NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
68
Infantry, Ahmedabad.
Years.
1877...
1878 ..
1879...
1880...
1881 ...
1882 ...
Corps.
Detachment 2/15th
Foot.
Detachment 83rd
Foot.
Details
Detachment 2/15th
Foot.
Detachment 2/l5th
Foot.
Details
Detachment 2/15th
Foot.
Detachment 61st
Foot.
Detachment 2/4th
Foot.
Detachment 2nd
Sattalion Royal
Lancaster Regi-
ment, late 2/4th
Foot.
Detachment 2nd
Battalion Royal
Lancaster Regi-
ment.
Period.
January to De
cember.
February
and
March.
January to De-
cember,
Do.
December
to
March.
September
and
October.
October to De-
cember.
January to De-
cember.
Do.
Actual Strength.
95
4
81
92
67
122
54
85
87
Average Annual Strength.
95
1
3
81
92
2
17
20
14
85
87
497
Cholera.
A.
• • •
...
D.
...
...
...
Enteric
Fever.
A.
1
3
4
D.
1
2
3
Simple
Continued.
Fever.
A.
1
1
17
19
D.
...
Febricula.
A.
57
2
...
41
6
45
151
D.
...
...
...
...
Intermittent
Fever.
A.
3
19
64
20
2
16
32
21
177
D.
...
...
...
...
...
Remittent
Fever.
A.
56
1
105
26
3
6
3
7
1
208
D.
1
...
1
2
All Fevers
except Enteric
Fever.
A.
59
1
125
147
2
24
49
25
84
39
555
D.
...
...
...
1
.1
2
Dysentery.
A.
2
2
...
...
4
D.
...
...
Diarrhœa.
A.
3
5
13
3
3
1
3
2
33
D.
...
...
...
All Causes.
A.
129
9
198
263
6
44
70
35
166
100
1,013
D.
5
5
2
1
1
2
16
RATIO PER 1,000 ON ANNUAL AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Cholera.
A.
...
D.
Enteric
Fever.
A.
10.5
37.0
8.0
D.
10.5
24.7
6.0
All Fevers
ExceptEnteric.
A.
621.1
1,543.2
1,597.8
1,411.8
2,450.0
1,785.7
988.2
448.3
1,116.7
D.
...
...
58.8
...
...
11.8
4.0
Dy-
sentery.
A.
21.1
24.7
...
8.0
D.
...
...
Diarrhœa.
A.
31.6
61.7
141.3
176.5
150.0
71.4
35.3
23.0
66.4
D.
...
...
All Causes.
A.
1,357.9
2,444.4
2,858.7
2,588.2
3,500.0
2,500.0
1,952.9
1,149.4
2,038.2
D.
52.6
61.7
21.7
58.8
...
...
11.8
23.0
32.2
69
DEESA.
The statistics of this station must be read with the caution that the
weakly men from corps stationed in it are sent up to Abu for the hot weather
and rains; but making due allowance for this element of error, there can be no
doubt that Deesa is a healthier station for Europeans than Ahmedabad. The
following contrasted statement for the 10 years, 1870—79, is extracted from the
vital statistics of the European Army in India :—
Stations.
Deesa
Ahmedabad . .
Average Strength.
7,065
2,735
ADMITTED INTO THE HOSPITAL PER 1,000 OP AVERAGE STRENGTH
FOR PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, 1870—79.
Cholera.
0 7
7 3
Enteric Fever.
3 0
5 1
506 0
914 8
Apoplexy.
8 9
12 8
Dysentery.
18 8
16 5
Diarrhœa.
39 6
107 5
Hepatitls.
43 8
29 6
Spleen Disease.
5 5
4 0
Respiratory Disease.
70 1
55 9
Phthisis Pulmonalis.
10 6
6 6
Vernereal Diseases.
157 3
163 1
Eye Diseases.
33 5
26 3
Admission Rate fr
causes.
1,329 7
2,044 6
Daily Suck Rate per 1,00
of Strength.
50
58 9
Death rate.
