Comparison
with 1876.
Principal
causes of
sickness.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Recommend-
ations.
Recruiting,
PUNJAB FRONTIER FORCE.
Comparing this return with last year's, the salient features are that the regimental
strength was almost identical; its extern mortality 8 more; there were 23 fewer
men invalided, and 7 less sent on sick leave. The number of days spent in hospital was
materially lessened, being equal to over 3 days per man of total strength in favor of 1877.
The actual number of days spent on sick leave was equal to 6 of a day per man of total
strength in excess of 1876. This is accounted for by the more than usual severity of ailments
the absentees were suffering from, resulting fatally in 10 instances against 2 last year. Not-
withstanding all, it appears that, taking both factors into consideration, viz., the number of
days spent in hospital and on sick leave, to wit, the total inefficiency for service per man
of total regimental strength, there are three days per man in favor of 1877, which means that each
sepoy in the regiment was on the annual mean 3 days more fit and efficient for duty in 1877
than he was in 1876.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— Malarial fevers 496; ulcers 165; intestinal diseases,
dysentery and diarrhœa 94; lung diseases, bronchial and pneumonia, 72; rheumatism 28;
boils 28; contusions 28; partial sunstroke 18. The issues of importance are that malarial
and intestinal affections, probably depending on the unusual aridity "in the rainy season," have
decreased one-half; while lung affections remain in state quo. The ulcers were caused by
chafing and thorns while on service; they, as usual, assumed a scorbutic taint. In the majority
of cases they were held in command by a free issue of limejuice, sugar and rum. The cases
of sunstroke occurred on 30th August. Among the officers a marked case of typho-malarial
fever ensued.
XVII. Principal causes. ofm o r t a l i t y .
— S e v e n t e e n d e a t h s w e r e r e c o r d e d ; o n e i n ( t h e s a m e
number as last year) and ten out of hospital. Six of these were on sick leave, and probably died,
two of pneumonia and four of recurring fever; the remaining four died on furlough at their
own homes.
XVIII. Epidemics.—Small-pox was about in January. One camp-follower was successfully
treated.
XIX. Vaccination.— Two children only were protected by vaccination; five have not been
vaccinated. These will now be attended to.
XX. Recommendations.—These were in August—that the sepoys be allowed tents without
karats to sleep under, to keep off dew damps in November; that limejuice, sugar and rum be
freely issued to troops on service, and that vegetables be provided. These were complied with.
XXI. Racruieing.— There were 88 recruits inspected, of whom 72 were accepted and 16
rejected. The details of those passed into the regiment are attached.
Caste.
No.
Average
-height.
Chest girth.
Sikhs .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 15
5. 7½
35
inches.
Dogras.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 6
33¾
"
Purbeas
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 2
5. 7¼
34¼
"
Pathans
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 10
34¾
"
Punjabis
5.9
"
Mussul mans
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . 39
34½
"
The causes of rejection were—defective vision, 4 ; deficient physique, 10; varicose vein, 1
secondary syphilis, 1. All accepted recruits were either protected by vaccination, inocu-
lation or variola.
5th Regiment, Punjab Cabalry—Edwardesabad.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
. Dora Ismail Khan, Feb.
175.5
8.4
5.2
•
1872.
1873
.
Ditto
.
195.9
1.4
6.
1874
.
Ditto
.
200.9
1.02
7.4
1875
. Edwardesabad, Jan. 1875
221.53
1.83
6.17
1876
.
Ditto
.
179.23
.81
5.68
Average
.
.
194.61
2.69
6.09
1877
. Edwardesabad
.
.
84.63
1.02
2.73
I. Medical officer.—Sur-
g eon-Major C. P. Costello,
who held medical charge
from 7th February to 31st
December 1877, has compiled
the annual report.
II. Location and movements.—
From 1st January to 24th De-
cember 1877 the regiment was
stationed at Edwardesabad. On
25th December the regiment
commenced its march to Kohat
in course of triennial relief, where
it arrived on 1st January 1878.
The following detachments were
furnished during the year :—
Medical
officers.
Location and
movements.
Detachments.
Strength.
Jani Kheyl, from 1st January to 23rd December 1877
.
.
.
.
.
.
28.45
Z a m
Dera Ismail Khan district, to replace 3rd Punjab Cavalry at Imperial
.
Assemblage, from 1st January to 16th March 1877 .
.
.
.
30.00
Girni .
Ditto
ditto
ditto
.
.
.
48.81
Bahadur Kheyl, from 27th December to 31st December 1877
.
.
.
.
11.00