42
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
the sepoy lines, on the other side of the fort. They consist of a row of houses which have
been rented out to merchants, who sell all that is required for the native soldier. The men
used formerly to go down into the pettah bazaar to obtain their requirements, but since the
partial quarantine which was placed on all people coming from infected districts was put
a stop to, they were induced to settle in the fort, and thus save as much as possible communi
- c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o p l a c e s ; t h e r e a r e t w o s h o p s o n t h e h i l l w h i c h s u p p l y n e c e s s a r i e s f o r
the Europeans also.
6. The climate is, on the whole, very healthy during the cold weather. There are more
cases of fever; but many of these cases are, I am inclined to
think, due to the exposure to malaria in the jungles, where they
go to cut wood. It would, I have no doubt, very much reduce the ratio of fever cases if this
practice were put a stop to. During the rains there are many cases admitted for rheumatism.
7. Food is good and prices moderate. I believe the lack of
grain food in the hot months has been felt by the men.
8. The duties during the time that the European Troop were absent were heavy, and
they had to supply 14 men as guard for the State prisoners, 7
men as main guard at the south-western gate, a guard of 1
man at the south-eastern gate; but now that the Europeans have arrived, they are relieved
from the main gate guard. Average nights in bed: native officers 2; havildars 3½; naiques 4;
privates 4. The duties seem to have no injurious effect on their health.
Effects of climate.
Food.
Duties.
Exercise, amusements, occupation.
9. The chief exercises and amusements are wrestling, sword
exercise, wood-cutting, and card-playing and native music.
10. The hospital building, which consists of the hospital, the hospital assistant, and
native medical pupil's quarters, and the doolywallas' quarters,
is a long line of buildings (or rather huts) which extend
about 50 yards along the south-eastern wall. The hospital is first of the huts in the line,
and is small, ill-ventilated, and most unsuited for such a building; there is no dead-house, no
operating-room, and the light is very deficient.
11. If the sanction that Government gave for a new hospital is not renewed, it would
be a good plan to raise the plinth of the hospital so as to allow
more air to circulate, and also have a ventilator at the apex of
the roof.
12. An epidemic of small-pox was found out in the pettah about a fortnight ago.
The fact of there being small-pox in the pettah was concealed,
and it was not found out for some time. Since then, 7 cases
have been treated, all being children. The fort has been quarantined, and communication
between the two places cut off. The cases have been isolated, and it is to be hoped that the
quarantine will be taken off in a day or two. All the children of the detachment 4th Rifles
have been vaccinated, and the sepoys also are being vaccinated, the vaccine being diluted
with an equal part of glycerine. There have been no other epidemics.
13. Four deaths during the year, all among the details. Three cases amongst Purwar
-
ris, and one Bhil; 2 cases of severe remittent fever, 1 primary
amputation of right arm; 1 case of drowning, which occurred
here during the cleaning out of the tank.
Hospital and its surroundings.
Improvements necessary.
Epidemic.
Mortality according to race.
General health and physique of
the men.
14. The health has been generally good. No mortality
amongst troops.
15. There were 12 cases sent off before the annual invaliding board at Bombay; out of
these 9 were passed, most of the cases being unfit for duty
on the score of old age and debility. The number of cases treated
for ague were 44 amongst the detachment, and 1 remittent fever; dysentery cases 5;
diarrhœa 2. Amongst the staff and details 17 ague; remittent fever 2; dysentery 1; no cases
of diarrhœa or hepatitis.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL T. B. BEATTY, M.D.
This detachment has been stationed at Assirghar during the entire of 1876.
The average strength was 145. The health of the men since arrival had been excellent,
no death having been recorded. The men are treated in the same hospital as those of the
staff and details, the average daily sick being 5.5.
The water-supply was deficient, and a recent analysis showed that its quality was far
inferior to what drinkable water should be. Steps were being taken for cleaning out the tank
from which the water for the native troops was supplied, and which, it was hoped, would in a
great measure rectify the evil.
Sickness, mortality, and invaliding.