Clothing.
Blistered feet.
Duties.
Hospital.
LAHORE DIVISION.
119
deteriorated. Owing to its low level and consequent bad drainage, the site is, after rain, little
better than a marsh. The extent of the cantonment comprises 8,336 acres, or 13 square miles.
The soil consists of a stiff clay mixed with "kunkur," about 8 feet deep; about 6 feet of clay
without kunkur underlies this ; then come 3½ feet of light sandy clay, and lowest of all an
unknown depth of fine grey sand. Water is found at about 30 feet. The soil is almost a
dead level, falling into depressions in places and presenting serious obstacles to drainage.
V. Lines.—The lines are the worst I have ever seen, both in situation and construction.
There is no drainage to speak of; what there is falls into the Shahlimar main drain which
is said to give a fall of three feet. There are a few young trees in the lines, but they are not
sufficiently grown to afford much shelter ; the consequence is that the cold in winter and
the heat in summer are intensely felt. There are three and a half huts to each company, half
of the fourth hut being used for cooking in ; they measure 57' x 17' x 7½', and give each
occupant about 406 cubic feet. They are badly constructed ; the ventilation is also
bad.
Dry-earth latrines are in use, the excreta being removed daily. Water is
obtained from wells and canals ; the former is preferred. Food-supplies were
dear, but the men got compensation, and care was taken that they consumed
a sufficient diet.
Lines.
Latrines.
Water.
Food-supplies.
X. Clothing.—The shoes are of the common native pattern, and I cannot consider them
a serviceable covering for the feet, unless indeed, for the facility with which they can be put on
and kicked off. Forty-six cases of "blistered feet" were admitted during the past year
(this heading includes all injuries received from wearing shoes). Several of these were abrasions
inflicted on the integument over the internal malleoli by contact of the heel of the shoe of the
opposite foot, the result being an ulcer very slow to heal. Six hundred and twenty-five days
were passed in hospital, giving an average of 1.71 daily sick, or 6.34 per cent of the sick list.
I cannot help thinking that the ammunition boot would be a great improvement on this state
of things, and better still, the wearing of socks with them.
Duties have had no prejudicial effect on the men's health, The recruits
are put through a gymnastic course.
XIV. Hopital.— Using the verandahs, it would accommodate 96 patients. It is intense-
ly hot in summer and excessively cold in winter, notwithstanding that fires are used and
purdahs to the inner openings. The doors, being insufficiently glazed, have to be opened
during the medical officer's visit, to enable him to see, causing in winter much inconvenience
from the cold.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
602.45
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 94.13
Total
.
. 696.58
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
STATION.
PERIOD
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average.
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUAL.
From
To
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Daily
average
sick-
Head-quarters at Meean
Meer
.
.
.
.
1st Jan.
. 31st Dec.
.
550.31
813
9
25.41 147.73 1.63
4.61
Detachment at Umritsur
,
1st Jan. . 16th March
.
253.75
56
...
1.57 107.40 ...
.61
Total
...
...
602.45
869
9 26.98 144.21 1.49 4.47
Number of deaths in hospital, 9 ; out of hospital, 3 ; total
12 ; per cent. of total strength .
. 1.72
„
invalided .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
19;
,, ,,
.
. 2.72
„
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
18 ;
,, ,,
.
2.58
„
of days spent in hospital, 9,847, ; per admission
11.33 ; per man of total strength .
. 14.13
,, ,,
on sick leave, 1,518; per man
.
84.33;
„
,,
.
.
2.17
Total temporary loss of total service per man of total strength
.
.
16.31
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— Ague as usual is at the head of the list, but with only
339 admissions against 1,012 during the previous year, shewing increased acclimatization. Next
come diseases of the respiratory system (including coryza, bronchial catarrh, bronchitis, pneu-
monia and pleurisy) with a total of 118 admissions against 59 in 1876. Then come 54 cases
o f a n æ m i a a g a i n s t 7 i n t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r . T h e n 4 5 a d m i s s i o n s f r o m r h e u m a t i c a f f e c t i o n s
against 37 of the previous year. Diarrhœa and dysentery give 53 admissions, much the same
as in 1876. Blistered feet, ulcers, boils and whitlows gave 126 admissions, which include two
cases of Delhie boil, both on dorsal aspect of hand. One got well under the biniodide of
mercury ointment (an old remedy of mine) ; and the other is nearly so, under similar treat-
Principal
causes of
sickness.