Public
followers,
" Queen's
Own" Sapper:
and Miners,
Native
details.
Conservancy
of Secunder-
abad Town,
88
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
woman from puerperal fever after confinement. The most prevalent diseases have been hepatic
and bowel-complaints. 4 have been sent on sick leave—" 2 cases bronchitis, 1 of tertiary
syphilis, and 1 of brow ague."
Public followers.—The return for the public followers of an average strength of 826.08
shows an average daily sick of about 5 . 68, the total admissions being 120.
The diseases for which admissions were sought were principally fever, rheumatism, and
bowel affections and wounds. 16 cases of hydrocele occurred amongst the dooly-bearers, all of
which were operated on successfully. 2 deaths occurred amongst the public followers-1 a
case of hœmoptysis, complicated with valvular disease of the heart, and the other, a dooly
-bearer, from peritonitis. A case of cholera took place in the person of a lascar of the Ordnance
Department and recovered.
" Queen's Own" Sappers and Miners.—The principal diseases from which they suffered were
fever of an intermittent type, conjunctivitis, rheumatic and bowel affections, besides wounds
caused by ordinary accidents;the total number of admissions for the year was 234. Of this
number 13 were sent on sick leave, the remainder were discharged to duty or otherwise. A
comparison shows a decrease in the number of admissions during the present year by 141.
Native details.—Three admissions during the year-1 a case of abscess, 1 anæmia, and
1 of chronic rheumatism. The case of anemia proved fatal. A case of hœmoptysis died out
of hospital. Vaccination was carefully practised, and with success, as the return will show.
Conservancy of Secunderabad Town.—Vide my remarks on this subject under drainage and
conservancy.
Alleged Causes of Sickness and Mortality.
The amount of sickness among the Native troops occupying Secunderabad was more this
than last year, 2,798 against 2,708 in 1876 ; the mortality was also slightly higher, 41 against
39 in 1876. The daily sick was, however, less this than last year, 86 26 against 94 . 25 in 1876.
The following table shows the percentage of admissions to strength and the deaths in
hospital to admissions for the last three years :—
Years.
Admissions to
Strength
per 100.
Deaths to
Strength per
100.
Deaths to
Admissions
per 100.
1875
...
78 . 17
88
1.12
1876
...
84. 14
1.21
1.44
1877
...
88 . 11
1.28
1.46
Cholera.
Fever of a more or less distinctly marked intermittent type in several instances becoming
remittent was, as usual, the most prevalent disease. The admissions under this head are greater
than the two previous years in the 1st Cavalry, lst Madras Native Infantry, 3rd Palamcottali
Light Infantry, and 29th Regiments. The 40th Madras Native Infantry and H.M.'s " Queen's
Own" Sappers and Miners, however, show fewer admissions under this head this than last year.
No reason is assigned for the increase of fever in the above regiments by the Medical Officers
in charge, beyond stating that it may be taken as part of the general unhealthiness of the year
through which we have passed.
Cholera.—This disease made its appearance in Secunderabad in the month of January last
year, and cases continued to crop up there and there until April, when it disappeared. It
however made its appearance again in May, and lasted till October. In the city of Hyderabad
the disease may be said to have been prevalent more or less during the whole year.
The following table will show the number of attacks and deaths among the Native troops,
" their families," camp-followers, and the Cantonment of Secunderabad :—
Attacks.
Deaths.
Troops
...
...
...
...
...
...
... 12
8
...
...
...
...
...
7
2
Families am
{Women
... Children
...
...
...
3
2
Camp-followers
...
...
...
...
•..
...
5
2
Total ...
—
27
—
14
In the Cantonment of Secunderabad there were 110 attacks with 42 deaths. Of the above
attacks 55 were received and treated as in-patients in the Civil Dispensary. Out of the 55 as
treated, there were 21 deaths.
Small-pox made its appearance in the month of January 1877, and continued more or less
in the bazaar till the month of September. No returns were rendered by the Cantonment