PESHAWAR DISTRICT.
149
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—Total number of admissions 1,171, or one-third less
than the previous year; intermittent fever, 883; diarrhœa, 29; boils, 28; dysentery, 27; chest
affections, 22; syphilis, 16; blisters of the feet, 15. The remaining 150 are those usually met
with in a regimental hospital.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Of the 9 deaths recorded, 5 were from ague, 4 of
which were complicated with engorgement of the lungs proving rapidly fatal. They were all
men whose constitutions had been enfeebled by malarious cachexia: 1 death from pulmonary
apoplexy a few hours after admission; 1 pneumonia; 1 bronchitis; and an old havildar died
of hectic, consequent on extensive disease of the elbow-joint; 7 men have died at their
homes while on sick leave, principally from fever.
Mr. Banister states in his inspection report that, though the lines have a
good slope and are well drained, they are situated close to swampy ground to
the north-east of cantonments. The hospital arrangements were satisfactory.
Servants' quarters were considered to be of a very inferior description. The
regiment was recovering from the severe sickness of the previous autumn.
Prevalent
diseases.
Deaths.
Inspection.
26th (Punjab) Regiment native Infantry,—Peshawar.
Surgeon G. C. Hall was in medical charge of the regiment during the
greater part of the year;
but the report is furnished
by Surgeon-Major A. R.
Waghorn, who joined the
corps on the 22nd of De
-cember.
II. Location and movements.
— T h e r e g i m e n t w a s s t a t i o n e d a t
Peshawar up to the 30th October,
with detachments at Fort Mich
- n e e , F o r t S h u b k u d d e r a n d C h e r a t .
It marched from Peshawar on the
31st October, and arrived at
Meean Meer, where it now is,
on the 28th November 1874.
On the 30th November a de
-tachment was sent from head
- q u a r t e r s M e e a n M e e r t o U m r i t s u r .
The regiment took up the lines vacated by the 17th Native Infantry. The
huts are reported to be deficient in ventilation, but were not overcrowded.
Their drainage is also said to be imperfeet, owing to the dead level of the
station. The same system of latrines is in force, but there is a difficulty
in removing liquids without spilling. The hospital latrine is too small and
has only one entrance. In respect of water, food and clothing, the men are most
favorably circumstanced. Rum is issued to the Sikhs in the cold weather.
XI. Duty and employment.—Parades, guards, drills, escort and detachment duties. The
number of nights in bed at Peshawar was 5.54, at Meean Meer 5.31; but the detachment at
Umritsur has only had 2.73 nights in bed. The duty would not be too heavy, perhaps, for
men in good health; but for the men of this regiment, who have just had a long term of
duty at Peshawar, whose health have suffered in consequence considerably, and who, moreover,
are now called upon for further service in another equally bad climate, I consider the duty very
heavy.
XIII. Marches and service. —The regiment marched from Peshawur on the 31st October
and arrived at Meean Meer on the 28th November. The men, considering their health, the
season of the year, and the bleak, exposed part of the country traversed, appear to have per-
formed the march fairly. There was only one death on the march in the hospital of the regi-
ment, and one death in the hospital of the 21st Native Infantry at Rawulpindee, where the
man had been left for treatment.
XIV. Hospital. The hospital is a good one (see page 179 of the report for 1871). It is in
fair repair. One of the corner rooms was set apart as a bathing room for the patients in 1873.
The corresponding corner room opposite it, formerly employed as a godown for firewood, bazar
o
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deat. Daily sick.
1869
Umballa, January 1869,
from Mehidpore and
Augur.
97.3
.9
4.8
1870
Ditto Ditto
166.
.8
6.7
1871
Ditto Ditto
137.2
1 . 8
5.3
1872
Peshawar, Nov. 1871
225.8
2.2
3.4
1873
Ditto Ditto
186.
3.1
2 . 7
Average
162.4
1.7
4 . 6
1874
Meean Meer Nov. 1874 212.2
1 . 8
3.8
Medical
charge.
Location and
movements.
Detachment
Sanitary con
-
ditions.
Duty.
March.
Hospital.