Operations.
Causes of mortality.
Mortality according to race.
57
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
Lastly, under the head of "Injuries," come 39 cases of various kinds chiefly the result
of slight accidents on parade, or in the lines during dark
nights, all of which were of a trivial character, and not requiring
special notice.
Injuries.
Only 11 minor operations were required during the year.
Not a single European officer has been on the sick list
during the year.
18. The 3 deaths which occurred were due, respectively,
to cholera, bronchitis, and diabetes mellitus.
19. The 3 men who died were all Hindus from the
Konkan.
20. The regiment did not quite escape unscathed this year from the cholera epidemic
which prevailed in the city of Sholápur and the surrounding
districts in the monsoon months, notwithstanding that the
usual precautions were taken to prevent, as far as possible, communication between the lines
and cantonment and the affected localities. The first case occurred on the 23rd July and
the last on 26th August, after which the disease disappeared. Three men were attacked, of
whom 1 died; also 1 woman and 1 child, of whom the former died, and the latter re-
covered. At the same time a great many cases of severe diarrhœa, almost approaching
cholera in the intensity of the symptoms, occurred amongst the women and children, due, in
almost every case, to lumbrici, similar to the cases reported by Surgeon-Major Day, 5th
Regiment N. L. I., in last year's report, and which quickly recovered after the expulsion
of the worms. When cholera first made its appearance, every block of huts in which a case
had occurred was at once vacated, their occupants being located in tents pitched about three-
quarters of a mile to windward of the lines, and before being allowed to return to them the
floors were dug up and re-made, the huts were well fumigated with sulphur, and the walls
white-washed. I should have mentioned that the cases sent to hospital were treated in old
tents which were, I believe, afterwards destroyed, and the clothing of every patient was
thoroughly boiled and disinfected before he was permitted to return to the lines. These
precautions proved quite efficient in preventing the spread of the disease.
21. Vaccination has been carefully attended to during the year. The primary vacci-
nations amounted to 105, of which 90 were successful. Of
re-vaccinations there were 21, with the following results, viz.,
11 successful, and 10 unsuccessful. At the close of the year only 14 remained unprotected,
all children under 3 months. old.
22. These may, I think, be considered very satisfactory, and there has been a progres-
sive improvement during the last two years. At the close of
the year only 6 men remained on the sick list.
23. I have no special novelty in the way of treatment to record during the year. The
cases treated have been, as a rule, of a very mild character, and
there has been no great scope for trying the effects of new or
heroic remedies. I have used cinchonidine in the slighter
cases of ague; but, as previously reported, have a very poor opinion of its value as com-
pared with the sulphate of quinine.
24. With reference to my remarks under this head in last year's report, I wish to
express my great gratification, which will, I think, be generally
felt by all medical officers in charge of native troops, at the
boon granted by government, on the occasion of the assumption by Her Majesty the Queen
of the title of Empress of India, to the native army in the shape of a gratuity of Rs. 30 to every
recruit on enlistment, towards purchasing his kit. This will almost entirely obviate the evils
then pointed out.
25. This may be very brief, as the remarks previously made, and the returns which
accompany this report, clearly indicate the steady, progressive
improvement in the health of the corps during the past year.
From a physical point of view the regiment is now in a most efficient state, and fit for any
duties it may be called upon to perform.
26. The native medical pupils attached to the regiment have received constant
clinical instruction in the wards, and their general education has been carefully supervised.
B 196-15
Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
General health and physique of
the men.
Treatment of disease when
special.
Special observations.
Resumé.