59
CENTRAL INDIA.
A table has been furnished showing in detail the diseases from which the
line sick suffered in 1873 and 1874. The numbers were 548, and 326, and
the principal diseases agues, slight injuries, boils, skin diseases and mild
rheumatic affections.
On looking at the medical and sanitary report of the Native Army of Bengal for the years
1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, and 1873, it would appear that this regiment in each of the above
periods gave fewer admissions per cent. of strength than any other corps in the Bengal
Presidency. The subjoined table will show at a glance the great differences between the per
-centages of admissions to strength as given in the reports, and those actually obtaining when
all the sick treated are made the bases of calculation:—
Showing the percentages of sick treated to strength present, when "line sick" were not included
in returns, and the same when all the sick are included.
"Line sick."
Apparent
healthiness of
the regiment
explained.
YEAR.
A v e r a g e d a i l y s t r e n g t h p r e s e n t .
N u m b e r o f m e n r e t u r n e d a s s i c k .
P e r c e n t a g e o f t o t a l t r e a t - e d t o s t r e n g t h .
S e r i a l n u m b e r o f R e g i - m e n t i n S u r g e o n - G e n - e r a l ' s t a b l e s .
N u m b e r o f m e n t r e a t e d a s l i n e s i c k a n d n o t i n c l u d e d i n a n y r e t u r n .
T o t a l n u m b e r o f s i c k t r e a t e d i n y e a r ; s u m o f c o l u m n s 3 t o 6 .
T r u e p e r c e n t a g e o f t o t a l t r e a t e d t o s t r e n g t h p r e s e n t .
R E M A R K S .
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1869 . . .
327.9
161
53.3
102
1,075
1,236
376.8
1870 . . . 331.6
77
24.7
104
748
825
249.2
1871 . . . 316.03
82
25.9
103
513
595
188.2
1872 . . . 284.6
94
33.03
103
494
588
206.3
1873 . . . 280.96
64
22.8
103
548
612
217.7
1874 . . . 299.61
79
26.3
103
326
405
135.
Had the percentages in column 9 been returned, the regiment's true position as to sickness
in the Bengal Army would have appeared very different to that given in column 5.
XVII.—Mortality .—There were only two deaths during the year, both took place in the
hospital at Goonah. One man sank after profuse suppuration and sloughing of the parotid and
submaxillary glands. There was a syphilitic history, and the man was of a feeble constitution,
This case is entered in the weekly return as one of "mumps", but I think would have more
properly been described as No. 437 "Inflammation of salivary glands."
The second death was caused by dysentery. The man was a fine old Sikh, well known
in this part of India as a shikarree, and much liked. He was, or rather had been, like many
Sikhs at times, a hard drinker. He had had several previous attacks of dysentery, and had also
suffered greatly from fever, and was in a very weak state when first admitted into hospi
- t a l .
XVIII. Epidemics .—The y e a r 1 8 7 4 w a s a r e m a r k a b l y h e a l t h y o n e ; n o c a s e o f c h o l e r a w a s
r e p o r t e d i n a n y p a r t o f t h e d i s t r i c t , a n d s ma l l - p o x , f r o m a l l I c a n l e a r n , h a s c a u s e d b u t v e r y
few deaths, no case having been reported within cantonment limits.
XIX. Vaccination .—I think the men of the regiment are very well protected against pos
- s i b l e a t t a c k s o f s m a l l - p o x , t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e m h a v i n g a l r e a d y h a d o n e a t t a c k , a n d t h e
others show marks of vaccination.
The children born in and living in lines are vaccinated at the commencement of each cold
season by the dispensary hospital assistant.
Remar ks by Capt ai n H. Bul l er , Commandi ng— I c o n c u r w i t h t h e r e m a r k s s e t f o r t h i n t h i s
report; but wish to point out that the hospital accommodation hitherto provided is, in my
opinion, fully sufficient for the number of men who have at different times to be treated for
serious cases of illness. For the comfort of the corps in many ways, it is advisable that all men
suffering from trivial ailments should be permitted to reside in the lines, and attend at hospital
morning and evening, being treated as " line sick" , or " out patients", as has hitherto been the
regimental custom. With a view, however, of ensuring truer statistical results, all men so
treated should be included in the return of "Daily Average Sick", and reckoned as "in
patients" though not actually admitted to the hospital.
Deaths.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Remarks by
Commanding
Officer.