NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (MILITARY.)
[SECT. II.
43. Garrison Surgeoncies are established at—
Bangalore.
Bellary
.
Cannanore
.
Trichinopoly.
Rangoon.
44. GARRISON ASSISTANT SURGEON.—At Bangalore, an Assistant Garrison
Surgeon is allowed. The Cantonment is divided into two medical districts
; t h e G a r r i s o n S u r g e o n d o e s t h e d u t y o f o n e , a n d t h e A s s i s t a n t G a r r i s o n S u r
- g e o n o f t h e o t h e r .
G. O., No. 3,269 of
1 8 6 4 M . D .
45.
STAFF SURGEON, SECUNDERABAD.—A Staff Surgeon is sanctioned for
the Cantonment medical duties of Secunderabad, and at
Kamptee the senior regimental medical officer performs
them.
46. Regimental Medical Officers, (British and Indian). —DUTIES.
—Medical Officers are to perform their respective professional duties under
the instructions and control of the Administrative medical officer of their
circle, subject, except as regards Medical treatment, to the orders of their
respective Commanding Officers. The Commanding Officer will possess, and
should exercise, an effective supervision over the manner in which the various
duties are performed, in order to enforce due attention to the general health
of the men, and to the comfort of the sick in Hospital.
47. REGIMENTAL SURGEON.—The Regimental Surgeon, on joining, is
forthwith to make himself acquainted with the constituent parts of his Corps,
by personal examination, and by reference to the Regimental Returns. He
should allot to the Assistant Surgeon, if present, and Subordinate Medical
establishment, such specific duties in the way of inspection, attending
parades, ball practice, field days, &c., where professional assistance may
be required, keeping registers and books, making up returns, preparation of
medicines, and attendance on the sick as he may consider advisable ; the
Surgeon himself being held responsible for the treatment of the sick, the
condition of the Hospital, and for the medical and sanitary administration of
the Corps generally. Should there be no Assistant Surgeon, the Surgeon
himself will attend all ball practice and field days.
B. M. S. Cir. No. 25,
3rd Sept. 1868.
48. SURGEONS TO BE PRESENT ON PARADE ON INSPECTION DAYS.—Every Medi-
cal officer is bound to be present in his place on parade,
when the Corps to which he belongs is inspected by
a General Officer, and if his special duties are such as to compel him, for the
benefit of the public service to absent himself on such occasions, he should
make a point of applying beforehand to his Commanding Officer to have
SECT. II.]
EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (MILITARY.)
31
his attendance dispensed with, in order that his absence may be duly ac
-counted for.
Medical Officers of Native corps are required to wait upon the Command-
ing Officer every Monday morning at orderly room hour with a weekly state
of the sick. The Medical Officer must always be present when the Regiment
fires blank or ball cartridge.
49. To HAVE CONTROL OF MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.—The Regimental Surgeon
shall have the control of everything belonging to the medical establishment of the
regimental Hospital, and shall issue whatever professional instructions may
appear to him to be requisite to the Apothecary, Assistant Apothecary, Hospi-
tal Assistants, Apprentices, Pupils, Hospital Serjeant and inferior servants.
50. COOKING, CLOTHING, &c.—He shall satisfy himself as to the quality
and cooking of the diets, and as to the clothing, bedding, and comfort of the sick.
51. LISTS TO BE MADE OUT.—He shall from time to time cause to be made
out, the necessary lists of medicines, medical comforts, and medical and sur-
gical appliances required for the Hospital ; and also all requisitions for supplies
furnished by the Commissariat Department.
52. The indents are to be framed after due consideration of the wants of
the sick, and with the strictest regard to economy of expenditure. (See Sec-
tion XIII. " INDENTS.")
53. STATION OF MEDICAL OFFICERS.—When a European Regiment is
divided, the Surgeon or senior medical officer present is in general to be
stationed at the head-quarters, the senior Assistant-surgeon with the largest
detachment, and the second Assistant-surgeon with the Surgeon at head-
quarters ; but if from any circumstance the temporary presence of the Surgeon
with a detachment shall be necessary, the Commanding Officer will give direc-
tions accordingly, and the Surgeon will explain the arrangements to the
Administrative medical officer of the circle.