17 36
28 88
The rarity of cholera and the smaller ratio of admissions from enteric fever
at Deesa are very noticeable, whilst fevers and diarrhoea are much below the
rates at Ahmedabad.
The fevers, too, are of a much less severe type, as the admission rate in the
two stations during the 10 years from intermittent and remittent fevers was as
follows :—
Stations.
Deesa
Ahmedabad
ADMISSION RATS PEr 1,000 OF STRENGTH.
Intermittent Fever.
433 0
507 1
Remittent Fever.
75 0
407 7
It is right, however, to state that a small detachment at Baroda from 1870 to
1875 is included in the statistics for Ahmedabad. The mean diurnal range of
temperature at Deesa is high, being 22°. It is as usual least during the monsoon
months.
The Infantry Barracks at Deesa are old and not up to the requirements of
the present day. The Artillery Barracks are situated too near the confines of
the cantonment, and a filthy village outside it is in much too close propinquity
to them, whilst the Sadar Bázár is also to windward of these barracks,
though at a considerable distance. The surface drainage in the Artillery Lines
is reported to be inadequate. It has lately been improved in the Infantry
Lines.
At Deesa there is the great advantage of a filtering medium of sand, before
the water level is reached, of about 40 or 50 feet in thickness.
There have however been some bad outbreaks of enteric fever at Deesa,
especially among the Artillery.
In 1877 there was one admission from enteric fever in the B/2, late B/4
R. A., but the man recovered, and there are no particulars on record about
this case.
B 357—18
70
In the head quarters of the 2nd batalion 15th Regiment two cases occurred
which were, it was thought, contracted either at Poona or on the line of march.
In 1878 a case occurred in the month of February, the man was supposed to
have contracted the disease at Ahmedabad. Three other cases took place in the
Regiment, and out of the four admissions only one recovered.
Enteric fever appeared in the B/2 during the rainy season, September and
October. There were altogether 12 cases, viz., 8 men, 1 woman, and 3 children;
of these 3 proved fatal, viz., 2 men and one child. The cause was attributed to
milk adulterated with water polluted by excreta; but I have been unable to
find any more facts.
In 1879 in the N/Battery 1st Brigade R. A. two cases of enteric fever
were admitted into hospital from the same barrack room, but the exact cause of
the disease was not ascertained. And one case, which was probably contracted
at Ahmedabad, occurred in the 2/15th Regiment.
There are no remarks about the two cases which took place in the battery
in 1881.
The ratio per 1,000 of strength has been far higher among the Artillery in
this station than among the Infantry, or, indeed, in any other station. I cannot
but think a mistake of the gravest kind has been committed in placing the battery
horse lines directly to windward of and in such close proximity to the barracks.
The well from which the drinking water is obtained is, it will be remembered,
close to the horse lines. As usual all the stale of the horses sinks into the ground,
and although there is a great thickness of sand, yet it is a most suspicious fact
that the enteric fever always occurs in the battery during or after the rainy
season.
71
Artillery, Deesa.
Year.
1877 ...
1878 ...
1879...
1880 ...
1881 ..
1882 ..
Corps.
B/2, late B/4 Royal
Artillery.
B/2 Royal Artil-
lery.
Do.
do. ...
N/1
do. ...
Do.
do. ...
F/2
do. ...
Do.
do. ...
Period.
January to De-
cember.
Do. do. ...
January
February to De-
cember.
January to Sep-
tember.
May to Decem-
ber.
January to De-
cember.
Actual Strength.
145
145
10
139
99
141
141
Average Annual Strength.
145
145
1
128
76
94
141
730
Cholera.
A.
...
...
...
...
...
D.
...
...
...
...
Enteric
Fever.
A.
1
8
2
2
13
D.
...
2
2
1
5
Simple
Continued
Fever.
A.
4
3
...
2
9
D.
...
...
...
...
...
Febricula.
A.
...
5
21
...
26
D-
...
...
...
...
...
Intermittent
Fever.
A.
41
89
1
45
23
62
16
277
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Remittent
Fever.
