170
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Medical
officer.
Location and
movements.
Lines.
Food.
Clothing.
Duty.
March es and
service.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality am
No. 1 Mountain Battery—Kohat.
I. Medical officer. —Surgeon T. Moloney, M.D., held charge of the ba
ttery from 6th January to
the end of the year, and has
compiled the sanitary report.
II. Location and movements.—
The battery was quartered at
Kohat from 6th January to 30th
August. Its movements during
the remainder of the year are
detailed in paragraph XIII.
The lines occupied at
Kohat were those known as
the Artillery lines, formerly
occupied by the Hazara
Mountain Battery. They
afford good and sufficient
accommodation. Food-supplies were abundant and good during the year, and
the men are well nourished. Their clothing is suited to the climate and work :
chogas are worn instead of great coats ; ammunition boots are worn in the
station, and country shoes on service. Duty was severe, but it did not affect
the health of the men prejudicially.
XIII. Marches and service.—On 2nd January the battery marched from Edwardesabad,
arriving at Kohat on 6th January, a distance of 84 miles, which was accomplished in five
marches. On 30th August it formed part of the expeditionary force under Colonel Mocatta,
and marched with that force from Kohat through a portion of Jowaki territory to Gumbut.
The force started about 1 A.M., and the men did not get into their camping ground till
10 P.M. They had no food, and little water on the road; were exposed to a burning sun and a
very annoying fire from the enemy. Towards the close of the day the men fell out from exces-
sive fatigue, from which, however, they quickly rallied. On 31st August the battery returned
to Kohat, a march of 15 miles along the main road from Rawul Pindi to Kohat. 25th
September the battery marched to Gandiali, 11½ miles distant from Kohat on the Rawul
Pindi road, to cover a working party which was building a fortified post on the bank of a
nullah through which the Jowakis had made raids into British territory. The weather was
decidedly warm, and the work severe; and the men not having brought tents, had to bivouac
in the open. They remained at Gandiali three days, returning to Kohat 28th September.
Again, on the 9th November, the battery formed part of the Jowaki field force under Briga-
dier- General Keyes, C. B., and marched on that day from Kohat to Payah, distance about 22
miles. The battery remained quartered in one of the villages of Payah for seven or eight days,
some of the men finding shelter in the surrounding huts, but by, far the greater number had
to sleep in the open, each man choosing a comfortable spot for himself on one of the many
heaps of filth which are to be found in a Pathan village. As long as the weather remained
dry, things were comfortable enough ; but when it rained, which it did often, those who had
to sleep in the open were far from happy. The battery was subsequently engaged in the various
operations against Jummoo , Ghariba, Pustawoni and the Naru Khula, but neither the exposure
nor the severity of the work seemed to exert any ill effect on the health of the men.
XIV. The hospital in use is that occupied by the Hazara Mountain Battery. The build-
ing is kept in good repair ; is not overcrowded, and is amply ventilated.
XV . Sickness, mortality and invaliding—Strength of the battery—
Present .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 134.68
Absent .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
15.95
Total
.
.
. 150.63
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average .
number of
sick,
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
.From
To
A d m i s -
sions. Deaths,
Admis-
sions.
Deaths.
D a i l y a v e r a g e
sick.
Head-quarters at Kohat
. 1st Jan. 1877 . 8th Nov. 1877 1 134.68 370
1
5.93 274.72 .74 4.40
Ditto on Field Service . 9th Nov. 1877 31st Dec 1877
Total
.
......
......
134.68
370
1
5.93 274.72
74
4.40
Number of deaths in hospital, 0; out of hospital, 0 ; total
1; per cent. of total strength
.
66
„
invalided
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
6 ;
„
.
3.98
„
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
1;
„
.66
„
of days spent in hospital, 2,184; per admission .
5.90; per man of total strength
.
14.49
„
„
on sick leave, 91; per man .
.
91 91;
„
„
.
.60
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
15.09
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OE STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
. Dera Ismail Khan, Jan.
269.3
1.8
7.5
1872
1873
.
Ditto .
.
.
219.5
. 9
4.4
1874
.
Ditto .
.
.
229.6
...
6.2
1875
. Edwardesabad, Jan. 1875
213.12
1.88
4.07
1876
.
Ditto .
.
186.87
1.91
3.86
Average .
.
.
223.67
1.29
5.2
187'7
. Kohat .
.
.
.
274.72
. 6 6
4.4