5 4 . T h e s a m e p r i n c i p l e i s t o b e f o l l o w e d a s r e g a r d s t h e d i v i s i o n o f d u t i e s
in Native regiments, which have ordinarily only one commissioned Medical
officer, and two Hospital Assistants attached. When a Wing of a Native
regiment is detached from head-quarters, a Surgeon or Assistant Surgeon
is to be appointed to the charge of it.
55. ON THE MARCH.—As the spirit of the preceding regulations extends
to the divisions of a Regiment on its march, the Surgeon should accompany
the last division, as well to ascertain the diligence of the Assistant-Surgeon
and Medical subordinates as to make the necessary arrangements for the care
of the sick who may be left behind on the route.
56. SURGEON TO VISIT OUTPOSTS.—It will be the duty of the Surgeon to
visit occasionally Outposts and Detachments, when these are within a convenient
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EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (MILITARY.)
[SECT. II.
distance of head-quarters. It is not intended that this duty shall involve any
charge to the State for travelling allowance.
57. Disposal of the sick of a Regiment about to march.—Previ-
ously to the march of an European Regiment from its station, a committee, con-
sisting of the Regimental Commanding Officer, the Deputy Inspector General
of the Circle, or in his absence, the senior Medical Officer of the British army on
the spot, and the regimental Surgeon, shall minutely examine the state of the
men in Hospital, and determine upon such as may be capable of accompanying
the Regiment on its march without the aid of carriage ; for it is to be clearly
understood, that no man shall be permitted to proceed in a dooly, sick cart, or
ambulance, from any station at which there may be a Garrison or detail Hospi-
tal to receive him ; sick carriage being attached to Regiments for the sole pur-
pose of providing for contingencies during the march.
A
58. SICK OF A NATIVE REGIMENT ORDERED TO MARCH.—In order to provide
for the care of the native sick, who may be left behind on their regiments being
ordered into the field, or to march to a distant station, it is directed that a
list of the men, who may be so situated, shall be sent by the Officer command-
ing the regiment to the Commanding officer on the spot, or, if proceeding
from a cantonment where there are no other troops, to the Commanding
Officer of the nearest station. In either case, the men who require medical
attendance are to be placed in charge of the Surgeon, or Assistant Surgeon
of such station. The Commanding Officer is to take the earliest opportunity
of forwarding the recovered men to their regiment.
59.
Native sick from foreign service.—The following regulations,
relative to the admission of native sick soldiers and followers returning from
foreign service, must be strictly adhered to.
(a.)All native soldiers and public followers, returning sick from foreign
service, shall on landing be forwarded to the Native Infantry depôt at Pala-
veram, unless their cases require immediate medical aid, when they will be
admitted into the General Hospital at the Presidency, and retained for obser-
vation and treatment.
(b.)In the event of any of the men being discharged as convalescent,
they are to proceed to join the details at Palaveram, until permitted to proceed
on furlough to their native villages.
(c.) Such men are to be retained as convalescents or patients in hos-
pital, according to circumstances, until reported perfectly fit for duty, or
until permitted to proceed on furlough to their native villages.
(d.) A distinct record of the cases and condition at the time of the depar-
t u r e o f s u c h m e n a s m a y b e g r a n t e d l e a v eo
n a c c o u n t o f t h e i r h e a l t h ,m
u s t b e
retained in the General Hospital at Madras, or the Native Infantry Depôt
SECT. II.]
EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (MILITARY.)
33
Hospital at Palaveram, as the case may be : in order that should any of the
men die while so absent, it may be ascertained as far as possible, whether
their deaths could fairly be attributed to the disease under which they returned
from foreign service.
60. Men who may be granted leave On account of their health are to be
returned as " sick absent."
61. The principle of the foregoing Regulations is to be held applicable
to all native soldiers and public followers returning sick from foreign service,
who shall land at any port other than Madras.
62.
