Water-supply.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise,
amusements,
&c.
Hospital.
Fevers .
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
. 471
Dysentery
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 58
Dyspepsia
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
5 6
Diarrhœa
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
34 652
General debility
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 24
Anæmia
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
5
Hypertrophy of spleen .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
4
Ulcers .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 34
Flybit
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 39 2 0 3
Iniuries .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 173
Blisters of feet
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 50
Goitre .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
24
2 9
Scurvy .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
5
Respiratory affections .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
85
Rheumatic
„
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
78
Ocular
„
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
14
369
Syphilitic
„
. .
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
2
Other
„
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 190
1,346
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— The principal diseases which came under treatment were as follows:— Principal
causes of
sickness.
209
EASTERN FDONTIER DISTRICT.
resort to places outside the fort, which are reserved for the purpose. These places are kept
very clean by the conservancy establishment, but the smell in them at times is very bad.
The excreta is removed to the adjacent jungles.
VIII. Water-supply.— The water is very good, and there is plenty of it A copy of the
half-yearly report, lately ordered on the recommendation of the Sanitary Commissioner, is
appended. [This report shows that the water-supply of Buxa is " exceptionally pure."]
IX. Diet.—Most of the food used by the men is obtained through a contractor, who lives
in the sudder bazar. The most important food-supplies, viz., wheat, rice, meat and milk, have
been very dear during the past year. There is a small shed on the road below the fort
for the accommodation of the Bhooteas, who daily bring in vegetables, fruits, eggs, &e., for
sale. These supplies are however, at times scanty and insufficient. Potatoes are procur-
able all the year round. Some of the best I have ever seen were at one time selling here for
Rs. 2-8, and at Chi nchul l a (6 mi l es di stant) for Rs. 2 per maund; but they are not to be got al l
the year round at these rates.
X. Clothing.—The clothing was good, and Was suited to the seasons and the duties. Am-
munition boots were worn on all duties. Those furnished by Sir. W. Palliser and Company
were very good, and if worn with socks, would be unexceptionable; but few sepoys can afford
socks, and the 'price of the boots, Rs. 5-11 aunas per pair, although moderate considering
their excellent quality, was much too high for most of the men: The country-made ammuni-
tion boots which are in use, are inferior to Palliser's, but their cost is much less. Fifty cases of
blisters of the feet were admitted during the year. The undress, or native clothing is at this
season very good, but it was not so during the rains, when it was a common practice with
some of the men to go from the fort to the cook-houses wearing nothiug'except a dhotie and
an umbrella.
XI. Duty and employment.—The duties consisted of the usual parades, drills, and mus-
ketry instruction together with guards and pickets. There was also a good deal of fatigue
duty, the principal work being a new rifle range, with a road leading up the hill to it. A
new road was also made up to the old rifle range. Nights in bed were 5.91.
XII. Exercise, amusements, &c.— The men although not overworked, had but little time
left for amusements.
XIII.
XIV. Hospital. The hospital was describedin last year's report. The accommodation in
-
it for the sick is inferior and insufficient. For months past many of the slighter cases have
been obliged to live in the lines, there being no room for them in the hospital. The ventilation
is good but there is rather too much of it in the cold weather. It was thoroughly repaired
before the close of the year. It is very cold and full of draughts in the cold weather, and
there are no means of warming it. Blankets were supplied during the past year, and were
found very useful, adding much to the comfort of the worst cases.
•XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment-
Presen
.
. .
. . .
.
.
. .
. 587.57
Absent
.
. .
.
. .
.
. .
.
. 91.61
Total
.
. 679.18
Sickness,
mortality and
STATION..
PERIOD.
strength,
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily a v e r a g e n u m b e r
of
sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGT
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Admis-
sions. Deaths,
Daily
avera g e
sick.
Head-quarters at Buxa
.
1st Jan. 1877 31st Dec. 1877 587.57 1,346
4
49.10 229.07
.68 8.35
Number of deaths in hospital, 4 ; out of hospital, 17 ; total .
21; per cent. of total strength
3.09
„
invalided .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
10;
„ „
.
1 . 4 7
„
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
45;
„
„
.
6.62
„
of days spent in hospital 17,922; per admission
.
13.31; per man of total strength 26.38
„
on sick leave 7,289; per man .
. 161.97;
,,
. 10.73
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
. 37.11
c 2