Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
Detachment.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines, bar
racks or
huts.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-supply
Hospital,
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
128
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
4th Soorkha Regiment—Bakloh.
I. Medical Officers.—Surgeon-Major T. Ringer, M.D., held medical charge
of the regiment from 1st
January to 13th August,
when, on appointment to
Dalhousie as Civil Surgeon,
he was relieved by Surgeon
G. S. Griffiths, who has re
mained in charge to the end
of the year.
II. Location and movements.—
The regiment has remained at
head-quarters throughout the
year, but furnished a detachment
of 149 men for the Governor
General's guard at Simla, the men
being absent from the station
from 21st March to 18th De-
cember 1877.
IV. Meteorology and climate.— The winter in January and February was cold and wet.
The summer, especially May, June and July, was particularly hot, the rain being deficient in
quantity and irregular. November and December were cold months, and a heavy fall of snow
occurred in the latter month. The rain-fall was carefully taken throughout the year, and only
averaged half the previous year.
V. Lines, barracks or huts.—The lines have been kept in good repair, and are not
overcrowded. The cook-rooms, referred to in report for 1877, are completed, so that there is
one to each barrack.
VII. Conservancy and latrines, described in previous report, but from the numerous
cases of enteric fever that occurred in 1876, and 2 in December 1877, it would appear that there
is some defect somewhere. There being no latrines, except for the hospital, the sepoys and
families have to resort to the jungle outside the cantonment boundaries, but this many do
not do, especially in wet weather and on dark nights ; the consequence is that all over the
station there are offensive smells.
VIII. Water-supply.—In November analysis was made of the water by me, and the result,
which closely resembles that of 1866, indicates a water of good quality.
In other respects the sanitary circumstances of the regiment have under-
gone no change.
XIV. Hospital.— The drainage around the hospital has been completed during the past
year. The state of repair is good, and building excellent. There has been no overcrowding.
The wards are amply warmed in the winter ; lighting,bedding and clothing are also sufficient.
A zenana compound wal l has been approved f or t he nat i ve doct ors' quart ers ; and al so f rui t
trees, as plantain, peach, orange, &c., are to be planted in the hospital compound, the Exec-
utive Engineer considering these trees will be as useful and ornamental as oaks, firs, &c.,
and the fruit will be beneficial for the patients.
XV. Sickness. mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 651.94
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
76.28
Total
.
. 728.22
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
O F
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUAM.
From
To
A d m i s
s i o n s . Deaths.
A d m i s s i o n s . Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Bakloh
. 1st Jan. 1877 31st Dec. 1877 540.23
422
1
16.10 78.11
.18 2.98
Detachment at Simla
. 21st Mar. 1877 18th Dec.1877 111.71
87
1
3.97 103.79 1.19 3.55
T o t a l
.
. . .
...
651.94
509
2
19.18 78.07 .30 2.94
Number of deaths in hospital, 2; out of hospital, 6 ; total
8 ; per cent. of total strength
.
1.09
„
invalided
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
11 ;
,,
„
„
.
1.51
„
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
10;
„
.
1.37
„
of days spent in hospital,
7,049; per admission 13.84; per man of total strength
.
9.68
„
„
on sick leave, 1,530; per man
. 153. ;
„
„
.
2.10
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
11.78
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
. Bakloh, April, from
Lushai
.
.
181.
1.6
5.2
1873
.
Ditto
98.2
1.1
3.1
1874
.
Ditto
.
91.9
. 5
2.8
1875
.
Ditto
.
119.5
1.69
4.1
1876
Ditto
.
88.6
1 . 3 8
3.4
Average
.
.
.
115.8
1.25
3.7
1877 . . Bakloh
.
.
.
78.07
1.09
2.94