Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Recommenda-
tions.
Medical
Officers.
Meteorology
and climate.
Huts.
Water.
Fond.
Clothing.
Duties.
Hospital.
Location and
movements.
156
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Principal
causes of
sickness.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— The principal cause of sickness was intermittent fever
which gave 831 admissions, an increase of 129 from the same cause last year ; next comes
dysentery g iving 100 admissions or 73 more than last year ; diarrhœa gave 36 ; syphilis 23 ;
chest affections 18; spleen affections 23; rheumatism 17; boils, abscess, ulcers 42 ; sprains and
contusions 28; skin diseases 22; eye diseases 12, gonorrhœa and orchitis 18:
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Of the three deaths which occurred in hospital,
one was from pneumonia, one from remittent fever and one from hypertrophy of the spleen.
Eight men were killed by the Afridis when on guard at Shahkote, and one man died from
dysentery at Nowshera.
X V I I I . E p i d e m i c s . —
T h e r ew
a s n o e p i d e m i c d u r i n g t h e y e a r .
XIX. Vaccination.— Twelve recruits were vaccinated during the year ; of these only three
were successful. The regiment is considered to be well protected.
XX. Recommendations.—These have been chiefly made with regard to the improvement of
the latrines and of the female quarters ; nothing has yet be done to the latter, but I understand
measures are being adopted to improve the former.
11th Prince of Wales' Own) Regiment, Bengal Iancers—Aowshera.
I. Medical Officers .—Surgeon-Major R. Power relieved Surgeon-Major
W. S. Caldwell in the medi-
cal charge of the regiment
on the 7th of February and
writes the annual report.
II. Location and movements.—
The regiment was stationed at
Nowshera during the whole year,
with the exception of from the
2nd to the 30th November, when
it was encamped at Jallazaie near
the foot of the Cherat hills
forming part of a blockade against
the Jowaki Afridis.
The regiment furnished de-
tachments as shown under para-
graph XV.
IV. Meteorology and climate.— The climate of Nowshera is subject to considerable varia-
tions. During the hot weather months the heat is intense, and the winter is often bitterly
cold. Frost and cold winds prevailing make the season trying, especially to those liable
to affections of the respiratory system. The rainfall is also variable and uncertain. The
winter and spring months were unusually wet, and in April the rainfall amounted to nearly
nine inches, the total rainfall of an ordinary year. The month of May was remarkably cool,
although no rain fell.
The first-half of June was fairly cool, but the second-half was unusually hot. The night of
the 27th was intensely so, the thermometer in the open air standing at 106° at 10 o'clock
at night, and on the 28th the station was visited by a cyclone, which passed from north to
south, causing considerable damage to the trees and houses. Nearly one-half of the trees
were pulled up by the roots, and the rest were seriously damaged. The soil being mixed with
a good deal of sand is very loose, and consequently the largest trees, presenting the largest
surface, suffered. Some rain succeeded the storm, which cleared the atmosphere, and we bad
some days of fairly cool weather, but the heat soon came on again and lasted until the 20th
October. Nowshera has on several occasions suffered from some climatic violence ; 1875
was characterised by an earthquake of unusual severity, which caused considerable damage
to the barracks and house property. Last year a flood, and this year a cyclone and a
drought; with the exception of the 13/4 inches which followed the cyclone no rain fell from
April until near the end of October.
The huts afford ample accommodation, and the drainage of the lines is
excellent. The latrines are on the dry-earth system and work well. Water is
obtained from wells, and is considered good. Food-grains were dear in consequence
of exportation to famine tracts : the men feed well, however. Clothing is suited
to climate : postheens and chogas are worn. Duties have not been excessive.
There is a good gymnasium in the lines, and the men are fond of out-door
sports. The same hospital is in use.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
, Meean Mecr, Oct. 1872 .
62.5
.8
1 . 5
1873
.
Ditto
.
228.8
. 4
5 . 4
1874
.
Ditto
99.1
1.5
2.8
1875
.
Ditto
.
160.5
1.09
4.19
1876
. Nowshera, March 1876 .
1 1 2 . 3 8
.89
3.21
Average
.
132.65
.93
3.42
1877
. Nowshera
.
.
.
113.S
.21
3.61