Transfer of European Sick to Depots.—When change to a
Sanitarium or to the coast is considered advisable for one or more men of Her
Majesty's British Service, forms (prepared for the purpose) are filled in by the
Regimental medical officer, and forwarded to the Administrative medical
officer of the Circle, who if he approve of the change proposed, will counter-
sign the forms and transmit them to the Inspector General, British Medical
Service. If the Inspector General approves of the change he will endorse the
papers to that effect and forward them to the Adjutant General of the Army.
The necessary orders for the removal of the men will be issued by His Excel-
lency the Commander-in-Chief.
With all sick men, whether invalids for England, or merely men
requiring change, who are sent to the invalid Depôt at Poonamallee, a com-
plete set of invalid documents must be forwarded. When convalescents are
sent to Wellington, a copy of the detailed Medical history of each case must
accompany the sick men.
63. SOLDIERS ON SICK LEAVE TO BE SENT TO HOSPITAL.—When a soldier
European or Native, on passport, for the benefit of his health, reports his arrival
at any station en route, or at the station to which he has obtained leave, he
shall invariably be sent by the Commanding or Staff Officer to the Medical
Officer in charge of details of the British Army, or to the Garrison or Station
Hospital. The soldier will be taken into Hospital, allowed to proceed on his
journey, or permitted to remain an out-patient, according to circumstances.
64. When it is not thought necessary to admit the soldier into Hospital,
a notification to that effect, dated and signed by the Medical Officer, is to be
made upon the statement of his case ; and Commanding or Staff Officers are
to see that such is done.
65. It is to be entered in passports,* granted to Soldiers under the above
circumstances, that they have been permitted to proceed " for the benefit of
their health."
* To be prepared in the established form, and never to be engrossed upon the state-
ment of the Soldier's case.
E
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EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (MILITARY.)
[SECT. II.
66. STATEMENT OF CASE TO ACCOMPANY SICK MEN.—The Medical Officer
placed in charge of any patient necessarily left behind, is to be furnished
with a statement of the man's case, period of illness, and previous treatment.
The same course should be followed, if a patient be transferred to another
Hospital or to a Convalescent or an Invalid Depôt. In. the latter case a
statement of each case must be transmitted to the principal Medical Officer
there, perfectly distinct from the Discharge Documents.
67. Any Medical Officer who may be put in charge of a sick soldier,
without the prescribed statement of his case and previous treatment, is to re-
port the circumstances to the Administrative Medical Officer of his Circle,
through whom all correspondence respecting the man is to be transmitted.
68. CHARGE OF SICK DETAILS.—The medical charge of British troops who
may be judged incapable of moving, will devolve on a Medical officer of the
British Medical Service appointed thereto, whose duty it will be to make a
weekly report of their individual state to the Administrative Medical officer of
the Circle ; and that Officer will, from those statements, frame a monthly report
for the information of the Commanding Officer, in order that the necessary
steps may be taken for such men rejoining the head-quarters of the Regiment.
69. SICK MEN PLACED IN HOSPITAL OF ANOTHER CORPS.—Sick Soldiers if
left under the care of a Medical Officer of another Regiment, should be placed
in the Hospital thereof, under the sanction of the Commanding Officer, and
be included, as usual, in the Returns of such Hospital
.
Cir. No. 2,077 of
1867.
70.Transfer of Soldiers with affections of the eye.— A l l E u r o p e a n
or Native Soldiers at out-stations are to be sent to the Eye Infirmary at
Madras, when considered advisable by the medical officer and Deputy Inspector
General of Hospitals ; in which case a copy of their cases is to be forwarded to
the Superintendent of the Eye Infirmary. Native soldiers are not to be
invalided on the ground of imperfect vision unless there
is complete destruction of the right eye, or so much dis-
organization of both eyes as to render the likelihood of a permanent restoration
of useful vision improbable. All cases of serious disease of the eye, likely to
lead to the invaliding of soldiers, should be transferred to the Eye Infirmary
for treatment and final disposal. Cases should not, as a rule, be detained in
Regimental Hospitals for a longer period than two months.
