Causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
vaccination.
Detachment
at Jubbulpore.
48
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
continue for a couple of months ; people of e very class and age Suffer during the season from
one or more attacks. The regular cold stage of ague is sometimes absent, but the hot stage is
mostly severe and is followed by the usual sweating ; hypertrophy of the spleen is rarely seen, not-
withstanding the frequency of the attacks year after year. One hundred and forty-nine
admissions were due to these alone out of a total of 319 from all causes no other disease
prevailed to any extent.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—There were only 3 deaths in hospital; one from
pneumonia, another from phthisis pulmonalis, and the third from chronic bronchitis.
XVIII. Epidemics.—No epidemic occurred in the regiment. Cholera existed in the
district, and a few cases in the station. One man in the regiment contracted the disease and
recovered.
XIX. Vaccination.— Fifty-six cases were vaccinated, 52 successful and 4 unsuccessful; all
men in the regiment are protected by vaccination.
Sur geon W. E. J ohns on has f ur ni s hed a r epor t of t hed e t a c h m e n t
a t
Jubbulpore. The, lines are-well situated and in good repair but somewhat over-
crowded owing to large families. The prices of grains have been somewhat higher
than usual, but vegetables were plentiful. The men received rice money and
underfeeding is not common. The squadron accompanied the regiment to
Delhi, returning on the 3rd March. The sick are treated in the Native In
fantry hospital. The squadron was healthy, and no epidemic disease occurred
among them.
5th Regiment, Madras Native Infantry—Saugor.
Medical
officer.
Lines.
Conservancy.
Water.
Food.
Clothing.
Duties.
Amusements.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
1. Medical Officer.— S u r g e o n F . P . B l e n k i n s o p r e m a i n s i n m e d i c a l c h a r g e
of this regiment which has been stationary at Saugor throughout the year.
Surgeon Blenkinsop confirms Surgeon Bateman's observations regarding the
scanty rainfall. The rains set in but subsequently failed. There was,
however, a good fall in December which benefited the crops.
Nothing has been done to improve the lines. Great attention is paid to
matters of conservancy a tax being levied to pay for sweepers. The latrines
are on the dry-earth system, but the material is buried in trenches in ground
which is subsequently cultivated and yields good crops,
The Wells were very low, in consequence of the scanty rainfall, and water
became scarce. Food rose in price in October, the compensation for that month
reaching Rs. 6-14-2. The men clothe more warmly now than when they first
came to Saugor.
- Duties are not excessive nor in any way prejudicial to health, and some of
the younger sepoys resort to 'athletics and gymnastics. Firing for rifle matches
is also a popular amusement.
The hospital is an excellent new one on the standard plan, and gives
complete satisfaction.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of regiment
Present
. .
. .
.
. .
. .
.
. 671.35
Absent.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
40.28
Total
.
. 711.63
STATION.
PERIOD.
Average
strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER A NNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions Deaths.
Admis-
sions.
Deaths.
Daily
average sick.
Head quarters at Saugor
1st Jan. 1877 31st Dec. 1877
671.35
430 :
8 10.24 64.05 1.19 1.52
Number of, deaths in hospital, 8 ; out of hospital, 1; total
9; per cent. of total strength
. 1.26
"
invalided
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
41 ;
"
"
.
5.76
"
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
0;
"
"
.
0
„
of days spent in hospital
3,756; per admission .
8.73; per wan of total strength
.
5.27
"
"
on sick leave *546; per man
1 3 6 . 5 0 ; "
"
.
. 7 6
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
6.04
Principal
causes of
admission.
XVI. Principal causes of admission.— As is always the case, malarial fevers head the list of
sickness. Of ague, there were 302 cases against 445 last year, showing a decrease of 143.
From febricula there were only 15 admissions, while in 1876; there were 35 cholera gave 4
admissions, conjunctivitis, boils and wounds, : gave 1.1 each. Of dysentery, there were only 7
cases, and all these were of a mild form. There has been a total absence of chest affections,
which, as a rule, prove very severe to the Madras sepoy.
*These men were sent away last year.