M edical
occurrences or
the voyage.
224
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL
14. Medical occurrences on the voyage. —The following table shows the medical statistics
for the eighteen days of the voyage:—
Medical Officer. Flats.
S t r e n g t h .
N u m b e r o f a d m i s - s i o n s . D a i l y a v e r a g e n u m - b e r i n h o s p i t a l . PERCENTAGE TO STRENGTH OF
Diseases. Deaths. Classes of men.
REMARKS.
A d m i s s i o n s .
D a i l y a v e r a g e S i c k .
Surgeon Keefer
"Dunseri"
7 1 7
2 8
a
9 · 2
3 · 9
1 · 2 8 a 5 Venereal, 1 DrownedAll transport coolies,
"Goomti"
8 Fever.
12 Bowel.
3 Other.
Surgeon Raye
"Gogra"
3 2 3
3 8
b
8 · 9 2
1 1 · 7
2 · 7 6 b 3 Venereal None 100 artillery and sappers. Th e r e we r e 7 · 2 p e r c e n t . o f a d mi s s i o n s f r o m t r o o p s , 1 4 · 8 p e r c e n t . f r o m t h e f o l - l o we r s .
18 Fever.
14 Bowel.
27 coolies.
3 Injury.
196 commi ssari at establ i shment.
Assi stant Apothe-cary Wi l son "Konai"
3 3 4
3 0
c
7 · 0
9 · 0
2 · 0 9 c 16 Fever 1 Cholera 190 coolies.
Al l admi ssi ons from the transport cool i es.
2 Cholera. 1 Diarrhœa 144 f ol l ower s, dool i e bear er s, &c.
7 Bowel.
1 Pleurisy.
4 Other.
Accidents.
Temperatur
e.
Disembarka-tion.
Accidents. —A coolie fell overboard from the Dunseri flat while leaning over the side
—contrary to orders—to wash his clothes. He was drowned before the steamer's boats could
reach him.
On board the Gogra an artilleryman assisting at the capstan fell and broke some ribs
and teeth. A Commissariat follower fell overboard while drawing water, but the steamer was
at anchor and the man saved himself.
On board the Dunseri, Goomti, and Gogra, many slight cases received medicine only, instead of
being admitted into hospital. On board the Konai all were admitted who came for treatment.
Temperature.—The voyages lasted eighteen or nineteen days. The weather was hot
and close at first starting, but began to get pleasantly cool a few days after leaving Goalundo.
Temperature by ordinary Thermometer hung in centre of lower deck of a flat.
7 A. M.
1 P. M.
10 P. M.
1 November
85
91
90
2 "
85
92
91
3 "
84
90
90
4 "
86
88
85
5 "
79
82
80
6 "
77
81
79
7 "
77
79
76
8 "
67
78
75
9 "
68
79
75
10 "
65
81
75
11 "
65
78
76
12 "
66
79
75
13 "
66
78
73
14 "
63
73
71
15 "
63
79
74
16 "
63
78
72
17 "
61
75
73
18 "
60
73
71
19 "
59
70
6 8
15. Disembarkation.—The place for disembarkation had been fixed 4 miles short of the
mouth of the Dikrung river, on the right bank of the Loohit. It went by the name of Dikrung
Mookh. The bank was high, and covered to its edge with tall reed and grass jungle.
The Jaboona steamer was the first to arrive on the 17th November. On this afternoon and follow
-ing day all hands were set to work to clear the jungle; and a considerable space extending back
80 or 90 yards from the river bank, and about 300 yards in length, was made tolerably fit for
occupation. The jungle was green, and would not burn; all had to be cut down and cleared
away; the ground thus exposed was found very moist, but soon dried up under the hot sun. This
exposure of rich mould, still moist from the overflow of the river during the rains, was
unfavorable; but there was no choice, and men were kept here only as short a time as
possible; no evil consequences followed. Some tents were pitched and sheds were run up
for the men and for the store godowns. Latrine trenches were dug, and all placed in proper
order under Surgeon Raye's direction, and after the first day the site was kept clean as long as
the troops and transport remained.
Medical
arrangements.
16. Medical arrangements. —It would serve no purpose to detailthe several steps taken to
secure the proper number of medical officers, hospital assistants, and hospital establishment of all
classes: a table is therefore given to show how all stood on the final formation of the force at
Narainpore. Certain numbers of all ranks had been laid down by the Quarter Master General
for the advance force, which were strictly adhered to; others were granted on representa
-tion. With the exception of Surgeon-Major White of the 42nd, Surgeon Bovill of the
16th, and several hospital assistants and servants, all were detailed for duty on board the trans
-ports, and thus joined the head-quarters of the force.