A.
1
1
...
8
6
20
1
37
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
All Fevers
except Enteric.
A.
46
98
1
53
29
103
19
349
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dysentery.
A.
2
17
2
1
2
1
25
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Diarrhœa.
A.
5
16
4
...
5
5
35
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
All Causes.
A.
228
329
3
141
54
232
115
1,102
D.
1
5
4
3
1
14
RATIO PER 1,000 ON ANNUAL AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Cholera.
A.
...
...
...
...
D
...
...
...
Enteric
Fever.
A.
6.9
55.2
15.6
21.3
17.8
D.
...
13.8
15.6
10.6
6.8
All Fevers
Except
Enteric.
A.
317.2
675.9
414.1
381.6
1,095.7
134.7
478.1
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dysentery.
A.
13.8
117.2
15.6
13.2
21.3
7.1
34.2
D.
...
...
...
...
...
Diarrhœa.
A.
34.5
110.3
31.2
...
53.2
35.5
47.9
D.
...
...
...
...
...
All Causes.
A.
1,572.4
2,269.0
1,101.6
710.5
2,468.1
815.6
1,509.6
D.
6.9
34.5
31.2
31.9
71
19.2
72
Infantry, Deesa.
Years.
1877...
1878 ..
1879 ..
1880....
1881...-
1882 ...
Corps.
Head-quarter
2/15th Foot.
Details
Head-quarters
2/15th Foot.
Head-quarters
2/15th Foot.
2/15th Foot
Detachment 2/9th
Foot.
Detachment 83rc
Foot.
Details
Detachment 29th
Foot.
Detachment 2nc
Battalion Roya
Lancashire Fusi-
liers.
Details ...
...
Detachment 2nd
Battalion Royal
Lancaster Regi-
ment.
Period.
January to De
cember.
January to De
cember.
Do.
Head-quarters
January
to
March, Detach
ment March to
November.
March to Decem-
ber.
March
January
April to Decem-
ber.
......
January to De-
cember.
Actual Strength.
521
...
492
498
130
149
63
...
99
81
90
Average Annual Strength.
521
7
492
498
119
124
5
1
8
61
1
90
1,927
Cholera.
A,
...
...
...
D.
...
...
....
...
Enteric
Fever.
A.
2
4
1
1
8
D.
1
3
4
Simple
Continued
Fever.
A.
...
1
1
1
1
4
D.
...
...
...
Febricula.
A.
8
26
1
7
1
8
51
D.
...
...
...
...
...
Intermittent
Fever.
A.
169
220
150
108
193
5
2
8
45
94
994
D,
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Remittent
Fever.
A.
4
1
4
8
21
1
...
1
12
52
D.
...
1
2
...
...
...
1
4
All Fevers
except Enteric
A.
181
248
154
118
221
7
2
9
66
95
1,101
D.
...
1
2
1
4
Dysentery.
A.
13
4
9
1
2
2
2
33
D.
...
...
...
...
...
Diarrhœa.
A.
14
52
15
6
8
7
4
106
D.
.,,
...
...
...
...
All Causes.
A.
472
3
634
465
205
316
11
5
14
157
226
2,508
D.
6
5
9
4
1
25
RATIO PER 1,000 ON ANNUAL AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Cholera.
A.
...
...
D.
...
Enteric-
Fever.
A.
3.8
8.1
2.0
8.4
41
D.
1.9
6.1
...
21
All Fevers
except. Enteric.
A.
347.4
504.1
309.2
991.6
1,782.3
1,400.0
1,125.0
1,082.0
1,055.6
571.4
D.
...
...
2.0
16.1
16.4
2.1
Dysen-
tery.
A.
25.0
8.1
18.1
8.4
16.1
32.8
22.2
17.1
D
...
...
...
Diarrhœa.
A.
26.9
105.7
30.1
50.4
16.5
114.7
44.4
55.0
D
...
...
...
...
All Causes.
A.
906.9
426.8
1,288.6
933.7
1,722.7
2,548.4
2,200.0
1,750.0
2,573.8
2,511.1
1,301.5
D.
