov. 1877 31st Dec. 1877
368.5
181
2
3 3.5 350.48
. 8
9.09
Detachment at
Bahadur 1st Jan. 1877
5th Jan.1877
Kheyl.
58.9
9
...
1.0
76.4
...
1.69
Ditto
ditto
. 3rd May 1877 9th July 1S77
Ditto
at Kohat
. 10th Nov. 1877 31st Dec. 1877
363.5
116
...
26.7 223.99
. . .
7.34
Tota
. ...
. . . 606.6 1,133
7
26.5 186.78 1.15
4.36
Number of deaths in hospital, 7 ; out of hospital, 10 ; total
17 ; per cent: of total strength .
.
2.33
„
invalided
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
8 ;
„ „
.
.
1.1
„
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
. 14;
„ „
.
.
1.93
„
of days spent in hospital, 9,673 ; per admission . 8.53 ; per man of total strength .
.
13.29
„
,
„
on sick leave, 1,689 ; per man.
120.64;
„ „
.
.
2.32
Total temporary loss of service per man of total -Strength .
.
15.61