155
PESHAWAR DISTRICT.
For bathing purposes a tank or pond about 30 yards in length and 10 or 12 in width has
been made on the left front of the lines. For washing purposes there are several smaller
diggees in the lines.
Food supplies of all sorts were abundant, and good rum is supplied
to the Sikhs on payment. The men wear postheens on night and morning
duties in the cold weather. The boots are of the Blucher pattern, but much
blistering takes place. Native shoes are allowed in such cases. The undress
clothing worn by the men is, Surgeon Grant thinks, too light for Peshawar.
XI. Duly and employment,—The duties in Peshawar are always heavy, but were parti-
cularly so during the last two weeks of the year when the nights in bed fell as low as 1.69.
The average number of nights in bed has been 3.82.
XII. Exercise and amusements.— There is little time at the disposal of men for amusements.
Many of them, however, take great interest in the cultivation of their gardens, a considerable
portion of ground having been allotted for that purpose. The recruits are exercised at the
regimental gymnasium, but are rarely joined by their sepoy comrades. Shikar is not
indulged in.
XIII. Marches and service.— The regiment arrived in Peshawar from Jhelum on the
4th of January. On the 30th November it marched on field service and encamped at Fort
Mackeson, where it remained under canvas till the 3rd of December. On the 4th December it
advanced in light marching order as part of the right column into Jowaki territory. A hill
about 1,000 feet above the level of the plain was ascended during the day, and on the summit of
the ridge the men bivouacked for the night. Next day it returned to the plain and marched
to the entrance of the Shirgussa Pass, where the head-quarters remained until its return to
cantonments on the 17th December. During the stay at Shirgussa detachments were
furnished daily to the ridge for outpost duty or for road-making. Several escorts daily were
also sent with commissariat stores, ammunition, &c. During a great part of this time the men
were without shelter of any kind, yet, notwithstanding the hard duty, the wet and cold, and
the irregular supply of food, their health kept very good.
The water-supply was obtained from two small streams which flowed from the ridge. It
was abundant and good. The trench system was the latrine in use, but the men seemed to
prefer resorting to the jungle.
An ordinary bill tent was used as the hospital.
XIV. Hospital.—A description of the hospital need not again be given. It is of the
standard plan, and remains in the same condition as in former years. It is reported in the
monthly sanitary reports as being "very insalubrious and ill-ventilated ;" very hot in the hot
season, and very cold and draughty in the cold weather. During three months of the year it is
anything but a suitable place for the treatment of chest affections, on account of the many
draughts, which also conduce to pulmonary complications in men under treatment for agues, &c.
Purdahs are provided for each arch between the centre wards and the verandahs and mitigate
this evil to some extent, but have the objection of excluding the light. It is in a fair state
of repair, with the exception of the roof, which leaks during heavy rain. When necessary, the
accommodation is supplemented by regimental tents pitched in its immediate vicinity.
The bedding is supplemented by a number of sheets and blankets (country) supplied from
the regimental hospital fund.
Clothing,
food, &c.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise and
amusements.
Marches and
Service,
Hospital.
•
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 619.37
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
79.43
Total
. 098.80
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
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
of sick.
Head-quarters on march
.
1st Jan.
.
3rd Jan,
.
515.62
938
1
28.70 199.39
.21
3 7 . 4 6
Ditto
at Peshawar .
3rd Jan.
. 29th Nov.
.
Ditto
on field service 30th Nov
. 16th Dec.
.
428.82
64
...
7 .88 320.34
...
39.29
Ditto
at Peshawar .
7th Dec.
, 31st Dec.
.
527.26
84
2
59.26 387 . 63 9.88 273.26
DepOt at Peshawar
.
. 30th Nov.
, 16th Dec.
.
212. 53
34
...
52.23 349 . 31
...
24.57
Detachment at Michni
. 20th Jan.
.
4th March .
89.
. . .
. . .
. . .
...
...
...
Ditto
Mackeson
. 17th Feb.
.
8th May
.
9537
...
.32
42.49
...
1.53
Ditto
Michni
. 6th May
7th July
,
89 .
25
...
2.87 178.61
...
18.77
Ditto
Shabkadar .
7th July
.
7th Sept.
.
90.
31
. . .
2.11 197.31
...
13.55
Ditto
Cherat
. 13th Aug.
. 30th Nov.
.
111.22
49
...
3.14 146.16
...
9.35
Ditto
Shirgussa
. 24th Dec.
. 31st Dec.
.
157.62
5
...
1.37 144.63
...
39.23
T o t a l .
...
I...
619.37 1,239
3
32.25 200.04
48
5.20
Number of deaths in hospital, 3; out of hospital, 9; total
12 ; per cent. of total strength
.
1.71
„
invalided
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
12 ;
„ „
.
.
.
1.71
„
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
18 ;
„ „
. .
. 2.57
„
of days spent in hospital 11,772; per admission . 9.50; per man of total strength .
. 16.84
„ „
on sick leave 2,159; per man
. 119.94;
,,
„
. .
. 3.08
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
.
19.92