Epidemics.
7. None.
124
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Detachments.
2. An average of 113 sabres on out-post duty during
the year.
3. The Clothing has been changed in two particulars. The overalls, which were for-
Clothing.
merly made of broad cloth, are now made of double dungaree.
The head-dress now worn is of the Afghan pattern, and is
everything which could be desired as a protection against heat and cold, and most likely a
sabre cut.
4. Cannot be said to have exercised an unfavourable
influence on health.
Duties and their effect on health.
5. With only 13 patients in hospital the available space, cubic and superficial, was only
Hospital overcrowding
92 and 2,276, very much under what it ought to be. Though
the daily average sick for the year was only 14.3, it must be
remembered that the daily average since October has been, respectively, October 21.8, Novem-
ber 28.5, and December 26.3. The verandahs and tents had to be used, and the hospital
reserved for the more serious cases, particularly chest affections.
Sickness, mortality, and invalid-
ing.
6. Out of an average present at head-quarters of 325.2
sabres, 687 admissions took place, being an increase of 117
over the previous year.
Malarious fevers, as usual, were the chief cause of admissions, being 432—an increase
of 70 over that of the previous year for the same diseases :—
January
...
. . .
46
July
...
. . . 9
February
...
. . .
24
August
...
. . . 10
March
...
... 25
September ...
... 42
April
. . . ...
13
October
...
. . . 63
May
...
. . .
3
November ...
. . . 122
June
...
...
6
December ...
... 69
The following table shows the different diseases according to class :—
Ague
...
... 432
Gonorrhœa
...
1 1
Acute rheumatism
...
3
Orchitis
...
...
3
Chronic rheumatism
. . .
14
Abscess
...
...
3
Syphilis, primary
6
Urticaria
...
...
1
Soft chancre ...
...
3
Eczema
1
Suppurating bubo
...
1
Ulcer...
38
Syphilis, secondary
...
2
Boil
...
...
26
Scurvy
...
8
Whitlow
...
4
Conjunctivitis ...
...
5
Stinging Insects
...
1
Inflammation ...
...
4
Debility
...
...
2
Bronchitis
...
. . .
3
Opium
...
...
1
Pneumonia
...
...
6
General burns...
4
Sore Throat ...
...
3
Contusion of the eye
...
3
Dysentery
... . ,
20
Contusion of the ear
...
18
Diarrhœa
... ...
8
Wound (N. E.)
. . .
1
Colic...
5
Contusion (L. E.)
...
42
Hepatitis...
2
Sprain (L. E.)
...
1
Jaundice...
1
Mortality.
Four deaths occurred from pneumonia and 1 from in-
jury—burns.
Six men were invalided during the year—5 over fifteen and 1 under fifteen years' service
from the following causes : 1 inguinal hernia right, 1 chronic
rheumatism, 4 general debility. Twelve men were sent on sick
certificate during the year from periods varying one to six months : 6 from malarious
cachexia, 2 from pneumonia, and 1 dysentery, 2 chronic rheumatism, 1 from debility.
Invaliding.
8. Vaccination has been steadily carried out during the year ; 407 persons, including
public followers, were vaccinated ; 11 primary and 396 re-
vaccinations.
Vaccination and re-vaccination
General health and physique of
men.
9. Most unsatisfactory.
10. A. resumé of the report would only be a repetition of my remarks made
under thia
Reminé of the whole.
a.
head and that of special observations for 1874 and 1875,