Principal
causes of
sickness.
190
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness. —The following table shows the diseases which gave
rise to the greatest number of admissions, and contrasts the number of these diseases for the
three years, 1875 to 1877.
DISEASES.
NUMBER OF CASES TREATED IN
1877.
1876.
l875.
Fevers. . . . .
69
343
2 4 6
Dysentery . . . . . . . .
16
24
1 6
Diarrhœa .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
14
30
7
Bronchitis .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
31
23
13
Abscess
.
.
.
. • . . . .
21
15
42
Pneumonia .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1
2
15
Ulcers . . . . . . . . .
23
10
. . .
Injuries
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
72
59
93
Malarial
fevers.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
This shows a remarkable decrease in the number of admissions for malarial fevers ; and as
not less than half of these diseases occurred in Beloochistan, it shows that no more than about
85 were admitted in this station for the year. Nearly all these cases were of the mildest
kind, and there was only one death (from remittent fever) out of the number. Bronchitis Was
above the average, and cases of this disease occurred chiefly in the wet weather, in February
and March. There was not a single case of pneumonia admitted during the year, the case in
the table having remained over from 1876.
XVII. P rincipal causes of mortality.—An
officer died of apoplexy ; one man died of
remittent fever ; one of bronchitis, and one of congestion of the spleen.
X V I I I . E p i d e m i c s .
— N o n e .
4th Regiment, Sikh Infantry—Dera Chazi khan.
Medical
officer.
Location and
movements.
Topography.
Meteorology.
Accommoda-
tion.
Drainage.
Water.
Food.
Clothing,
duties and
recreations.
Hospital.
I. Medical officer.—Surgeon McBride Davis held medical charge of
the regiment during the
year.
II. Location and movements.—
The regiment was stationed at
Dera Ghazi Khan throughout the
year. A strong detachment was
at Quetta throughout the year.
Small detachments were at Mun-
g rota from 26th February to 30th
April, and from 3rd July to 7th
September, and from 4th Novem-
ber to 30th December.
III. Topography. —During the
past hot weather the river Indus
was unusually low, and the annual
inundations were much less than
i n pr evi ous year s.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
. Khelat, February 1872
203.1
4.4
5.4
1873
.
Ditto .
.
.
181.4
23
3.9
1874
.
Ditto .
.
.
173.5
1.4
3.8
1875
. Dera Ghazi Khan, Jan-
uary 1875 .
. .
149.76
2.7
3.75
1876
.
Ditto .
.
.
152.41
1.77
4.21
Average
.
172.13
2.51
4.21
1877
. Dera Ghazi Klan
.
152.64
1.90
4.62
IV. Meteorology.—Rain fell heavily for this place during the first three months of the year ;
very little rain fell during the hot weather. The total rainfall for the year was nearly seven
inches, being below the average of the previous five years, viz., 8.38. The hot weather was
of ordinary severity, and the cold milder than usual.
The sanitary circumstances of the regiment appear to have undergone no
change of importance during the year. There is good and ample accommo-
dation. The difficulties as regards drainage have been described by Surgeon
McCartie. The "field system" prevails in this regiment. Good water is obtain-
able in plenty from wells. F ood was expensive during the year, but the
men are well nourished. As regards clothing, duties and recreations, there is
nothing new to report.
XIV. Hospital has been previously described; has been kept in good repair, and
afforded good and sufficient accommodation. Fires are kept burning during the cold months.
T he men bring their own bedding, and this is supplemented in the cold season by numdahs
that have been provided regimentally, and also, when necessary, by the late issue of blankets.