11.5
...
10.2
18.1
32.2
...
...
16.4
13.0
73
MOUNT ABU.
This Sanitarium is established on Mount Abu at an elevation of about 3,945
feet above the level of the sea. The geological formation consists of crystailine
and transition rock.
The barracks for the convalescents are somewhat crowded together, but from
the nature of the ground this is unavoidable. The water supply, as shown by the
analysis, is good, and the climate, except during the monsoon when mists prevail,
is extremly pleasant and salubrious. Europeans live on the hill all the year round,
and the ruddy appearance of the boys and girls at the Lawrence School testify to
the healthiness of the climate and its suitability for Europeans in India ; but, as I
shall presently have occasion to note, even with all these advantages enteric fever
has prevailed. This range of hills might most advantageously be made more use of
for the location of the European Troops in Gujarát and Rájputána. Mr. Lumsdaine
submitted a most interesting report on this subject as far back as 1871, and a
suitable site for a cantonment could be found at Uria where there would be plenty
of room. Before occupation it would require drainage, as it is enclosed by hills ;
but this could easily be provided by cutting drains so as to provide a ready
exit for the sub soil water through the face of the hill, and it is thought that this
could be done without any great expense. The benefit of living in such a climate
to the young European soldier would be simply incalculable as he would escape
much of the disease he is subject to in the plains, and now that the Railway
passes the foot of the hill, he could, at a moment's notice, be sent down to the
plains if his services were required there.
In considering the health statistics of the European Troops at Mount Abu
it is necessary to remember that they consist of invalids sent up from Deesa, so
that the admission and death rates are high ; but there can be no question that
troops, if stationed on this range, would be infinitely healthier than in the plains.
I find the following note regarding the two cases of enteric fever that occurred in
1878 :—" These cases were attributed to the use of water from the barrack well.
This well had been dag during the hot season, but having filled during the rains,
water from it was as usual taken into use. A short time afterwards these cases
of enteric fever occurred, and analysis showing the water to be contaminated with
sewage, it was considered the source of the disease." This well has since been
given up and a fresh one in a better site used.
The case in 1879 developed itself four days after arrival in the station, the
man having come up from Deesa. It was therefore contracted in that station
and not at Abu.
[ Table.]
B 357—19
74
Mount Abu.
Year.
1877...
1878...
1879...
1880...
1881...
1882 ...
Corps.
Detachment 2/15th
Foot.
Effectives
Details
Detachment 2/15th
Foot.
Effectives ...
Details
Detachment 2/15th
Foot.
Details
Effectives
Non-Effectives
Detachment 2/15th
Foot.
Detachment29th Foot
Effectives
Details
Effectives ...
Non-Effectives
Non-Effectives
Period.
Jan. to Dec. ...
Ditto.
Jan. to Dec. ..
Ditto.
Jan. to Dec. ..
Jan. to Dec. ..
April to June,
Oct. to Dec.
Jan. to June ...
June to Oct....
Jan. to Dec. ...
Jan. to Dec. ...
April to Dec. .
Jan. to Dec. ...
Actual Strength.
66
7
79
8
...
88
3
48
50
33
5
3
44
27
Average Annual Strength.
66
7
1
79
8
1
88
5
3
24
25
14
5
1
3
29
27
386
Cholera.
A.
...
D.
Enteric Fever.
A.
2
1
3
D.
...
...
Simple Continued Fever
A.
1
1
1
1
4
D.
...
...
Febricula.
A.
1
1
...
...
2
D.
...
...
...
Intermittent Fever.
A.
23
35
1
134
3
1
48
14
25
2
2
85
26
399
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Remittent Fever.
A.
..
...
...
...
...
...
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
All Fevers except En-
teric.
A.
23
35
1
136
3
1
50
15
25
2
2
85
27
405
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dysentery.
A.
2
3
4
...
1
1
2
...
13
D.
...
...
1
...
...
...
1
Diarrhœa.
A.
