122
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY,
2 admissions from pneumonia : 1 case terminated fatally ; in both the disease was most exten-
sive, and the patients weak from previous attacks of fever.
There were 18 admissions for intestinal disorder, chiefly diarrhœa. There were 2 cases
of dysentery, and 1 of enteritis : one of the former, and the latter terminated fatally. Con-
junctivitis, 16 cases, all of the mild form.
There were 60 cases of contusions and ulcers, in the majority of instances due to shoe-
bites. There were 9 cases of dracunculus ; these occurred in men who had joined from
furlough or in recruits from the Punjaub. Guineaworm is seldom seen in Sind. One case of
guineaworm in a recruit just joined from the Punjaub caused most serious mischief. The
man, aged about 21, in good health, was admitted into hospital on the 10th October 1876
with a guineaworm which pointed on the outer side of left knee. On admission the knee was
much swollen, and there was a good deal of constitutional disturbance. I managed to extract
a portion of the parasite, but the young fellow in trying extraction himself after I had left
hospital broke the worm. In a few days the knee and upper part of thigh swelled a good
deal, and abcesses formed, which were opened ; these did not appear to heal, and constitutional
disturbance continued. After a time a sinus was noticed leading to the joint, and dead bone
was detected, as a good portion of the shaft of the femur was also diseased and the patient
was rapidly loosing flesh, there being no chance of saving life. After a consultation and with
consent of the patient I amputated the thigh at middle, by the circular method, on the
18th December 1876. After a few days he commenced improving, and at the end of the
month was doing well. In the treatment of the other few cases of guineaworm I did no-
thing but try gradual extraction. In one or two instances the worm did break, but there was
no particular disturbance.
In this case the worm must have been pretty near the joint, if not in the joint itself,
and its unfortunate rupture led to the formation of abscesses in the joint and along the shaft
of the femur : this causing the death of bone in a scrofulous constitution.
There were 5 deaths, one from each of the following diseases :—Pneumonia, phthisis,
bronchitis, dysentery, and enteritis. None of these require special remark. Twenty-four
men were invalided during the year, 23 at the annual committee, and 1 at a special board.
They were invalided for the following diseases :—4 malarious fever, 1 scrofula, 3 chronic
rheumatism, 1 syphilis, 2 disease of the eye, 13 debility and old age. Malarious poisoning,
influence of cold on delicate constitutions, errors in diet, and, in the case of recruits, insuffi-
cient food were the principal causes of sickness. The deaths were due to chest and bowel
affections, and occurred chiefly in cold weather. All deaths occurred in Mahomedans.
10. None. There have been a few cases of small-pox in
Epidemics.
the station, but none in the regiment.
11. Carefully attended to : there were 40 primary and 178
Vaccination.
re-vaccinations.
12. The men are in excellent health and physique. As
General health.
the regiment is allowed to recruit from the Punjaub we have a
very superior class of men.
13. The health of the regiment during the year may be
Resume of the whole.
considered satisfactory.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL F. G. JOYNT, M.D.
The sanitary condition of the lines is good, and the accommodation is sufficient. The
water is far from pure. The hospital, visited December 4th, 1876, is in good repair, is suffi-
ciently roomy for its requirements, and. is kept clean. Ventilation is good. Vaccination has
been carefully attended to.
H. M.'s 27th or 1st Belooch Regiment N. I.
HYDERABAD.—In medical charge of Surgeon S. B. HALIDAY ; strength, 655.
1. The regiment has been stationed in Hyderabad during
Location and movement of the entire year.
corps.
2. This was fully described last year. The surface drainage (consisting of rainfall)
of the portion of the cantonment occupied by the officers'
Water-supply,
bungalows, flows into the tank, which acts as a reservoir to