NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
In spite of police and commissariat precautions, unhealthy milk, from foul-feeding
cattle was, or might have been, an item in the etiology of the outbreak. The men, however, it
was said, used chiefly goat's milk. Certain it is, however, also, that the regiment, which is
the subject of this report, escaped the epidemic (which raged close by) with only the occurrence
of some cases of feverish diarrhœa. Luckily we had (two years ago) removed some masonry
latrines which were close up to the Cavalry lines and to the Royal Artillery, or the fever
might have been attributed to them.
13. Thirteen men were vaccinated and 5 re-vaccinated, as during the last few years
and since the visitation of 1873 every man has been reprotected.
14. The general health has been excellent, but the physique of the men, since only a
small percentage of up-country recruits almost are allowed, has
visibly deteriorated.
15. A liver abscess was twice evacuated (with Dieulafoy's Pneumatic Aspirator) by me.
The man, a follower, ultimately died after 3 weeks, when I was
confined to bed with guinea-worm. Another large abscess was
found posteriorly, as also multiple abscesses scattered through
the whole parenchyma. Amongst the followers also a sequestrum was removed from the
lower jaw; a large varix (aneurismal) inside the cheek was with difficulty tied, on three
occasions, through its broad base and much diminished size, the facial artery being at the
same time ligatured. Numerous sword cuts, fractures, and bullet wounds were also treated
by me. Coroner's inquests had to be frequently attended also during the year. The above,
combined with my duties as sanitary officer for the cantonment and as staff surgeon, includ
-ing the arsenal and commissariat charges, must be my excuse for the hurried appearance of my
report, which has, moreover, been hastily written under canvas at Delhi.
Vaccination.
General health and physique.
Treatment of disease when spe
-cial.
Special observations.
16. The immunity of the regiment from the epidemic
of typhoid above noted, was remarkable.
17. In conclusion, it may be said that many sanitary reforms have been proposed and
carried out this year in the cantonment, as well as, or in addition
to, the commencement of larger schemes of drainage, &c. (recom
-mended by me as sanitary officer for some years past), directly affecting the troops. The
regiment has profited by the general sanitary improvements (but the huts and their small
courtyard need to be much enlarged). It has, however, been healthy. Diarrhœa and dy
-sentery showed some increase in frequency. New masonry latrines, neither so close to the
lines as the old condemned ones, nor so far off as the present buildings, but somewhere on
the ground now occupied by the Royal Artillery, (when these last shall move into their new
barracks) are recommended earnestly, as the men have scarcely time to reach the present
privies before accoutring themselves and horses for parade. The nature of the rocky soil
precludes the possibility of earth trenches. With regard to the thermometric and barometric
range, there was scarcely any difference between this and last year's. The rainfall also, as
pointed out, was the same. It has been remarked above, that the regiment was very healthy
during the march to Delhi. Soon after entering the sandy district beyond Nusseerabad, cases
of dysentery began to occur, and, since the arrival at Delhi, increased in number. As fever
was not common, it becomes a question (possibly a fanciful one) whether, as malaria was not
marked, the enormous quantities of silicious dust (under the microscope are seen needle-like
and angular particles) swallowed with the food and saliva on very windy days, does not play
to some extent a role in the causation of some forms of diarrhœa and dysentery. These
have ever been essentially diseases of camp life and out-door cooking. Early in my service
I noticed the occurrence of dysenteric diarrhœa when marching with Europeans through a
quartz district and when the winds were high. The whole theory bears, however, as I hasten
to confess, an air of being far fetched. It cannot apply to all forms of dysentery, and, save
as pointing to precautions in sheltering camp cooking-houses and utensils, is of little practical
import. A general tendency to relaxation or rather irritation of the intestinal and other
mucus membranes* has prevailed both amongst officers and men of the regiment without
their going on the sick list since we entered the district of finely disintegrated quartz, &c.,
&c., &c. This is a fact which is incontestable. Larger courtyards to the married men's huts
I look upon as the most important desideratum in the lines. Such courtyards are necessary
for the purdah females, it appears,† and nothing but size can make them sanitary. The re
-giment has been not unhealthy, it is true; but fever showed a tendency to be accompanied
with looseness of the bowels and to assume a continued type. The sickness and mortality
amongst the women and children are greater, and typhoid fever broke out closeby. Next to
the enlargement of the courtyards the raising of the flooring of the huts is an important, if
indeed it be not a more important, measure yet to be carried out.
Resumé.
* Upwards of a hundred cases.
† For bathing, &c.