2
5
5
2
3
4
1
4
26
D
..
...
..
All Causes.
A.
62
1
1
84
1
214
8
4
74
30
35
7
4
1
119
68
713
D.
1
1
2
1
...
5
RATIO PER 1,000 ON ANNUAL AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Cholera.
A.
...
...
D.
...
...
Enteric Fever
A.
25.3
11.4
7.8
D.
...
...
...
All Fevers ex-
cept Enteric
Fever.
A.
348.5
443.0
125.0
1,545.5
600.0
2,083.3
600.0
1,785.7
400.0
2,931.0
1,000.0
1,049.2
D.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dysentery.
A.
30.3
38.0
45.5
41.7
71.4
69.0
...
33.7
D.
...
...
11.1
...
...
...
...
2.6
Diarrhœa.
A.
30.3
63.3
56.8
125.0
285.7
34.5
148.1
67.4
D
...
...
...
...
...
All Causes.
A.
939.4
142.9
1,063.3
125.0
2,431.8
1,600.0
3,083.3
1,200.0
2,500.0
1,400.0
333.3
4,103.4
2,518.5
1,847.1
D.
15.2
...
12.7
22.7
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
12.9
TEMPERATURE CHART CASE No. 2.
B357 Govt. Photozinc: Office, Poona 1883.
Illness probably began on 5 th
TEMPERATURE CHART. CASE No. 1.
B
B 357 Govt. Photozinco: Office, Poona 1883.
Photozincographed,
Govt. Office, Poona, 1883.
TEMPERATURE CHART CASE No. 4.
B
357
Government Photozinco: Office, Poona 1883.
TEMPERATURE CHART, CASE No. 5.
B.357. Govt. Photozinco: Office,Poona 1883.
78
of the disease was influenced by insanitary conditions, I cannot say. As regards Abu, how-
ever, it seems to me that dirt is more likely to have been a cause of sickness than heat.
Personal Contact.
The idea is widely prevalent in the station, among sensible people that persons 'caught'
the disease from others previously affected. There is, however, no proof of this though it
seems not unlikely that in house No. 4, the girl who died may have contracted the disease
from her sister. There was no communication between houses Nos. 1 and 2, but there was
frequent communication between those living in Nos. 2, 3 and 4. Excepting in house No.
4, I have never met with a case in India where the disease might be traced to personal con-
tact with the sick, nor do I know an instance, with the above exception, of a nurse or at-
tendant being attacked by it. My experience however is small, being limited to ten cases.
(Signed) L. D. SPENCER, M.D., Surgeon Major,
Officiating Superintendent General of Dispensaries
and Vaccinations in Rájputána.
Dated Mount Abu, the 16th September 1882."
Number of Cases of Enteric Fever treated in the Sanitarium Hospital from the
year 1876 to 1881, both years inclusive.
Year.
1876
1877
1878
"
1879
1880.
1881
1882
Corps.
None.
None.
2/15th Regi
ment.
"
None.
None.
None.
None.
Rank and Name.
Private ...
"
Levitt, S. ...
Miles, H. ...
\
Age.
Years.
26
22
Month
admit-
ted.
August.
August.
Number
of days in
Hospital.
28
22
Number of
days in the
Station.
Unknown* ..
Unknown*...
Died or
Recovered.
R.
JR.
* Cannot give you the time in the station, but the chances are the men had been at Abu from end of March
and kept on in the \ill\.
(Signed) C. WATLING, S. M.
Abu, 1st August 1882."
79
Number.
2
2
3
4
5
Name.
Pársi
Miss
Mrs.
Miss
Age.
12 years
19\6/12\
years
9\6/12\ years
24 years
20 years
Residence in India.
Since birth
1 \6/12\ year
8th months
December 1876
arrived in India,
December 1878
went home, 30th
October
1881
arrived in India
Arrived in India
on 30th October
1881.
Residence on Abu.
He lived at Abu
most of his life.
Had been at
Bombay for a
year continuous-
ly and returnee
here to his father
on 1st May.
7 weeks ...