71. TRANSFER or MILITARY INSANE.—In the transfer of Military insane to
a Lunatic Asylum, the regulations laid down in Section XVII " LUNATIC ASY-
LUMS," are to be scrupulously observed by all medical officers of the Military
department.
72. CARE OF SICK SOLDIERS TRAVELLING.—European Soldiers are not to be
permitted to travel by themselves on sick certificate from ono station to
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EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (MILITARY.)
35
another ; such movements should be restricted to the cool months of the year ;
the risk to health and even to life in sickly men while moving in the hot months,
say from March to the beginning of July, being very great.
73. In all possible cases, where there is no Railway or Steamer accom-
modation, advantage is to be taken of detachments proceeding on the same
route, and the invalid placed under the charge of the Officer, or Non-Com
missioned Officer commanding.
74. In the event of no such detachment being likely to move within a
reasonable time, or in cases not admitting of delay, one or two trusty native
soldiers are to be sent in charge of the invalid to the place of his destination.
75. Whenever, in the opinion of the Medical Officer, circumstances may
require it, a medical attendant is to accompany such invalid.
76. Escorts and medical attendants are to be relieved at every station.
at which they may arrive.
77. PROVISION FOR THE CASE OF MEN LEFT SICK AT A STATION WHERE THERE
IS NO COMMISSARIAT AGENT.—In the case of European soldiers being from
necessity left sick under the charge of a Medical Officer, at a station where
there is no Commissariat Agent to victual the men, the Surgeon will provide
them with diet, clothing, and wine, for which he will submit a contingent bill
verified in the usual manner.
78. REPORT ON ARRIVAL OF A BRITISH REGIMENT IN INDIA.—On the
arrival of a British Regiment in India, the Surgeon will present to the Inspec-
tor General of Hospitals, British Medical Service, a condensed report of the
diseases and casualties, from the journal of medical occurrences kept during
the voyage ; a Return of medical comforts expended; also a List of casualties,
with the diseases and their dates, which may have taken place since embarka-
tion. The Medical Officer is also to fill up the Medical Certificates (Medical
Certificate Book, page 155 Her Majesty's Medical Regulations) of the
results of cases of sickness embarked, and which were entered in the Admis-
sion and Discharge Book left behind at the Depot, and he is to transmit the
certificates to the Medical Officer of the Depôt, through the Inspector
General, in order that the results may be entered in the Admission and Dis-
charge Book. The same rules are to be observed on the homeward voyage.
79. Hospital Attendance.— M e d i c a l O f f i c e r s i n a l l G e n e r a l a n d
Regimental Hospitals must regularly visit the Hospital twice a day ; in
the morning by half-past six o'clock, from 1st March to 1st October, and not
later than half-past seven o'clock, from 1st October to 1st March, except
when attendance elsewhere on public duty is absolutely necessary ; and in the
evening an hour before sunset throughout the year, and at such other times as
may be requisite ; at which hours the patients are to be prescribed for, and
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EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (MILITARY.)
[SECT. II.
those newly admitted, after having had their persons cleaned, and clothes
purified or changed, are to be examined, and allotted to their proper divisions
in the Hospital. The resident subordinate attendants will be instructed to
make an immediate report to the Medical Officer in charge whenever a case of
serious illness is admitted, or when other circumstances may require his prompt
attendance.
80. REGISTRATION OF CASES.—Prior to the Surgeon's second visit, the
Assistant Surgeon, if present, otherwise the Surgeon himself, must enter in
the Medical Case Book, every acute or important case, but all cases must be
entered in the Nominal Register or Admission and Discharge Book, with the
disease as soon as it is clearly diagnosed ; the disease should also be entered in
the bed head-ticket. The evening Reports in the Case Book should give every
change in the symptoms since the morning visit, as likewise a statement of
the effects of the medicine prescribed in the morning.
81. MEDICAL INSPECTION OF PRISONERS.-All prisoners, prior to being
brought before the Commanding Officer, should be taken to the Hospital at
the morning visit of the same day, to be inspected by the Surgeon, who will
certify their state of health to the Commanding Officer.
