48

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.

Principal
causes of
sickness.

   XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— Total number of admissions during the year was 661, of
which 389, or more than half, were for the different varieties of the malarious fevers classified
as follows: remittent fever 4, ague (a ) 293„ ague (b ) 28, and ague (d ) 64. The fever, as a
rule, was of a mild type; most commonly took the form of quotidian ague, and was readily
amenable to treatment. Enlarged spleen was a rare sequence, and convalescence was seldom
protracted. Diseases of the respiratory system gave rise to 30 admissions, viz., bronchial
catarrh 17, acute bronchitis 1, chronic bronchitis 2, pneumonia 9 and pleurisy 1. There were
20 admissions for the different varieties of rheumatism, cold being seemingly the exciting
cause in every instance. The different eye affections caused 25 admissions, viz., conjunctivitis
18, catarrhal ophthalmia 3, pinguecula 2, and short sight 2. Twenty-three were admitted for
venereal diseases:

Dysentery gave rise to 20 admissions. The type of the disease was mild, and all recovered rapidly
under treatment with scruple doses of ipecacuanah. Ten admissions and one death were from gene-
ral debility. Some of these were old sepoys, who have been since placed on the pension establish-
ment. The remaining admissions were of an ordinary kind, and need not be further referred to.

Principal
causes of
mortality.

   XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Six deaths took place during the year, viz., two in
hospital and four out of hospital. Two of the latter died on sick leave in their native villages,
phthisis pulmonalis being the cause of death in both cases. The remaining deaths out of
hospital were due to general debility and hepatitis. Of the two deaths in hospital, one was
caused by remittent fever and one by pneumonia.

Epidemics.

   XVIII. Epidemics.— No epidemics in the regiment during the year.

Vaccination.

   XIX. Vaccination .—Vaccination could not be well attended to, as the regiment was on the
line of march nearly all the cold season. The re-vaccination of the regiment was all but
completed in 1875, so there remained but little to be done this year. Total vaccinated this year
127, of which 109, or 85.03 per cent., were successful.

Recommenda-
tion.

   XX. Recommendaton.— While cholera was prevalent in the district of Nagode, it was
recommended that intercourse with infected localities should be restricted as much as possible.
The suggestion was at once acted upon.

Inspection.

   Inspection..— Deputy Surgeon-General Ross inspected the lines and hospital
of this regiment on the 26th September 1876. He reports that the station was
much improved since his previous inspection. The sanitary condition of the
lines remained unchanged since 1875, and was completely satisfactory. The
hospital was found to be very clean, and in excellent order. The patients
were very comfortable, and were supplied with good bedding. Every thing for
the proper treatment and comfort of the sick was carefully attended to.

5th Regiment Bengal Cabalry—Nowgong.

Medical-
Officer.

   I. Medical Officer .—Surgeon Shircore was in charge of the regiment the
whole year, and has submit-
ted the annual sanitary
report.

Location and
movements.

   II . Location and move-
ments.— The regiment was at
the Delhi Camp of Exercise
till the 21st of January, then
marched to Nowgong, where
it arrived on the 24th of Feb-
ruary, and remained there
till the end of the year. A
detachment,consisting of one
squadron,was sent to Nagode.