5 months
...
3 months (from
25th March to
24th June).
4 months and 4
days (from 25th
March to 29th
July).
Date of
Attack.
9th June
(in bed)
10th June
(in bed).
22nd June
(in bed).
24th June
(in bed).
30th July
(in bed).
Previous Illness, 1
Nothing but slight
attacks of malarious
fever.
Measles as a child ; of
late years habitually
constipated.
Chicken-pox. Tenden-
cy of bowels general-
ly relaxed.
Remarkably healthy
and strong until 1880,
in the early part of
which year, while at
home, felt languid and
out of sorts.
Has
been habitually con-
stipated since a child.
Remarkably
strong
and particularly heal-
thy. Before the pre-
sent attack suffered
off and on for some
weeks from diarrhœa
Water-supply.
From Tele-
graph well
till begin-
ning of June,
then from
well in com-
pound.
From Club
well.
From Club
well.
From Club
well.
Ditto.
Whether
Water was
drunk at Ten-
nis Court.
No.
Yes ; fre-
quently.
No.
No.
No.
Milk-supply,
Meat-supply,
Bread-supply,
Own cows.
Chapattis made at
home from wheat
ground in the house.
Butcher. — Gholam
Hossain.
Chickens fed at home.
Own cows. Clubmutton
and little from bazar.
Chickens fed at home.
Baker.— Pir Bux.
Butcher.— Chotoo.
Butcher—Bhoora.
Baker.—Pir Bux.
Milk.—Kisnu.
Butcher.—Chotoo.
Butter.—DinMahomed
Bread.—Pir Bux.
Fowls, &c., fed at home.
Ditto.
Latrine arrangement
in Compound.
Latrine in compound
for males of house.
Servant, outside.
House filth taken in
receptacle to nearest
latrine.
None. The servants
went elsewhere but
no smell was ever
detected.
None. The servants
went elsewhere, but
the compound was
not in a good sanitary
condition at the time.
Latrine used for ser-
vants outside the
compound, but the
compound itself was
not in good sanitary
condition. A public
latrine in a gully to
windward of the
house.
Ditto.
Abu, 16th September 1882.
(Signed) L. D. SPENCER, M.D., Surgeon-Major,
Officing Superintendent General of Dispensaries
and Vaccination in Rájputána."
80
TA'RA'GArH.
The most urgent sanitary want at this Sanitarium is a supply of pure drink-
ing water, for that obtained from the Doodea well in Ajmere is most impure,
as it contains not less than 72 1 grains of total solids and the very high
amount of 17 15 grains of chlorine per gallon, whilst the ammonia determi-
nations are also very high, the free ammonia being 08 and the albuminoid 15
parts per million.
If a pure water supply could be obtained, it would be possible to take
greater advantage of the Tárágarh and neighbouring ranges. Possibly engineer-
ing skill may be able to construct a reservoir among the spurs of the hills which
would be commanded by the fort and entirely independent of the city of
Ajmere, where the water supply from wells and the Anasagar Lake is impure.
The troops at Tárágarh consist of convalescents sent up from "Nasirabad,
and no doubt this fact accounts for the high admission rate. The case of enteric
fever in 1881 was a case which developed enteric symptoms after arrival
from Nasirabad.
81
Tárágarh Sanitarium.
Year.
1877 ...
1878 ...
1879 ...
1880 ...
1881 ...
Corps.
Non-Effectives ...
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Period.
April to Nov. ...
Do.
Do.
May to Nov. ...
Do.
Actual Strength.
79
31
57
55
42
Average Annual Strength.
44
21
38
33
25
161
Cholera.
A.
...
...
D.
...
Enteric
Fever.
A.
1
1
D.
1
1
Simple
Continued
Fever.
A.
3
6
3
1
13
D.
...
...
...
...
Febricula.
A.
...
...
D.
...
...
Intermit-
tent
Fever.
A.
13
19
75
40
14
161
D.
...
Remit-
tent
Fever.
A,
5
5
D.
...
All
Fevers
except
Enteric
A.