82. OPERATIONS.—Before performing any capital operation, the Sur-
geon should, if possible, except in cases where delay would be inexpedient,
obtain the advice of a superior Medical Officer, and he should report the opera-
tion, with its results, to the Administrative Medical Officer of his Circle.
83. SANITARY DUTIES.—In Military establishments the Surgeon or Medi-
cal Officer in charge shall perform all the sanitary duties connected with
his own Regimental Hospital, Barracks, family quarters, Native lines, bazaars,
&c., occupied by the Camp followers of the Corps. See Section X (SANITARY
REGULATIONS.)
84. TEMPORARY HOSPITALS.—Before any building is taken possession of
for a temporary Hospital, the principal Medical Officer, or Regimental Medi-
cal Officer, as the case may be, shall, together with such combatant officer as
may be appointed for the purpose, make a careful sanitary inspection of the
building and its vicinity, and shall note the condition of the building as
regards external and internal cleansing, drainage, water-supply, ventilation,
limewashing, and general cleanliness, the number of beds the building is
capable of containing, the number and size of windows and doors, the amount
of light, the state of latrines, privies, and urinals, as well as all other matters
likely to affect the health of the Hospital or the purity of the air in the wards.
The Medical Officer shall report on the same, with his recommendations for
removing defects, to the Commanding Officer, who will forthwith take the
necessary steps for having such recommendations carried out, unless he see
SECT. II.]
EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS (MILITARY.)
37
reason to differ from them, in which case he will state in writing his reasons,
and transmit them, with the recommendations of the Medical Officer, imme-
diately to the superior authority. The Medical Officer, shall at the same
time, transmit a copy of every such report to the Administrative Officer of the
Circle, stating what steps have been taken to carry out his recommendations, and
the Administrative Medical Officer shall transmit forthwith every such report
to the Inspector General, with any remarks he may have to make on the same.
85. SANITARY STATE OF HOSPITALS.—It shall be the duty of the Medi-
cal Officer to attend to the daily sanitary condition of the Hospital under his
charge. He shall require that the vicinity of the Hospital be preserved in
a good sanitary state, that the surface be properly drained and swept daily,
that there be no nuisances, that the water-supply be good and abundant,
that the latrines be in an efficient state, that the drainage be not obstructed,
that the ventilation of the wards be at all times efficient by day and night,
that the Hospital be kept in a proper state of repair, that the walls be frequently
limewashed, and cleansed by scraping, if necessary, that the flooring, stair-
cases, &c., be kept clean.
86. CLEANLINESS OF HOSPITAL GROUNDS.—Where there may be no Con-
servancy establishment attached to the Quarter Master-General's Department,
laborers are to be procured by the Commissariat Department, on indents pre-
ferred from the Quarter Master or other Officer in charge, countersigned by
the Officer Commanding the Station or Brigade.
87. Hospital Discipline. —The doors and windows of Hospitals are
to be thrown open every morning at a proper hour ; the floors are to be
previously sprinkled with water, in order to prevent dust, and then swept,
and all stains on the walls or floors are to be washed out.
88.MILITARY OFFENCES.—Medical Officers in charge of Military Hospitals
should immediately bring all crimes and misclemeanors committed in Hospital
to the notice of the Commanding Officer, to be dealt with by him as he may
consider advisable. Gaming is strictly forbidden. Disorderly conduct, or
insolent behaviour of patients to hospital attendants will merit punishment.
89. SICK NOT TO LEAVE HOSPITAL.—The sick in Hospital are not to be
permitted to leave the Hospital enclosure without special permission from the
Medical Officer in charge.
90. SMOKING—Patients in Hospital are not allowed to smoke tobacco in
the wards ; those for whom the Surgeon considers it is not injurious, may do
so in the place appointed by him for the purpose.
91. NATIVE SOLDIER' S C L O T H I N G . — N a t i v e S o l d i e r s b r i n g w i t h t h e m . i n t o
Hospital their own clothing ; the Surgeon is to be specially attentive in cans-
ing every article of this kind to be kept perfectly clean. The sick are not to
be allowed to have foul linen or filthy rags about them.