ROHILCUND DISTRICT.
105
plentiful and wholesome. The water level in the wells rises about eight feet
during the rains. The men are well nourished. Clothing is suitable to the
climate. Duty has not been excessive in any way.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital affords ample and splendid accommodation, and is tho
-
roughly well adapted in every particular. During the winter months a fire would be desirable
and more comfortable for the inmates.
There is one striking defeat in the utter absence of any road leading to the hospital. A
splendid building has been erected, but no road to lead up to it. This causes considerable
inconvenience to both the medical officers attached to the native regiments, i. e. , 16th Bengal
Cavalry and 11th Native Infantry, and during the rains it is exceedingly inconvenient. In
the event of an emergent case, speedy access to the hospital is impeded. I have represented
this to the officer commanding the station.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding .—Strength of the regiment,—present 400.42 ;
absent , 55.58; total, 456.00.
Clothing.
Duty.
Hospital.
Want of a
road.
Sickness mor
-
tality and
invaliding.
STATIONS.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUM-
BEE OF
D a i l y a v e r a g e n u m b e r o f s i c k .
PER CENT OF
STRENGTH PER AN-
NUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions.
D e a t h s .
Admis-
sions.
D e a t h s .
D a i l y a v e r a g e s i c k .
Head-quarters at Ba -
reilly . . . 1st Jan. 1874 31st Dec.1874 348.95
139
1
5.28
39.82
. 2 8 1.50
Detachment at Mora-
dabad . . .
1st Jan. 1874. 31st Dec. 1874
51.47
21
. . .
.62
40.77
1.20
Total . . .
. . .
. . .
400.42
160
1
5.90
39.95
. 2 4 1.47
No. of deaths in hospital, 1 ; out of hospital, 1; total, 2 ; per cent of total strength . . .
.43
" invalided, 16,
" " . . .
3.51
" sent on sick leave,
8 " " . . .
1.75
" of days spent in hospital, 2,156 ; per admission 13.47 ; per man of " . . .
4.73
" " " on sick leave, 715 ; per man, 89.37 ; " " . . .
1.57
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . .
6.30
These statistics are favorable, as all the men are admitted into hospital, however slight
their ailment, at the wish of the officer commanding. I can take no exception to this rule
with a large and capacious hospital, although I deprecate the system of having a number
of men constantly breathing the same air, thereby favoring hospitalism and pyæmia, osteomy
-
elitis, &c., but in the event of any epidemic, other arrangements would be recommended.
XVI. The principal causes of sickness .—Bareilly, in consequence of its elevation above the
surrounding country, and its natural drainage, enjoys an immunity from sickness that other
stations in the Bengal Presidency, with few exceptions, possess.
It is a notable fact that last year, in the autumnal months, when fever is generally so
prevalent in India, there were hardly any cases of intermittent fever ; indeed there were fewer
cases in hospital than at other times of the year. This is a peculiar feature in the climate
of Bareillv and makes it so healthy for the troops in garrison.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality .—One fatal case only of pneumonia.
All cases
admitted into
hospital.
Healthiness of
Bareilly.
Death.
XVIII. Epidemics .—No epidemics have occurred.
Epidemics.
XX. Special observations, remarks, &c.— The general state of the regiment in a sanitary
and hygienic point of view is excellent. Some of the men, in consequence of their having been
enlisted during the mutiny and entertained under exceptional circumstances, are not quite up
to the standard of high physique, but they are sufficiently active and athletic.
I have initiated a system of teaching some of the duffadars in each troop the minor oper
-
ations in surgery to enable them to act independently on an emergency. They are very
willing to learn, and are apt and quick. Already several have been. taught, and can apply
splints for fractures, bandages to different parts of the body, and applying pressures on
arteries in case of sudden hæmorrhage, and before medical assistance can be afforded. This
plan was, I believe, adopted in the German Army during the late Franco-Prussian war, with
great advantage to the wounded men. In instituting this system of teaching the duffadars,
I have received the cordial co-operation of Captain Topham, commanding the regiment. I
further propose to recommend that each man may have his name and number attached round
his neck, so that each sowar may be readily identified in the event of casualty in
service.
The duffadars will always be supplied on service with a certain number of ban
-
dages, &c.
c 1
Instruction of
duffadars in
the minor
operations of
surgery.