50
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
24. There were two senior medical pupils, who used to be taught once or twice a week
in medicine, surgery, materia medica, and toxicology, besides
lessons at the bedside of patients. These passed the half-yearly
examination successfully; and one of them, Eleazer Ezekiel, is now undergoing a course at th
Grant Medical College. Two new pupils have been received towards the end of the year;
they are now learning to compound medicines and minor dressing, and some elementary
lessons from materia medica.
(In this report no mention of the numbers of treated, castes, &c., of the detachment noted
in para. 1 is made.)
H. M.'s 14th Regiment N. I.
BELGAUM.—In medical charge of Surgeon D. E. HUGHES, M.D.; strength 569.1.
Medical pupils.
Location and movement of corps.
During 1876 the regiment was stationed in Belgaum.
2. The left wing which remained at Kolhápur awaiting relief by the 3rd Native Light
Infantry rejoned head-quarters on the 12th February. A
detachment of 149 men, which had been stationed at Kaládgi,
arrived in Belgaum on the 23rd February 1876.
3. The lines are in excellent order and well laid out.
4. The latrines in rear of the lines are well looked after. It would be as well, however,
were some better arrangement made for carrying off the ablution
water, which at present is very apt to soak into the surrounding
soil.
5. Is drawn from five wells; since 1874 no analysis has been made of the water.
Some of the men get their supply of drinking water from the
Naghgiri spring.
6. During the earlier months of the year the supply of food was abundant and cheap;
but since the failure of the monsoon though grain—thanks to
the well-directed energies of the authorities—is abundant, it is
dear. The compensation issued monthly renders the high price of grain of little consequence
to bachelors, but married men with families feel the rise of prices keenly.
Detachment.
Lines,
Conservancy.
Water,
Food.
Marches.
7. The regiment did not march during the year.
8. The hospital and latrines have been fully described in former reports. Though
cases of small-pox and cholera are best treated in tents or
temporary sheds, a ward for contagious diseases is much wanted.
In such a ward children suffering from varicella or measles might be treated, and suspicious
cases segregated till their true nature was ascertained, and arrangements made for their
accommodation. A covered way from the hospital to the latrines is a desideratum.
9. There were 181 cases of ague admitted; most were slight, and readily yielded to the
cinchonidine treatment, whilst the more severe required a course
of quinine. Pneumonia, induced by exposure to damp and the
extreme variation of temperature, furnished 12 cases, all of which were severe, and 1 fatal.
Eleven cases of chicken-pox and 6 of measles, all mild, were treated; the patients were all
recruits who had recently joined at different times from the Konkan. The greatest number
of admissions for the former disease was in March; from the latter in April. There were 12
cases of dysentery which were treated with ipecac. in large doses, followed by ext. belœ.
Seven cases of hepatitis are recorded; the actual number of persons who suffered from this
complaint was 7. There were 3 admissions for primary syphilis, 8 for venereal bubo, and 1 for
gleet and gonorrhœal rheumatism; the disease in the last case was undoubtedly contracted
a year ago in Kolhápur. Conjunctivitis of a mild nature furnished 31 admissions. The largest
number of admissions (9) was in July. There were 4 deaths: 1 from pneumonia, 1 from
pyœmia following a slight injury to the hand, 1 from phthisis, and 1 from peritonitis. One
man (Mussulman) was killed by lightning while on sota piquet. All the men who died in
hospital were Hindus by caste.
Hospital.
Sickness.
Influence of rainfall.
10. The rains being practically over in September, the
greatest number of admissions for ague was in September, and
not, as usual, in October.