49
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
attributed to the use of this water. Two other cases had occurred amongst the followers during
the month of April, and both recovered. One other epidemic disease which has sent in a large
number of cases into hospital early in the year and during November and December, was
chicken-pox; the subjects were mostly children and recruit boys, and 8 privates.
19. There were 60 vaccinations and 90 re-vaccinations, including the recruits recently
admitted into the regiment; of the latter 43 were successful;
the rest were insusceptible to the influence of vaccination. Of
the primary vaccinations 53 cases were successful and 7 unsuccessful, who subsequently took
it on re-vaccination.
20. The general health of the men has improved very much during the year; but the
scorbutic taint is so deeply implanted in them, that, directly
the prices of grain rose high in September, a large number of
men was found to have spongy gums, and at the close of the
y e a r a b o u t 2 1 m e n w e r e o n t h e s c u r v y l i s t , w h o a l l r e g u l a r l y m a r c h e d t o t h e h o s p i t a l w h e n o f f
duty to drink lime-juice.
21. Salycilic acid has been given in a case of acute rheumatic fever with swelling of all
the principal joints of the body, when colchicum and other
medicines had failed, and it had the desired effect. This acid
was given in half-gramme (about 7½ grs.) doses twice or three times daily; the fever, pain, and
swelling of the joints all rapidly disappeared under its use. The boracic lint, which is prepar
-ed by dipping a piece of lint in a saturated solution of boracic acid, according to Dr. Lister's
directions, has been used successfully in the treatment of shoe-bite and other superficial
abrasions, and has been found a very successful application in these cases. I believe that it
heals the sores more rapidly than carbolic oil, or the other ordinary applications.
22. It will be observed under the heading of scurvy that there were 6 admissions
into hospital (being aggravated forms of this disease), and 76
slighter cases treated in the lines. Three invalided for chronic
scurvy, and a few of the 14 invalided for old age and debility being affected more or less
with scurvy, the question arises what can be done to prevent so much loss to the service
arising from this one particular form of d i sease in regiments that have served in Aden? The
constitution of the Maratha sepoy appears to be ill-adapted to bear the privations arising
from a want of the kind of food to which he is accustomed, and to which is superadded the
difference of climate; a few months' residence in Aden at once produces a change in the solid
elements of his body, which is kept up by the want of nutritious food, fresh vegetables, and
I may say (of those who are accustomed to take it) of animal food, since he is not supplied
with mutton by the Commissariat, and the high price in the bazaar almost prevents his
using it as a daily article of diet. He suffers in consequence, not only while he is serving
in Aden, but for years after his return to India. The only solution that appears to my
mind is, the Maratha being so ill-adapted for prolonged service in a climate so unlike his
own, whether somebody else could be found to do his work; and from my experience of the
Beloochee constitution I would not hesitate to say that he is best suited for such service,
The nature of his native climate is not unlike that of Aden; in fact, his native soil forms
part of that barren arid tract which extends along the sea-coast from the Runn of Cutch to
the east coast of Africa. The Beloochee thrives consequently as well in Aden, Muscat, the
Meckran coast, and Sind, as in his native country, and I believe there would be much
saving to Government if annually or biennially a regiment of Beloochees were sent to Aden
instead of the Maratha regiments, and their place in Kurrachee supplied by a Maratha
regiment
23. The health of the regiment has much improved since its arrival in Belgaum from
Aden. Although there is still a taint of scurvy among the men
in the proportion of 13 per cent, the actual admissions under
this head have been about one-sixth; but the cases for malarial fevers have been twice as large
as in Aden, and there is a similar increase in the number of skin diseases and also in vene
- r e a l a n d e r u p t i v e f e v e r s . T h e m e n h a v e g o o d l i n e s t o l i v e i n , t h e w a t e r - s u p p l y i s g o o d , b u t t h e
conservancy requires improvement. The rainfall during the year has been below the average,
and there has been a consequent rise in the prices of grain; this affected the health of the
men temporarily, by increasing the scorbutic taint; and, lastly, that it is believed that there
would be much saving of service to Government if, instead of a Maratha regiment a regiment
of Beloochees were to be sent to Aden, and their place in Kurrachee occupied by the former;
the Beloochee being well adapted, by the nature of his native climate, food, and habits, to
stand the privations to which a sepoy is liable in Aden.
B 196—13
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
General health and physique of
the men.
Treatment of disease when special.
Special observations
Resumé of the whole.