Effect of
residence in
Peshawar.
Inspection.
Brigade Staff
Hospital.
Lock hospital.
Medical
charge.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1869
Sialkot from Malligaum
80.6
.8
3.7
1870
Ditto ditto
100.
1.3
3.2
1871
Ditto ditto
103.5
.2
2.8
1872
Nowshera, November
1871
163.8
.4
4.8
1873
Ditto ditto
127.
.6
4.1
Average
115.
.6
3.7
1874
Nowshera
180.
1.5
5.3
Location and
movements.
154
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Sanitary
condition.
to the clothing of the men and the hospital bedding. Both these subjects received the
best attention of the Commanding Officer, and some improvements have been effected.
XIX. Special observations. —In conclusion, I would wish to state that the men of this
regiment are very much reduced in strength and general condition, and in healthy appearance
contrast infavourably with other corps. They will have been four years above the Indus, i. e.,
in the Peshawur Valley, next October, which means that they have already passed through
four unhealthy seasons; and as there appears every probability of their spending five years in
the Valley, I am afraid they will suffer very severely before the regiment gets a change of
climate.
Mr. Banister inspected on the 2nd of April. The regiment had been very
sickly in the previous autumn and winter. The sanitary state of the lines was
good, but some of the hospital arrangements were defective.
The Brigade Staff Hospital was inspected on the 29th of March. There
were 31 patients under treatment and a large out-door attendance. All the
arrangements were "extremely satisfactory."
The Lock-Hospital was inspected on the same day. The Deputy Surgeon
-General writes:—
The enclosure is within the city, and the accommodation, which is very inferior, only pro
- v i d e s f o r 1 2 b e d s , a n d i s e n t i r e l y w a n t i n g e v e n i n c o m m o n c o n v e n i e n c e s . T h e r e w e r e t h r e e w o m e n
under treatment for gonorrhœa and one for primary syphilis out of the 63 borne on the books.
No fees were exacted for registration, which was said to extend over an area of 4 miles around
the cantonments, and to include a population approximately estimated at 80,000. Out of an
average strength of European troops amounting to 1,673, there were throughout the year 50
admissions for syphilis and 64 for gonorrhœa. The 72nd Regiment suffered most, the ratio of
affected per 1,000 having been 110.14, against 53.63 in the Artillery, and 30.08 in the 17th
regiment. These are less satisfactory results than were recorded in 1873, and are attributable to
defective regimental police arrangements, admitting of the men consorting with stray women,
and to the control of the law falling short of compulsory registration; and until these evils are
provided against, the protection which even the existing imperfect regulations are calculated
to confer will be necessarily more or less compromised.
The establishment consisted of a medical officer, assisted by a hospital assistant, a matron,
cook, bhisty, sweeper and mehtranee; and the monthly expenses amounted to Rs. 195, of which
Rs. 111 fell upon Government and 84 were paid out of the cantonment fund. Preparations were
being made for the building of a new and more suitable hospital; the site had been selected and
some materials collected, but as the year passed away nothing further was done.
10th Bengal Gabalry (Lancers)—Nowshera.
Surgeon-Major G. V. Currie, who relieved Surgeon-Major H. M.
Greenhow on the 1st of
March and retained the
medical charge till the close
of the year, reports : —
II. Location and movements.
— T h e h e a d - q u a r t e r s o f t h e r e g i m e n t
remained at Nowshera up to the
13th of November, when it was
ordered to Peshawar to take part
in the brigade field days of that
garrison, in which it has been
engaged ever since. The usual
monthly detachments of 50 men
each have been provided during
the year for the Out-posts of
Shubkudder, Abazai, and Fort
Mackeson.
The sanitary circumstances of the corps underwent no change during the
year. Food supplies were good and abundant, and duty not excessive. Hospital
accommodation was also found sufficient and appropriate.