YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
. Dinapore, March 1872,
from Jalpaiguri
91.7
2.4
2.8
1873
.
Ditto
.
.
54.7
. 4 2.2
1874
.
Ditto
.
.
75.9
. 5 3.4
1875
.
Ditto
.
.
64.3
. 2 2.9
1876
. Fyzabad, January 1876.
72.8
1.
2.2
Average
71.88
. 9 0 2.7
1877
. Fyzabad
.
.
.
48.04
. 9 8 2.32
Location and
movements.
Topography,
&c.
Drainage,
Latrines,
Food, clothing
Blistered feet
Duties, recvea
tions, hospital
Medical
Officers.
Meteorology.
78
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
2nd. Queen's Own Regiment. Bengal Light Infantry—Fyzabad.
I. Medical Officers.—The regiment has been successively under medical
charge of Surgeon A. B.
Seaman (1st January to
14th. May), Surgeon-Major
G. J. H. Evatt, A.M.D. (to
1st October), and Surgeon
W. H. Cadge, who writes the
annual report.
II. Location and movements.
— T h e e n t i r e r e g i m e n t h a s b e e n
stationed at Fyzabad throughout
the year. No detachment has been
furnished.
III. Topography, &c.,— Vege-
tation has been much retarded
during the past year, the parade-
ground and the surrounding
country being almost bare.
IV. Meteorology.—The difference between the rainfall and temperature of the two past
years being so great, it is worth contrasting them in the following table :—
1876 & 1877
contrasted.
Effect of ex-
cessive heat.
Lines, etc,
Ventilation.
Relation be-
tween rainfall
and fever.
1876.
1877.
Month.
Max.
Mean.
Min.
Wind.
Rain.
Max.
Mean.
Min.
Wind.
Rain.
January .
.
.
74
67
60
W.
...
72
66
60
W.
2.40
February .
.
.
82
68
54
W.
...
74
66
58
W. E.
1.30
March
.
.
.
85
72½
60
W. E.
. 2 0
86
77
68
W.
.10
April
.
.
.
94
84
72
W. E.
. 8 0
92
82
72
W.
1.10
May
.
.
.
94
88
82
W. E.
...
101
89½
78
W. E.
.70
June
.
.
.
100
91
82
W. E.
3.50
104
93
82
W. E.
2.20
July
.
.
.
96
89
82
W. E.
2.90
98
89
80
W. E.
4.60
August .
.
.
94
88
82
W. E.
4.50
100
91
82
W. E.
2.10
September
.
.
94
87
80
E.
9.0
99
87½
76
W.
2.0
October .
.
.
90
82
74
W.
5.40
92
81
70
W. E.
4.10
November
.
.
84
73
62
W.
...
84
74
64
W.
...
December
.
.
72
66
60
W.
...
70
62
54
W. E.
.40
MEANS & TOTALS
.
88.2
79.6
70.8
W. E.
26.30
89.
79.8
70.3
W. E.
21.00
The excess of rainfall in the months of September and October 1876 probably accounts
for the larger number of admissions and daily average number of sick during those months
and in November of that year, compared with the corresponding months of 1877. The total
number of admissions for the month of October 1876 was 64, against 32 only of the corre-
sponding month of 1877. The difference was still greater in the mouth of November. On
referring to the weekly returns, it was seen that there was a great diminution of intermittent
fever during the past year. This falling off may be partly due to the dryness of the atmos-
phere and soil preventing exhalations from the earth, and consequent diffusion of malaria.
With the exception of one case of sunstroke during August, the heat does not appear
to have had any deleterious effect upon the sepoys. Upon European constitutions the effect was
quite different, causing lassitude and inertia, consequently paving the way for congestion of
the liver and its sequelæ.
V. Lines, &c.—T h e
lines are in a fair state of repair and not overcrowded. The ventila-
tion is not perfect, as there is no direct communication of air : to effect this it is only necessary
to make holes in the wall dividing parallel huts. This has been taken into consideration, but
was thought unadvisable on account of interference with caste, the Mahomedans being
on one side, the Hindoos the other. The hospital assistants' quarters are good and substantial ;
they have had zenana compounds added to them.
The surface drains suffice to prevent lodgment of water. Latrine ac-
commodation is insufficient, and urinals in the lines are a desideratum.
Articles of diet were dear, and vegetables scarce. Compensation was
given, and the sepoys are in good condition and physique. The undress clothing
is reported to be insufficient in the cold weather, and the use of a kummer-
bund is recommended. There were only nine cases of blistered feet, but there
was no marching.
Duties have been light : nights in bed 10.92. Wrestling and clubs
are practised, but no other sports or recreations. The hospital is in good repair
and afforded sufficient accommodation.