180
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Climate.
Lines,
drainage.
Latrines.
Duties.
Neeza bazi.
Marches and
service.
Hospita
Sick ness,
mortality and
invaliding.
IV. Climate.—The climate is generally moist, and during the first-half of the past year
was even more. so than usual, rain having fallen on an average three days in the week during
that period. In consequence of this unusual rain, no ice could be made for the station ice pits.
The summer temperature was not excessive, having been tempered by occasional showers of
rain. Scarcely any rain fell from July to November. Southerly winds in the hot weather, and
westerly in the cold months, were the most prevalent.
The lines were thoroughly repaired during the year; they are well drained.
A regimental latrine on the dry-earth plan works well, the "poudrette" being
utilized by a zemindar. A new well has been built in front of the cavalry
lines, which yields excellent water. Surgeon-Major Costello considers that the
use of this water has diminished the number of cases of fever and ulcers. The
men live well. Duties have been light; nights in bed 4.56. Neeza bazi and
wrestling are resorted to as amusements.
XIII. Marches and service.— On the 25th December the regiment began its march from
Edwardesabad to Kohat in course of relief. Great inconvenience and discomfort were caused
by rain, but the men kept very healthy, care having been taken to see that they changed their
wet clothing, and that they encamped on high ground which had good drainage, and also
that straw was provided for each man, so that his bedding was not in contact with the damp
ground.
XIV. Hospital.—The Cavalry hospital at Edwardesabad is a separate building in front
of the Cavalry lines. It is oblong in shape, facing north-east and south-east; is well venti-
lated and lit by suitably placed doors and windows, and has accommodation for 36 beds. The
hospital is built on almost the highest site in the station, and the drainage is perfect.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment—
Present
. .
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
371.02
Absent
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
118.41
Total
.
.
489.43
STATION.
PERIOD .
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number of
sick. '
P E R C E N T . O F S T R E N G T H P E R A N N U M .
From
To
Admis-
sions.
Deaths.
A dmis-
sions. Deaths. Daily
average
sick.
H e a d - q u a r t e r s a t E d w a r d e s a - b a d .
1st Jan. 1877 24th.Dec. 1877
326.74 2 8 2
3
9.36 86.31
.91
2.86
Head-quarters en-route to
Kohat
25th Dec. 1877 31st ditto
Detachment at Jani Kheyl . 1st Jan. 1877 23rd ditto
28.45
10
. . .
. 1 8 35.92 ...
.63
"
Zam
.
.
Ditto
. 16th Mar. 1877
30.00
11
. . .
. 2 2 178.43 ... .73
"
Girni .
.
Ditto
.
Ditto
48.81
11
. . .
.34 109.67
. . .
.69
Bahadur Kheyl .
.
. 27th Dec. 1877 31st Dec. 1877
11.00 ...
...
...
...
...
Total .
.
.
...
...
371.02 314
3
10.16 84.63
.80 2.73
Number of deaths in hospital, 3; out of hospital, 2 ; total
5 ; per cent. of total strength .
.
. 1.02
„
invalided
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
15 ;
„ „
.
.
.
3.06
„
sent on sick leave
.
. . .
. . 3;
„ „
.
.
.
. 6 0
„
of days spent in hospital, 3,690; per admission 11. 75 ; per man of total strength .
.
.
7 . 5 4
„ „
on sick leave 295 ; per man
. 98 .33;
„
„
.
.
.
. 6 0
T o t a l t e m p o r a r y
l o s s o f
s e r v i c e p e r m a n o f t o t a l s t r e n g t h
. .
8 . 1 4
Principal
Causes of sick-
ness.
•
XVI. Principal causes of sickuess.— During the past year the regiment has been much
more healthy than in the previous year, as may be seen from the following table.
Years.
Total of admis-
sions.
Ague a, b & c. Remittent fever, Pneumonia.
B r o n c h i t i s Hypertrophy of
spleen.
1876
.
.
. . .
683
370
3
6
15
21
1877
.
.
. . .
314
132
1
2
7
10
It will be seen from the above table that there were 369 more admissions in 1876 than in 1877.
Taking ague (a, b and c) alone, there were 248 more admissions from those discuses in 1876 than
from the same diseases in the past year. There were also fewer admissions from enlargement of
spleen, pneumonia, remittent fever and boils in the past year than in the previous one. Ague