Prevalent
disease.
Deaths.
Cholera.
Measures
adopted.
Vaccination.
196
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—The total number of cases treated amounted to 1,820,
against 1,144 in the previous year. This immense increase in the number of admissions occurred
almost altogether under the head of malarial fevers, there having been 949 cases of ague against
354 in the previous year. This is one of the consequences of the relief carried out last year.
The next chief increase is found under dysentery and diarrhœa—158 against 98 in 1873. A great
number of the dysentery cases were of a malarial character, being sequences of prior attacks of
ague. Venereal affections numbered 60 against 61 last year, rheumatic affections 59, an increase
of 10 over the previous year. 47 cases of pulmonary affections were under treatment, and 2 of
phthisis. Skin diseases numbered 134, and injuries 142. There were 3 cases of confluent
small-pox occurring in recruits recently arrived. All other classes of diseases appear to have been
about on a par with the average of former years.
XVII.
The mortality in hospital was as follows:—small-pox, 2; typhoid fever, 1; cholera
5; choleraic diarrhœa, 5, pneumonia and dysentery, 4.
XVIII. The only epidemic of which I can find any notice was an out-break of cholera
which occurred in the Flat "Ganges" in the passage from Gowhatty of a detachment of 48 men
with the families of the regiment, amounting to 205 women and children. The first case ap-
peared soon after leaving Gowhatty, and was undoubtedly brought on board from that station,
and the next case occurred three days afterwards, and was under treatment when the vessel
arrived off this station on the 30th April. Undue delay appears to have taken place in disem-
barking them from the plague-stricken vessel, for on the night of that day I find two addi-
tional cases occurred on board.
They were landed on the 1st of May; the whole party, men, women and children, were put
under canvas near the steamer ghaut in low ground; heavy rain coming on soon afterwards,
they were all moved to the immigration quarantine depôt close by. On the following day, 2nd,
4 cases are reported; 3rd, 2; 4th, 1; and on the 6th 20 cases had occurred altogether and 6
deaths. On this date the healthy portion of the party were permitted to remove to the canton-
ments, but were strictly segregated there. This movement appears to have exercised a most
beneficial influence, as no fresh cases are reported afterwards. During the out-break the total
number attacked were, men 4, women 7, children 9, in all 20, of whom died, men 2, women 5,
children 3, total 10.
XIX. Vaccination.—I can find no record of any vaccine operations in the regiment during
the year; indeed, none could have been carried on, as almost the whole regiment was in the
field until after the vaccine working season.
Medical
charge.
Location and
movements.
Detachments.
Topography of
Nowarbund.
3rd Regiment Native Infantry.—Cachar.
Surgeon D. Moriarty, M. B., held medical charge of the regiment throughout
the year.
The head-quarters of the
regiment remained at
Cachar, with detachments
at Nowarbund and Monier-
khal on the Looshai fron-
tier. These detachments
could not be relieved re-
gularly, owing to the bad
state of the roads and orders
having been received to take
up some Out-posts in the
Sylhet district. There was
also a detachment unreliev-
ed at Moneepore throughout
the year. On the 27th September detachments were sent out into the Sylhet
district to take over the Out-posts of Chargola and Allynugur from the 43rd
Native Infantry.
III. Topography.—Of Cachar itself there is nothing new to add on this head.
In December I visited the Out-post of Nowarbund; the country there is chiefly composed
of small hills (teelas) with a jheel here and there intervening. The stockade is pleasantly
situated on one of these little hills. On one side tea is planted up to the very door; on the
other the jungle is cleared for a considerable distance. A bazar is held once a week at Doar-
bund, a tea garden about 1½ mile on this side of the stockade. A limited number of men
are allowed to attend this. Beyond Nowarbund towards the Looshai country nothing is to
be seen but these same small hills covered with dense forest jungle. Large game abounds here.
Some months ago a tiger made his way through the stockade and bodily carried off a cow
that was tethered inside. The stockade, however, was not a very formidable obstruction. Fogs
are common enough in the early morning, but owing to the free current of air they soon
clear off.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1869 Peshawar, Feby. 1868,
from Mooltan
3 1 6 . 7
5.3
4.6
1870 Meerut, March 1870
185.2
4.2
5.9
1871
Ditto ditto
153.
1.6
3.6
1872 Cachar, Nov. 1872
128.3
2.1
2.8
1873
Ditto ditto
132.3
2.8
3.9
Average
183.1
3.2
4 . 2
1874 Cachar
106.6
1 . 7
3.2