96
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Most of these cases were complicated with bronchitis. Often, after the fever had left the
patient, the bronchitis continued and gave rise to emphysema, as in many of the cases invalid
-ed. I often noticed a regular alternation of dysentery with ague, the fit of the latter being
replaced by an attack of the former. The 4 cases of remittent fever were all complicated with
severe bronchitis. In all these the severe gastric irritability was most painful to witness. The
only case of death that occurred in hospital was a case of remittent fever complicated with
extensive bronchitis. The patient, a naik, when admitted was very much emaciated and weak,
according to his account, from having taken some native medicine from a quack. The fever,
the headache, and the incessant vomiting were so severe, that in spite of stimulants both
internal and external, enemas, &c., he had not the power to expel the increased and morbid
secretions in his bronchi, and he died half exhausted, half suffocated.
Twenty-four cases of chronic rheumatism, 1 of gonorrhœal rheumatism, and 11 muscular
rheumatism were admitted. One of the cases of chronic rheuma
-
tism was dangerously complicated by intense mercurial cachexia,
brought on by the injudicious use of mercury which the patient was persuaded to take for
an attack of venereal disease by a native quack. The agony and pain and the fearful swell
-ing of the mouth, gums, and face, the distressing salivation, &c., due to the mercurial poison
-ing were added to the symptoms of chronic rheumatism.
Rheumatic affections.
Syphilitic affections.
Primary syphilis, 1 admission; secondary, 3; soft chan
-cres, 5. All were simple cases, and cured.
One case of paralysis, 1 of facial palsy, 1 of idiopathic tetanus, and 7 cases of neuralgia
were admitted under this head. The case of paralysis was due,
I believe, to , sub-acute myclitis, most probably syphilitic in its
origin. The case of facial paralysis occurred in a native officer who had a rheumatic diathesis.
It was brought on by exposure to cold. The case got rapidly well under blistering, endermic
application of strychnia and internal administration of alkalies with colchicum. The case of
idiopathic tetanus was diagnosed by Dr. Patterson while I was away on duty. When I saw
the case I was quite convinced it was a genuine case of the disease. There was not a single
wound healing or healed, and not a single recent scar. The causes, apparently, were exposure
to cold while he was at stool, and sudden fright, the patient on the night imagining he saw
a fierce wild animal when it was only a dog. The case was tedious, but fortunately it yielded
to large doses of chloral and bromide of potassium and frequent nourishment. All the symp
-toms of the disease, including the very high temperature, were well marked in this case.
Fourteen admissions from catarrhal ophthalmia (admitted as "conjunctivitis") were all
discharged cured. The ordinary cases were cured by cleanliness,
alum and zinc washes, and weak solutions of nitrate of silver.
The severer cases required belladonna fomentations, stronger solutions of nitrate of silver, and
even in some cases leeches and scarification. Internally tonics and aperients were given.
One case of syphilitic iritis is under treatment now.
Sixty0-nine cases of bronchitis were admitted, of which three-fourths nearly were discharg
-
ed cured, 13 invalided, and 4 sent on sick leave. Most of these
cases were very obstinate and often incurable without quinine,
thus showing their relationship to malarious fevers. One case of pneumonia, which ended in
resolution, was treated with acetate of ammonia, digitalis and stimulants, and discharged
cured. One very bad case of pneumonic phthisis was with difficulty brought round with
cod-liver oil and iron, and astringent and antiseptic sprays to the throat, and inhalations, and
was granted sick leave.
Fourteen cases were admitted. Most of these occurred in July and August; the exposure
to cold and wet and the dampness of the huts were the causes.
Several infants in the lines were with difficulty saved, and 1
died in spite of all efforts, the diarrhœa being complicated with severe convulsions. The cases
of the sepoys were all cured by simple treatment.
Twenty-seven cases were admitted. Most of these cases were severe; in 1 case the exhaus
-
tion, consequent on the frequent and copious hæmorrhage and
the discharge of shreds of mucus membrane, was so great that it
was with difficulty brought round by stimulants and nourishment. The treatment followed in
these cases was the use of ipecacuanha at first, and when the acute symptoms had abated, the
liquid extract of bael and perchloride of iron tincture were given until the patient got per
-fectly well. The severe case is sent on sick leave a few were invalided, and all the rest di
s - c h a r g e d c u r e d .
Diseases of the nervous system.
Diseases of the eye.
Diseases of the lungs.
Diarrhcea.
Dysentery.
Diseases of the liver.
One case of simple congestive enlargement of the liver was
cured by chloride of ammonium, and nitro-muriatic acid with
taraxacum.