10
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT
British
Burmah
Division.
25. British Burmah Division.—In this division malarial fevers head the causes
Diseases.
Admis-
sions. Deaths
Percentage of
Strength.
Admis-
sions.
Deaths
in
Hos-
pital.
Eruptive fevers
...
6
...
.18
...
Continued do.
...
43
...
1.34
...
Malarious do.
... 1,226
3 38.25
. 0 9
Rheumatic affections ... 195
...
6.08
...
Diseases of the eye ...
53
..
1.65
...
Diseases of the lungs... 127
2
3.96
. 0 6
Diarrhœa
... ... 238
2
7.42
. 0 6
Dysentery ... ... 318
1
9.92
. 0 3
Skin diseases ... ... 364
... 11.35
...
of admission as well as the causes of
mortality ; the remaining causes of
admission being skin diseases, which
were very common, dysentery, diarrhœa,
rheumatism and diseases of the lungs.
After malarial fever the principal causes
of mortality were diseases of the lungs,
diarrhœa and dysentery. The remarks
made in last report may with advan-
tage be repeated here. "The Native
soldier is placed under peculiar and
somewhat unfavorable circumstances
in British Burmah as regards climate,
food and domestic relations. The
seasons are the cold, hot and wet. The
cold season lasts from November to February inclusive, and is marked by cold
nights and mornings and hot days ; the hot season lasts from March to May
inclusive ; the wet season extends from June to October inclusive. During the rains
the climate is peculiarly depressing owing to the absence of sunshine and the presence
of excessive damp. Food is dear, and animal food practically beyond the means of
the sepoy. His remittances to his family in India reduce considerably his pay, and
are increased at times by selling a portion of his ration, and new domestic relations
too often permanently injure his constitution. It takes some years before the effects
of a tour of service in Burmah disappear from the hospital returns of a regiment."
Palaveram
Depôt.
26. Palaveram Depôt.—The experience of the Palaveram Depôt for the year
Years. Admis-
sions.
Daily
Sick. Deaths.
Invalided for
Penson. Change
of Air.
1874
... 204 17
17
7
131
1875
... 127
11
13
7
70
1876
... 153
13
11
6
100
Average ... 161
13
13
6
100
1877
... 191
18
17
9
115
under review contrasts somewhat
unfavorably with the average results of
the preceding three years, there being
a slight increase under the heads of
" admission," "daily sick," "deaths,"
"pensioned," and "proceeded on sick
certificate." The increase however is
not more than might have been expected
considering the unhealthy character of
the year.
Hospital
accommo-dation.
27. Hospital accommodation.— The standard plan of a Native regimental
hospital provides for 50 patients : this aggregate is seldom reached in ordinary
seasons in the Coast Army, the number rarely rising above 25. Compared with
European regimental hospitals, Native hospitals appear scantily furnished and
destitute of many of those arrangements* which make all the difference between
comfort and discomfort. The wards of Native hospitals are often cold, comfortless,
ill-lighted, over ventilated and flagged with stone. At night especially they look
dreary and cheerless, and the total absence of minor arrangements for personal
comfort and for the convenience of the sick are immediately noted by an eye accus-
tomed to the comfort, cleanliness and appearance of European hospitals. Not only
are the ward arrangements susceptible of improvements and additions, but also
those of the latrines and lavatories, many of which are faulty in principle and
unsatisfactory in working. The system under which a sick sepoy must diet himself
is one which strikes at the root of all medical treatment and of medical success.
Each patient should be placed on the scale of diet suited to his disease, and the
amount should be recovered monthly from his pay. A double kitchen with one Hindu
and one Mahomedan cook would facilitate the introduction of a system equally
suited for war and for peace. Moreover, were the system of field orderlies in each.
regiment adopted, a certain number of those proposed per regiment might be trained
to act as ward attendants (male nurses), and in this way a nursing agency would
* Hospital clothing, bedding, mats, rugs, chairs and tables, lighting, ward conveniences for sick, &c.