Causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Recommenda
-tions.
Special obser
-vations.
EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT.
187
Principal
causes of
sickness.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness:—
YEARS.
A g u e .
R h u e m a t i s m , a c u t e a n d c h r o n i c .
B r o n c h i t i s .
P n e u m o n i a .
P l e u r i t i s .
D y s e n t e r y .
D i a r r h œ a .
A b s c e s s , u n l c e r s , & c .
C o n t u s i o n s .
F r a c t u r e s , s p r a i n , & c .
1872...
. . .
... 371
24
2
4
2
14
1
75
82
2
1873...
. . .
... 178
18
12
6
2
6
4
53
89
3
1874...
...
. . . 427
19
4
13
2
9
4
5 1 66
4
This year the admissions for ague are more than twice those of last year, and considerably more
than in 1872, the first year in Rajanpur. Rheumatism is about the same. Bronchitis has fallen
off largely; while pneumonia is twice that of last year and thrice that of 1872, pleuritis is the
same: two admissions each year. Dysentery has slightly increased, and diarrhœa is the same.
Abscesses, ulcers, have not fallen off largely. Contusions are much less than an average
year, due perhaps to better horsemanship; only one fracture, i. e., of radius only, was admitted;
two sprains of ankle and one of shoulder. The increased admissions are due entirely to ague.
All other diseases are less with the exception of pneumonia.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Five men died in hospital this year: two of
dysentery, one of pneumonia, one each of obstruction of the bowels, and phthisis pulmonalis
following bronchitis.
One man died of pneumonia in 1st P. C. hospital, being transferred as the regiment
was about to march. And one man at his home on furlough said to be "fever."
XVIII. Epidemics.—There have been no epidemics this year.
XIX. Vaccination.– No men vaccinated this year. The few children are, by this is written,
all vaccinated. The men seem most of them to have had small-pox in early life; the majority of
them are deeply pitted; I consider the regiment not likely to be attacked.
XX. Recommendations.—Several minor recommendations have been made, and were at
once agreed to. During the prevalence of fever, recruits' drill and parades were stopped for a
time, and chiretta was daily distributed, but I am afraid to little purpose.
XXI. Special observations and remarks.— The ague this year from which the regiment
suffered so much was, mild to its effects, but sometimes hung about several men for two or three
months; there is no doubt but the excessive inundations of this year caused it. The damage
done in the district was immense. I had one or two cases, the symptoms of which puzzled me
for a time, and I was almost inclined to think them enteric fever, but as both were well in a
fortnight it could not have been.
Camp-followers were generally healthy. A mass of them suffered severely from ague, but
very few died this year. None of the kahars, though many were ill, died this year. The kahar
lines want rep-building very badly; at present their position is inconvenient, and the accommoda-
tion is insufficient; the matter has been represented, and doubtless will after a time be remedied
The bath-room at the hospital is not yet built, though the degchies, tubs, &c., were all
Provided.
Camp follow
-ers.
EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT.
(INCLUDING THE STATIONS OF SHILLONG, GOWHATTY, DEBROOGHUR, CACHAR, DACCA, TEZPORE,
Average daily strength present during the year ...
... Infantry ... 4297.1
„
,, sick per cent. of average strength ... ...
,,
...
5.65
Ratio of mortality ,, ,, ,, ... ... ...
,,
...
3.04
43rd Regiment (Assam) Native Infantry,—Shillong.
Surgeon J. O'Brien, in medical charge, has furnished a long and interest
-
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1869
Gowhatty
...
188. 8
2.7
4.9
1870
Ditto ...
...
160. 7
2.9
4 .
1871
Ditto ...
...
180.5
1.4
4. 4
1872
Ditto ...
...
169.6
2.5
5.5
1873
Ditto . . .
...
178.5
2.9
6. 1
Average ...
. . . . . .
175. 6
2.5
4. 9
1874
Shillong, 3rd January
141.5
3.06
6. 3
ing report, from which the
following extracts have been
taken:—
II. Location and move
- m e n t s
.—Shillong is now the sta-
tion of the head-quarters. They
arrived here from Gowhatty on
3rd January 1874, and remained
until 27th November, when they
were ordered to Gowhatty to form
part of the reserve of the Duffla
Expeditionary force. They re
-mained in Gowhatty from that
date until after 31st December.
Location and
movements.