Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Inspection.
Topography.
Climate.
152
Principal
diseases.
Mortality.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
XVI. Principal causes of' sickness, &c.—Of the 1,536 cases treated, 1,067 were cases of
fever, classed under (15A, ague 1,036; 15B, ague 8; remittent fever 23); and to these are added
6 cases of neuralgia and 10 of splenitis, the result of fever, we get a total of 1,083 cases of
disease, the result of malarial poisoning, or 70 per cent. of the total number treated.
Bowel affections gave rise to the next largest number of admissions. There were treated,
of dysentery 66; diarrhœa 17; colic 15; and others as dyspepsia, &c., 14; total 102.
Chest diseases yielded 27, and boils 38, total treated. Thus of a total treated of 1,536,
1,250 were from the three groups of fever, bowel and chest diseases, or 81 per cent.
As regards the small-pox cases, I have not been able to trace their history with reference
to contagion, &c.
The remaining cases do not call for any special remarks.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—Of the 1,536 treated, 6 died, 5 in hospital, and 1
while at home on sick leave. One of the deaths was from small-pox on the 25th day, from
entire destruction of the skin. One man died from ague, one from remittent fever, one from
pneumonia, and one from enteritis.
Although the number treated has been great, the mortality has been small.
One man sent on sick leave last year died in the hospital of the 15th N. I. at Sialkot.
XVIII. Epidemics.—There were no epidemics in the 29th Regiment or in the station.
XIX. Vaccination.—No vaccination has been practised during the year.
Mr. Banister's inspection report is as follows:
—
The regiment was passing its second year of residence at the station, and only slowly
rallying from the autumnal malarial infection. The lines were admirably clean and orderly,
the huts fairly ventilated, and there had been no overcrowding. The hospital was under repair,
its equipment was thoroughly complete, and all the arrangements highly satisfactory. My
inspection was made on the 1st April, and there were 19 sick with 8 attendants. The hospital
establishments, although not provided with Government quarters, were very comfortably housed.
Among 53 recruits, 2 men of inferior physique, several fully 25 years of age, and 2 close
upon 30.
30th (Punjab) Regiment Native Infantry—Peshawar.
Location and
movements.
Detachments.
Huts.
Surgeon D. N. Martin, in medical charge, reports as follows:—
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1869
Jhelum, December 1868,
from Cawnpore
132.4
.8
2.1
1870
Ditto ditto
89.6
1.4
2.1
1871
Ditto ditto
74.5
.9
2.9
1872
Nowshera, Novr. 1871
138.8
.7
4 . 6
1873
Ditto ditto
116.7
1 .
2.9
Average
110.4
.96
2.9
1874
Peshawar, March 1874
249.8
1
5.8
sanitarium
detachment was at that
season. The Cherat
October.
The topography of Peshawar has been so often described, that it is unnecessary here to
enter on the subject.
The heat during the last hot season was not excessive, although the rainfall was rather
less than of other years.
The highest temperature was registered in June, being 106°. The lowest was registered
in January, 55°. The mean of all highest was 83°; the mean of all lowest was 77.16°.
The mean range of the thermometer was 5.83°.
The state of the men's huts has been greatly improved by the addition of
verandahs. The lines are in good repair and kept scrupulously clean. The
dry-earth system of conservancy is in use with excellent effect, and the latrine
accommodation ample and appropriate. A urinal for general use has been
erected.
The head-quarters of the re
-giment remained at Nowshera
until the 28th February, when
it marched towards Peshawar,
halting at Tarao for one day, and
arriving in Peshawar to relieve
the 21st Punjab Native Infantry
on the 2nd March. It remained.
at Peshawar for the remainder
of the year.
The regiment furnished de
-tachments in its turn to the
Forts Abazai, Shubkudder,
Michnee, and to Cherat. The
detachments remained at these
forts during one month in the
cold and two months in the hot
from the 1st September to the 3rd