Drainage, &c.
Hospital
latrine.
Diet.
Price of food-
supplies.
Clothing.
Blistered fee
t.
Undress
clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise,
amusements
and occupa-
tion.
Hospital.
Bedding.
2
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
almost 100 superficial and over 1,000 cubic feet of space. Overcrowding exists to some
extent in the north and south barracks; but, as they are so constructed as to permit the most
thorough cross-ventilation, it does not exercise a prejudicial influence on the health of their
occupants; at all events, as we shall show under another heading, they compare very favorably
with the bomb-proof barracks in point of healthiness.
As regards drainage, conservancy and water-supply, no change has taken
place.
The hospital latrine, described in the report for 1873, has, been somewhat enlarged,
and glazed gumlahs substituted for those previously used. A Crowley conservancy cart
has also been obtained, in which the filth is removed daily, and discharged into one of the
main sewersof Calcutta about a mile from the hospital. I have merely to add that the system
has worked admirably throughout the year.
I.X. Diet.—The system of dieting in force was the same as described in Surgeon Car-
michael's report of the 37th Regiment Native Infantry at Fort William for 1873. The articles
of diet were almost daily inspected by me, and, with one exception, were invariably of good
quality. The supply was ample, but prices ranged higher than last year. The average cost
of the sepoy's diet was Rs. 7-0-8 per month, as compared with Rs. 6-4-1 in 1876. With
few exceptions, chiefly old sepoys, the men are well nourished, and it is fair, therefore, to infer
that there has been no under or improper feeding during the year. There was only one
admission for scurvy and 20 for general debility, as against 42 for the latter condition in 1876.
The. egimental bazar, situated within the fort, was under constant supervision, and its
sanitary condition kept satisfactory. The scheme of hospital dieting, given in the report for
1873, remains unchanged, excepting that an additional 16 oz. of milk are given with No. 2
and No. 3 to men suffering from debility and to any men suspected of malingering.
X. Clothing.—The ammunition boot, still worn without socks, gave rise to 36 admissions
for blisters of the feet during the year. This number, however, does not represent all the men
who suffered, as several slight cases were treated without being admitted. The undress clothing
worn by several of the men was not warm enough during the cold season, and, as a result,
there were a good many admissions for bronchial and rheumatic affections. Most of the men
admitted for these diseases were induced to procure warmer clothing, flannel being recom-
mended for all the rheumatic cases.
XI
.Duty and employment.—The duty was heavy, the number of nights in bed being
only 4.49.
XII. Exercise, amusements and occupation.—As recorded in previous reports, the sepoy
have but little time for amusement, the greater part of the day being taken up in drill, cooking
their food, and cleaning their accoutrements. There are some, however, who practise club
exercise, but there appears to be no general Inclination for athletics in the regiment.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital has been described in previous reports. It is in good
repair and well ventilated; it contains about 7,000 cubic feet, and would afford good accom-
modation for 60 patients. The maximum number of patients during the year was 55.
We availed ourselves of G. G. O. No. 681 of 28th July 1877, to procure bedding and clothing
and other articles necessary for the more efficient working of the hospital. Formerly the
sepoys were obliged to provide their own bedding. The blankets supplied by the Commis-
sariat weighed on an average lbs. 5-7-3. There is a regimental dispensary in the fort, with a
hospital assistant, where a small supply of medicines is kept for administration to slight
cases not requiring admission to hospital and to all acute cases before being conveyed
thither.
Sickness,
mortality
a n d
invaliding.
Principal
causes of
sickness.
XV.
Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment-
Present
632.99
Absent
63.57
Total
. 696.56
P E R I O D .
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number
of sick..
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions.
Deaths.
Admis-
•
sums.
Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Fort William 1st Jan. 1877 31st Dec. 1877 632.99
936
5
26.54 147.86 0.78
4.19
Number of deaths in hospital, 5 ; out of hospital, 4 ; total 9; per cent. of total strength
1.29
,, invalide 59 ; ,, ,,
8.47
sent on sick leave 23 ; ,, ,,
3.30
,, of days spent in hospital 9,688 ; per admission 10.35 ; per man of total strength
13.90
,, ,, on sick leave, 1,830 ; per man 79.56 ; ,, ,,
2.63
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
16.53
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—The admissions were more numerous than in the
previous year (936 against 827), while the days spent in hospital and on sick leave were
considerably less.