98
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
disinfected in the usual way. The members of their families are protected. There were 4
admissions from chicken-pox during the year. These cases were all protected by vaccina--
tion.
19. This was carefully done. Thirty-six cases of primary vaccination, of which 32 were
successful and 4 unsuccessful. Twenty-three cases of re-vacci--
nation, of which 6 were successful and 17 unsuccessful. The
recruits could not be spared from ball practice, for vaccination, until very recently. Most
of them are now fully protected, as are all the sepoys at head-quarters.
20. The general health of the men has been, on the whole, good. The recruits were
tolerably well made, and possessed the requisite amount of
intelligence; but I confess I did not admire their physique.
They are principally Konkani Mahrattas and Mahomedans from the Bombay side of India.
21. Cinchonidine was tried by me in this hospital. It seemed to me to be useful in
mild cases and in 1st or 2nd attacks of quotidian ague if
given in large doses; but I hardly think it can even replace
quinine in the treatment of malarious fevers. Having seen the
almost magical powers of the nitrite of amyl in cases of angina pectoris, asthma, and in vaso--
motor disturbances in women suffering from uterine disease, and having heard that a medical
officer of the British Army had been trying the drug in ague with great success, I was in--
duced to give it a trial in the latter disease. I have given it in the cold stage in doses of
from 1 to 3 minims held on sugar. In all the cases this stage, which, there was reason
to believe, would have lasted for upwards of an hour, was cut short within 10 minutes, in most
cases within 4 minutes; the patient experiencing the grateful sensation of warmth, throwing
off his numerous bed-clothes, and perspiring pretty freely. The subjects chosen for experi--
ment were free from heart disease or arterial degeneration. Beyond flushing of the face and
quickening of the pulse nothing occurred to cause the slightest anxiety. The temperature
was at first raised a little, but subsequently lowered by the drug. In only two cases out of
several so treated was the disease cut short and the patients discharged. In all the rest the
cold stage was cut short, and the other stages subdued, but the fits recurred. Hence the amyl
administered internally only relieved a symptom, and so far proved itself a valuable drug. I
have not given yet the inhalation a trial in ague. It and the ipecacuanha-wine spray were
found useful in the dyspnœa of bronchitis. In severe cases of ague, and in ordinary cases of
remittent fever, I gave at first the tincture of aconite in doses of from 1 to 2 minims
repeated every hour for 6 or 8 hours to reduce the temperature, or, failing that, placed the
patients in warm baths, gradually cooling down to several degrees below the temperature of
the body. After the excessive temperature was reduced, I gave a purge, and then catching
the apyrexial interval of ague or the fleeting period of remission in remittent fever, adminis-
- t e r e d o n e f u l l d o s e o f q u i n i n e . T h i s f o r m e d t h e m a i n t r e a t m e n t ; b u t s y m p t o m s a s t h e y
arose were combated, e.g., the nitrite of amyl was given to cut short the distressing shiver-
- i n g f i t , i c e i n t e r n a l l y a n d e n d e m i c a p p l i c a t i o n o f m o r p h i a t o r e l i e v e t h e t r o u b l e s o m e r e t c h i n g
and vomiting, and so on. In protracted cases, and where quinine was rejected, and also in a
few ordinary cases, the hypodermic injections of quinine were used with very great success.
A clean needle and pretty sharp, a small bulk and perfect clearness and perfect solution of the
neutral sulphate, and suitable temperature of the fluid, are the great secrets of success in this
plan of treatment.
The extract of bael was found to be very useful in the later stages of dysentery. A
case of diarrhœa was successfully treated by large doses of the liquid extract of ergot.
The application of carbolized oil to the surface in cases of small-pox seemed to relieve the
burning pain very well, and prevent any foul smell emanating from the discharges. Skin
-grafting was successfully tried in the case of bed-sores already described. The grafts were
applied after the sores were brought to the healing condition; and after they had taken
root, the sores healed very quickly.
22. The principal points on which I have remarked are—that the regiment has
been in good health; the climate of the place has been very
good; the physique of the men was fairly good, though a better
class of recruits would improve the regiment; the huts Were damp during the rains, and
deficient in ventilation, cubic space, and light; the trench system of latrines is not quite
safe; the water-supply was barely sufficient, and would get scarce in the ensuing hot
weather; that certain drugs were found to be very promising in the treatment of disease;
and, lastly, that a few detached huts should be constructed for those who are kept under
o b s e r v a t i o n t o e n a b l e t h e s u r g e o n t o c e r t i f y t h a t t h e y a r e f r e e f r o m i n f e c t i o n , a n d f i t t o b e
admitted into the lines.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
General health, &c., &c.
Treatment of disease when spe
-cial.
Resumé of the whole.