16
19
81
48
15
179
D.
..
...
Dysentery.
A.
3
2
12
...
4
21
D.
1
...
...
...
1
Diarrhœa.
A.
3
1
5
9
3
21
D.
...
...
...
...
...
All Causes.
A.
72
70
160
104
63
469
D.
1
1
2
1
5
RATIO PER 1,000 ON ANNUAL AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Cholera.
A.
...
D.
...
...
Enteric
Fever.
A.
40.0
6.0
D.
40.0
6.0
All Fevers
except Enteric
A.
363.6
904.8
2,131.8
1,454.5
600.0
1,111.8
D.
...
...
...
...
...
Dysentery.
A.
68.2
95.2
315.8
...
160.0
130.4
D.
47.6
...
...
...
6.0
Diarrhœa.
A.
68.2
47.6
131.6
272.7
120.0
130.4
D.
...
...
...
...
...
All
Causes.
A.
1,636.4
3,333.3
4,210.5
3,151.5
2,520.0
2,913.0
D.
47.6
26.3
60.6
40.0
31.1
B 357-21
82
NASIRABAD.
The sanitary defects and disease causes have been fully discussed in the
report on this Cantonment which I have lately submitted to Government. From
a sanitary point of view they are extremely interesting, as it is evident that
whilst cholera and enteric fever have, during a long term of years, almost
exclusively clung to the Infantry, the Artillery, living alongside under precisely
similar conditions except those of previous history of site, have nearly escaped.
The cause of this localization of these two diseases being in my opinion
principally due to the fact that the Infantry Barracks have been built over a
site polluted during a long series of years by the huts of a Native Infantry and
a Native Cavalry Regiment, whilst the Artillery Barracks stand on a site that
has always been occupied by Europeans.
Enteric fever is also believed to be endemic in the Sadar Bázár ; but if
that were the sole source, the young men who annually come out from Home to
join the Artillery would have suffered pro rata as much as the Infantry,
. During the ten years, 1870—79, enteric fever caused more admissions per
1,000 of strength at Nasirabad than at any other station of the Bombay
Command.
During the same period Nasirabad also had the highest admission rate for
not only enteric fever but also for diseases of the spleen and respiratory system,
whilst there was a very high rate for dysentery and a high rate for diarrhoea
and hepatitis, and although far less than at Neemuch, still there was a high
rate for malarial fever. It is not a station in which any young soldiers,
especially Infantry soldiers, should be quartered during the enteric fever
months, i.e., during the rains and autumn.
The disease statistics since 1877 are given below. The rates of admission
and deaths per 1,000 of aggregate average strength was for each arm as
follows :—
Period—Six years, 1877—82.
Artillery
.
..
..
Infantry ..
...
Cholera.
A.
5 1
5 1
D.
3 8
4 8
!
Enteric Fever.
A.
1 3
12 3
D.
1 3
8 2
Other Fevers.
A.
845 8
700 0
D.
1 3
3 1
Dysentery.
A.
34 1
37 1
D.
3 8
0 0
Diarrhoea.
A.
118 8
66 4
D.
00
03
All Causes.
A.
2,308 5
1,641 5
D.
29 1
25 5
There were four cases of cholera, three of which proved fatal, in the G/2
Royal Artillery in 1878. During the same outbreak the Infantry lost nine men
from this disease, and in 1882 five deaths took place out of six admissions in the
Infantry; but, as shown in the report, the statistics of a longer period demonstrate
more markedly that the incidence of this disease has principally fallen upon the
Infantry. The much greater prevalence of enteric fever among the Infantry is
clearly shown by the above figures. The extreme prevalence of diarrhoea among
the Artillery is however very noticeable. I had not the advantage of these tables
when I wrote the report, but they bear out my opinion that Nasirabad is a
most unhealthy station, and show the necessity for some decided action being
taken regarding it. The death rate during the six years under report was the
highest in the Presidency. That it can be made healthier I have no doubt, but
money is required to be spent before we can hope to reduce the prevalence
of sickness in it.