Mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Special
observations. G
LAHORE DIVISION.
125
IV. Meteorology and climate.— The rainfall was, after the month of May, very slight, and
it was in consequence of this fact the temperature remained so high during August. The
temperature decreased also very gradually until the latter end of November, when some
rain fell.
The huts occupied by the men are reported to be roomy and well
ventilated, but the natural drainage of the station, which is flat and alluvial,
is difficult, and there is a special difficulty in arranging for the efficient surface
drainage of the native infantry lines. The matter is, however, under consider-
ation. The trench latrine system works well, the ground being cultivated after
use. The general conservancy of the station is, under the orders of cantonment
authorities, carefully attended to. Well -water at Ferozepore is apt to contain an
excess of nitrates, but the wells in the native infantry lines are better than
others in this respect. Ferozepore is a great grain-growing district, and provisions
are abundant and cheap. There was, however, a slight rise during the year.
No change has been made in clothing, and duties are light : nights in bed
averaging 6.
XIV. Hospital.—This year the hospital is being re-roofed, and the verandah walls are being
re-built of pucka brick. The inner walls have been allowed to remain, and are built of kutcha
brick. The roof is of thatch as before, and is to be greatly improved inside by having a
"chut" or white inner covering of cloth put off. This must be a great comfort eventually
to the men, as the sparrows are thereby kept out. The doors are to be all newly made and
fitted. There appears to me to be a fault in the plan of doors, which is that they have got too
much glass in them, which admits a great deal more light than is wanted in the hot season, and
consequently additional glare and heat. The Sukoy nuddee runs close by the hospital, and
contains sometimes stagnant water, which must be more or less unhealthy for the inmates of
the hospital. This defect can only be remedied by a general alteration of the station drainage.
Blankets to the amount of 5 per cent. have been granted during the year. They are the
common, coarse, brown bazar blanket, and are an improvement certainly. Firewood is allowed
for about six weeks, and not later than 15th February, at the discretion of the officer com-
manding the station, as far as eighty pounds a day for each large fire-place.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
605.1
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
89.6
Total
.
.
694.7
Meteorology
and climate.
Huts.
Drainage.
Latrine.
Conservancy.
Water.
Food.
Clothing and
duties.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
O F
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions.
Deaths.
Adims- sions. Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Peshawar
1st Jan. 1877 31st December
587.4
696
7
16.5 118.48
1.19
2.81
and Ferozepore.
Detachment at Ferozepore .
Ditto
. 11th February.
86.
26
...
4.7 262.73
...
5.46
TOTAL
.
.
... ...
605.1
722
7
17.5 119.32
1.15
2.89
Number of deaths in hospital, 7 ; out of hospital, 6 ; total
13 ; per cent of total strength .
.
1.87
„
invalided
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
21;
„ „
.
.
3.02
„
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
14;
„ „
.
.
2.01
„
of days spent in hospital, 6,256; per admission .
8.66; per man of total strength .
.
9.00
”
on sick leave, 1,710 ; per man
. 122.14;
,,
,,
.
.
2.46
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
.
11.46
Principal
causes of
admission.
XVI. Principal causes of admission.— The principal causes of admission were, of course,
intermittent fever, which gave 288 ; after that bronchitis gave the largest number of admissions,
viz., 57; next in order, as a cause, come blisters of the feet, which gave 42; diarrhœa gave 39 ad-
missions; abscesses gave 29; pleurisy gave 27. There were 21 cases of dysentery; general debility
gave 20 admissions; pneumonia and remittent fever gave 7 admissions each. The other cases
admitted were of minor importance.
XVII. Mortality.—Six
fatal cases occurred in head-quarters' hospital, and one in the de-
tachment hospital, and 3 men died of pneunomia, two of remittent fever and two of diarrhœa.
XVIII. Epidemics.— There was no epidemic.
XIX. Vaccination.— The children of the men and camp-followers of the regiment were
vaccinated as usual.
XXI. Special observations.— The health of the men has improved very greatly since the
departure of the regiment from Peshawar. The dryness of the weather during the fall of the year
had doubtless a good effect on the general health. The fatal cases which occurred were in several
instances due to the effect of the Peshawar climate. The general physique of the regiment has
greatly improved within the last year ; of course the absolute physique of the regiment has not
so much improved as the apparent, inasmuch as the improvement is due in a great measure to
the much better condition which the men have got into. However, the absolute must have