Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination,
Recommend
tious.
Special obsei
vations and
remarks.
Gymnastics
.
22
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Principal
causes of sick-
Mess.
Recruiting
Inspection.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—Febrile and chest affections seem due . to the weather,
which was very hot during the greater part of the year, while for the last two months the
daily range has been great. The age and long service of many of the men who had been
enlisted in the mutiny, when the regiment . was raised, and when particular attention was
not apparently directed to the age or physical powers of the men enlisted, account for many
admissions for general debility. The riding school and the regimental jumps have to answer
for most of the cases of boil, and for almost all the accidents.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—Only two men have died, both of whom were at
the time on sick leave, and in all probability they died of the diseases for which they were
respectively sent on sick leave, viz., in one case phthisis pulmonalis, and in the other case general
debility from age and service.
XVII. Bpidemics.—During the year there was no epidemic in the regiment. Small-
pox was rather prevalent in the station during the latter half of the year ; four sporadic
cases occurred among camp-followers, but not simultaneously, two being in May and two in
December. There was no death. The prophylactics adopted on each occasion happily as yet
have prevented any outbreak in the regiment.
XIX. Vaccination.— All unprotected persons in, and connected with, the regiment have
been vaccinated.
XIX. Recommendations.—These were made on several occasions-
(a) To have hospital thoroughly repaired.
(b) To have hospital well cleared out.
(c) To have thorough disinfection, and then destruction of the houses in which small-
- pox had occurred.
(d) To stop intercourse between the. regiment and the neighbourhood of these houses
while any risk of infection remained.
All the recommendations made were at once attended to and carried out to my
satisfaction.
XXI. Special observations and remarks. A. Gymnastics,- A class, consisting of 1 duffadar
and 7 sowars of the regiment, were put through a course of gymnastic training in the gymnasium
of the 5th Fusiliers at Allahabad, commencing on 5th February and finishing on 7th August.
1877—a course of six months. The men took a great interest and pleasure in this class and
became very expert gymnasts, and not only so, but capital gymnastic instructors into the
bargain. Measurements were taken of their chests, their forearms, and their upper arms on
two different dates, namely, on commencing the course, and four months and twenty-five days
later. From these measurements the following averages have been obtained (the ages of the
men ranging from 20 to 30 years with an average age of 24 years).
Average chest at commencement
31
4 / 6 6 / 4i
n c h e s .
,,
,,
second measurement
3 4
2 / 6 3 / 4,
,
,,
increase of .chest
2 4 / 6 1 / 4,
,
Average forearm at commencement
9 5 / 6 6 / 4,
,
,,
,,
second measurement
1 0
3 / 6 4 / 4,
,
,,
increase of forearm
5 / 6 0 / 4,
,
Average of upper arm at starting
1 1
3 / 6 2 / 4,
,
,,
,,
second measure
1 2
2 / 6 3 / 4,
,
,,
increase of upper arm
5 / 6 5 / 4
In no instance was there any diminution in any of the men's measurements ; in every
instance was there increase. The men returned from the course vastly improved and
smartened up. Since their return they have been set to instruct the recruits and the men of
short service in the gymnasium. In next year's report the results will be detailed in full.
B. Recruiting.—Owing to the large number of men who left the regiment during the
year, there were numerous vacancies to fill up ; and there has been no lack of candidates to
fill them. Sixty-seven recruits were enlisted in 1877. Their ages ranged from 17 (three in-
stances) to 25 (two instances), with an average of 20.13 years. In height they ranged from 5'4"
(one instance) to 6' 0" (one instance), the average being 5'7.61", while the chest measurements
varied from 30.5" to 36.25" (one instance of each), with an average of 33.88". The
recruits are a fine body of men, and promise to become good soldiers.
Inspection.—The regiment was inspected medically on the 5th of November
by Officiating Deputy Surgeon-General R. F. Hutchinson, M.D. All the sanitary
and medical arrangements connected with corps were being carefully attended
to. Trees had been planted between the rows of huts for shade, but it will be
many years before they are of much use. The accommodation afforded by the
hospital is beyond requirements, and the distance from the lines (half a mile) is
considered rather too great.