78

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.

Principal
causes of
sickness.

        XVI. Principal causes of sickness. —The regiment has enjoyed a high degree of health;
a sick list averaging only 2 per cent. of sepoys for the whole year must be considered excep-
tionally good. Intermittent fever stands as usual at the head of the list for causing admissions
into hospital, and 211 cases are recorded against 129 of the previous year. I am unable to
offer any satisfactory explanation of the increase in this form of disease. I anticipated that the
fever list would become less in Fyzabad, but it has, on the contrary, increased in a marked
manner. I have failed to discover anything exceptional in the year to account for it.
Dysentery was second in causing admissions into hospital, and there were 28 cases against
44 of the previous year, a most satisfactory diminution, attributable, I apprehend, to decreased
wet and damp weather. Rheumatism caused 19 admissions, boils 18, diarrhœa 16, abscess and
conjunctivitis each 13, and contusions 12.

Principal
causes of mor-
tality.

        XVII. Principal causes of mortality. —There were seven deaths altogether during the year,
four within the hospital and three without; those within were due to diarrhœa, dysentery, cholera,
and phthisis; those without to chronic bronchitis, fever and suicide by incised wound of throat.
The first two of this latter class of fatal cases occurred when the men were on leave. The last
took place in the lines, and was not admitted into hospital.

Epidemics.

        XVIII. Epidemics. —There were no epidemics of any kind during the year under review.

Vaccination.

        XIX. Vaccination. —Ten sepoys were vaccinated and all the cases turned out successfully.
In this respect the regiment is thoroughly protected. All recruits are vaccinated as soon as
possible after enlistment.

Inspection.

        Inspection. —The hospital and lines of this regiment were inspected by
Deputy Surgeon-General H. M. Cannon, M. B., on the 4th of December 1876.
He reports that the lines were clean and well drained, and the hutting arrange-
ments were on the section system, viz., four barracks to each company, and each
section barrack divided into rooms for 4 or 5 men. The sepoys cook in these
rooms, an arrangement which Mr. Cannon says he approves of, after many years'
experience, as it ensures cleanliness, destroys vermin, and fumigates the quarters.
The recruits were considered to be fine, well-grown and well-selected lads of
good castes. All the hospital details were complete and in good order.

Fyzabad
Lock hospital.

        Fyzabad Lock Hospital. —This hospital was in charge of Surgeon Gunning
throughout the year. The number on the register last year was 103, to which
were added 32 cases during the year, making a total of 135. Out of this
number 33 absconded, &c., and 102 remained on the 31st December 1876.
There were 348 admissions, including 132 cases of syphilis, and this num-
ber was 57.9 per cent. of the total number admitted. The average number of
prostitutes for the year in hospital was 16.59. Regarding the nature of disease
among the prostitutes, the Medical Officer writes: "They were of a very mild
type, and rarely required more than ten days' detention in hospital."

         The ratio of admissions per 1,000 amongst the European troops at Fyzabad
from venereal disease was—

         Mr. Cannon made his inspection on the 4th December 1876, and was
pleased on the whole with the establishment, specially with the effort of the
Superintendent to detect and treat venereal disease. He reports: "I am sorry
the Cantonment Magistrate should object to punish the women when reported
to him for breaches of hospital discipline, without which it will be impossible to
keep order amongst such a community."

6th Regiment, Bengal Cavalry—Sitapur.

Medical
charge.

        I. Medical charge.— This report has been compiled by Surgeon-Major G.
Barnard, who was in medical
charge of the regiment
throughout the year.

Location and
movements.

        II. Location and movements.—
The entire regiment was at the
Camp of Exercise at Delhi on the
1st of January, and marched from
the camp towards Sitapur on the
26th of that month, arriving at
that station on the 16th of Febru-
ary. Head-quarters and two squad-
rons remained at Sitapur cantonned;
the 3rd squadron went to Fyzabad,
arriving there early in March.