Medical
Officer.
Location and
movements.
Drainage.
Latrines.
Water.
Scurvy.
Clothing.
Duties.
Hospital.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
787.5
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
102.9
Total
.
890.4
• Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
199 EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT.
order; quarters for hospital assistants and servants are much wanted, and the
provision of these was recommended.
42nd Regiment (Assam) Light Infantry—Gauhati.
I. Medical Officer. —Surgeon J. Wilson, M.D., continues in medical
charge of the regiment, and
furnishes the annual report.
II. Location and movements.—
The head-quarters of the regiment
were at Gauhati until the 1st
November, when they marched
for Shillong, a journey of 68 miles,
divided into five stages. The de-
tachment at Nowgong, proceeding
by road and steamer, joined head-
quarters on the 21st September
at Gauhati. The detachment at
Tezpur, on being relieved by the
44th Shillong Light Infantry,
left that station about the 12th
November, and reached Shillong
on the 23rd of the month. A
detachment of two full companies, under a European officer, was detailed in November for an
expedition to the Naga Hills, and marched there by steamer and road. The outposts of
Alinagar and Chargola on the Sylhet Frontier, and that of Jowai in the Jaintia Hills, were
garrisoned by the 2nd November.
The lines (those vacated by the 43rd on departure for Dibrugarh) afford
ample accommodation. Those of the right wing are said to be low and badly
lighted, and are exposed to the severe winds prevalent at Shillong in the
cold weather. Trees would improve them. Natural drainage is excellent and
complete. The trench system of latrines is about to be introduced, kutcha
huts being substituted for movable screens. Trenches are dug near the
hospital for the use of the sick and are resorted to. Water is obtained from
aqueducts and streams, both liable to pollution. With a proper system of con-
servancy, the water-supply of Shillong is capable of being made faultless. The
tank and well referred to by Surgeon J. O'Brien in last year's report are, it is
feared, still used by the inhabitants of the bazar and some of the men. The
same remarks as regards diet apply to this regiment as to the 43rd and 44th.
On arrival at Shillong some of the men were suffering from malarious scurvy,
which the plentiful supply of oranges available there assisted to remove.
Clothing, sufficient at Gauhati, was found insufficient at Shillong. Means
were taken to meet this difficulty as far as possible. Surgeon Wilson believes
that the only way of preventing cases of footsore is to issue socks. A poshteen,
o r Cold weather great-coat, is much required.
Duties were light at Gauhati, but severe at Shillong, owing to the number
of station guards and the few men available for them. Nights in bed averaged
3.6. The hospital vacated by the 43rd is in use. It is cold and draughty in
winter, but fires are allowed and a sufficiency of coal issued. Twenty-two seers
per grate per diem is found to suffice. The accommodation for the hospital
establishment is insufficient.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
.
Dibrugarh .
.
197.02
5.8
4.6
1873
.
Ditto
144.05
1.4
3.5
1874
. Ganhati
.
.
.
112.02
4.9
3.4
1875
.
Ditto
143.67
1.78
4.47
1876
.
Ditto
.
.
.
200.94
1.83
5.05
Average
.
159.54
3.14
4.20
1877
. Gauhati
.
172.82
2.58
5.66
Detachments.
Lines.