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KOLHÁPUR.
The European barracks at this station are very old with low plinths; the
roofs, which are tiled, leak; and the damp rises from the ground. There is no
sub soil drainage.
The Sadar Bázár is at a long distance from the barracks and on a different
watershed. It is rather close to the hospital, but is a small place and kept as
clean as circumstances admit.
Kolhápur is only temporarily occupied by European Troops. A detachment
consisting of two companies of the R. I. Fusiliers having been stationed here
since June 1881. The principal disease is malarial fever; the ratio of admissions
for this disease per 1,000 of annual strength was 771·9, and that for all causes
1,561·4 per 1,000. It possesses a very salubrious climate, good water, and would
be an exceptionally healthy station if the barracks were improved and the site
drained.
If, as has been proposed, Belgaum is ever given up to the Madras Presidency,
there could not be a better site for a new cantonment in the plains than Kolhápur,
and it would be very suitable for young soldiers.
BELGAUM.
Belgaum is the most southern of the stations occupied by British Troops in
the Bombay Presidency and is situated on the verge of the great Deccan trap
area. It is by far the healthiest cantonment in the Command, and I hope will
never be given up by Bombay Troops. The aggregate average strength of the
troops stationed in it during the 10 years, 1870—79, was 9,660, during which
period only one case of cholera, which proved fatal, occurred. There were 10
admissions from enteric fever, 2 of which took place in April, 4 in July, 1 in August,
1 in September, and 2 in December. One case occurred in the year 1875, re-
garding which I have been unable to learn anything. In the Sanitary Report
for 1877 Surgeon Major Giraud makes the following remark:—
"There were five cases of enteric fever of which, the diagnosis during the course of the
disease was clear although the so called characteristic symptoms were by no means complete
or distinct. Of these five cases three terminated fatally. During the months of July, August,
September and October there were, however, many cases of paroxysmal fevers which showed
a strong tendency to assume an enteric type and, doubtless, if it had been possible to have
examined the mucous membrane of the intestines of these cases, they would all have been
returned as enteric fever. It is very hard indeed to draw a line between the milder cases
of enteric fever and many cases of remittent and intermittent fever of apparently malarious
origin, and there can be little doubt but that many cases of the former are treated as cases
of the latter. This will go a long way to account for the enormous mortality from the disease
in India as compared with England and other temperate countries, the fact being that
only the most severe and well marked cases are returned as enteric fever. The five cases
in question came from five different barrack rooms in different parts of the lines, and
the most careful investigation and enquiry failed to discover any trace of specific poisoning
in any one of the cases."
And in the Report for 1878 :—
"There were four admissions from enteric fever of which three proved fatal; one case was
furnished from the battery and two from the regiment. In these cases the characteristic
symptoms were not complete or distinct although the diagnosis was clear, and all three
cases were, doubtless, of malarious origin. The most careful investigation failed to disclose
any specific poisoning in any of the barracks from which the men came."
The rate of admissions from malarial fevers, 314·1 per 1,000, was the lowest
in the Presidency, whilst the rates for dysentery, diarrhoea, hepatitis, spleen and
respiratory diseases and phthisis were low; but 2,255 men, or 233·4 per 1,000 of
strength, were admitted during the 10 years for venereal diseases ; and Belgaum
stands 4th in the list of stations for these diseases.
The disease statistics since 1877 are given below. The ratios of admissions
and deaths by corps were as follows :—