160
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Equipment
Sickness at
head-quarters
and depôt
compared.
For what was anticipated an arduous undertaking, the most robust men were selected for
the expedition, and a depôt, the average strength of which during December was 157.99. was
left at Nowshera, the strength of the regiment in the field being 4.98 during the same period.
The following was the scale of equipment laid down in Deputy Assistant Quartermaster
General's Circular No. 107 C of 11th November 1877.—
5 per cent. dandies, complete with bearers.
5 per cent. doolies, complete with bearers.
2 blankets each dandie.
3 blankets each doolie.
1 water-bottle with each doolie and dandie.
1 pakal mule with pakal.
1 mule for petarahs.
2 tarpaulins; 1 bell tent ; 1 mule for tent.
The Commissariat officer refused to sanction 5 per cent. of either doolies or dandies, and only
one dandie with bearers per company accompanied the regiment, and these were found sufficient.
In the Bori valley, with the exception of the first day when the casualties were seven in the whole
force, scarcely any carriage was wanted. When the force went to Pushteoni, taking with
it several days' rations, the mules that had carried these were available on the return for the
conveyance of the sick, and were utilised.
Comparative statement of sickness at head-quarters and depôt during December.—
Average strength in camp .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
498
„
„
„ depôt .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
157.99
,.
sick
„ camp .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
5.86
„
„
„
depôt .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
14.93
DISEASES.
HEAD-QUARTERS.
DEPÔT.
Fevers.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
3 0
22
Rheumatis
.
. .
.
•
.
•
.
6
4
Bronchiti
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2
1
Pneumoni
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0
Dysenter
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2 8
Diarrhoe
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
4
0
Spleen diseas
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
0
2
Ulcer.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
3
0
Injuries
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
12
0
Other diseases
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1.3
2
TOTAL.
98
36
Hardships at
Shirgussa.
Typhoid fever
Inspection.
During December there were no sick sent from camp to Nowshera, and the above state-
ment of the health of the head-quarters of the regiment is a favorable one when the ex-
posure and excessive duty is taken into account and summarised. From the morning of the
4th till the evening of the 10th, the men were without tents or bedding, and during that time,
from the evening of the 7th, there were 40 hours of almost continuous heavy rain. On the
night of the 9th they were encamped at Shirgussa in the open on ploughed land, ankle-
deep in mud and covered with pools of water. Subsequently, in camp at Shirgussa, rain fell
in intervals during eight days, and as the regiment had 80 men on guard every night, they
underwent that exposure.
In regard to sickness, some alarm was felt after our return from the ridge at two officers in
the force being attacked by typhoid brought on by wet and exposure, one of whom died; but
these were isolated cases.
The two prevalent diseases, fever and dysentery, were both of the very mildest type. Under
'injuries' is included a slight gun-shot wound of the left foot. The other cases under the
same heading are foot-sores.
One doolie-bearer belonging to the regiment was killed by a gun-shot wound through his
chest on the 6th December at Bori. The more serious cases were sent to the Native General
Hospital at Mackeson to be passed on to the depôt when capable of travelling.
Inspection.—The annual medical inspection took place on the 9th of Octo-
ber 1877. Deputy Sureon-General F. F. Allen, C. B., reports that at the time of
his visit the lines were in good sanitary condition. Trench latrines had recently
been established on. the usual system. The hospital was in excellent order and
fully provided with appliances for the treatment of the sick. Medicines were
sufficient; instruments in a serviceable state, and the records complete and up to
date.