105
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
readily recover health, vigor and stamina in a climate such as Neemuch. I am of opinion,
that the troops, after being quartered for two years at Mehidpore, should equally with those
from Aden be sent to a good, healthy and non-malarious station. I would, therefore, again
strongly recommend that no troops, in future, be allowed to remain beyond two years,
under any consideration, in that (more especially for natives) highly malarious locality,
which, despite every sanitary effort made in the direction of general surface drainage,
roads, lines, food, water, removal of over vegetation, &c., it must be said continues still a
very focus and hotbed of malarial disease; and I would respectfully add, that should Govern
-ment feel it requisite to retain the station as a permanency, that the present lines should,
without hesitation, be removed to a better chosen and more elevated site, adjoining the old
Cavalry lines, which in every respect seem comparatively good, healthy, and more eligible
for a camp, and where open, raised, and healthy ground is available, with deep and good wells
already provided, the water of which seems to be both good, potable and much more abun-
dant than that of the lines. On this site a few of the Irregular Cavalry are always stationed,
and I find they seldom or never complain of fever, and seem to enjoy and speak highly of
the salubrity of the place comparatively with that of the present low-lying Infantry lines,
situated close to and between the main nullah and river Seepra, which, during heavy rains,
is liable to overflow, swamping the parade-ground, lines, and officers' quarters. This year,
the married people and families had to vacate the lines, as a precautionary measure, and
seek, by boats, a hasty shelter outside the cantonment or elsewhere.
The general total number of cases treated during the past year was 1,096; of these 22
remained from the year 1875. 1,074 were admitted; 3 died, 1,012 were discharged to duty, 34
were discharged in column "otherwise,” 17 were transferred to Agar in February and March
with the relieving detachment, and 30 were remaining in hospital at the close of the year.
Of the 34 men discharged "otherwise," 18 were hospital cases invalided, 8 were sent on sick
certificate, and 8 men were detained in hospital at Mehidpore, being unable to march, viz.,
4 ague, 1 remittent fever, 2 ulcers, 1 lumbago; these latter have since rejoined. Besides
the above, there were 4 cases of minor surgical operations, viz., one reduction of in
-guinal hernia and the radical cure of hydrocele; these 4 cases occurred to 2 individuals oper-
ated on twice in succession. The largest number
of admissions and treated, as usual, appears
under the head of general diseases, especially ague 720 and remittent fever 14, giving a
ratio of 194 per cent of treated to average strength. Nine cases of chicken-pox are recorded, viz.,
7 in April and 2 in June, with 21 cases of mumps occurring chiefly both during and after S.
W. monsoons, and due, in a great measure, to the depressing effects of climate with cold, damp,
and general debility combined; 16 cases of rheumatism, of which 3 were acute, caused in the
rains by cold, damp, and over exposure at night. Ten cases of lumbago are recorded, chiefly
occurring during the rains from similar causes, together with general debility combined;
most of the above cases were mild and amenable to ordinary treatment, with the exception
of one man, who had to be invalided, from liability to frequent attacks of this disease. Fifteen
cases of soft chancre and 4 of secondary syphilis were treated, giving the large ratio of
5 per cent to average strength; all were contracted in the adjoining filthy large native town,
where syphilitic disease, in its various forms, is rampant, and seems to reign uncontrolled
in the absence of a lock hospital or other medical institution. One case of true
leprosy, admitted in December 1875, was invalided in March after 17 years' service; 5 cases of
scorbutus are recorded, apparently the result of climate and malaria, together probably
with indifferent food, clothing, and other imperfect hygienic conditions; they were all, how
-ever, mild in character, attended with some congestion and sponginess of gums and general
debility, but all were, in due course, discharged to duty. The case of dementia occurred
to a short-service man, having only 10 years' service; he was invalided by special committee
and discharged the service with a gratuity. Under diseases of the respiratory system were
12 of bronchitis, of whom 6 were invalided and 6 discharged to duty; 3 of asthma, of whom
1 died, 1 invalided, and 1 returned to duty. There were 4 cases of bronchial catarrh,
which were treated and duly discharged to duty. Most, if not all, of the above affections of the
lungs were either caused or aggravated by the persistent effects of malaria in constitu-
tions already debilitated from constant attacks of ague, together with the cold, damp and
general discomforts incidental to the rains in that unhealthy locality. One case of pleu
-rodynia accompanied with chroinc dyspepsia was treated; but when somewhat improved
had ultimately, owing to extreme general debility and suffering, to be sent on medical
certificate for 12 months to his native climate, Madras.
Of dysentery 10 cases are recorded, due chiefly to repeated attacks of ague and pro
-bably some malarial cachexia. Most of these cases were severe and protracted; 9 were
discharged to duty, and 1 sent on sick certificate to the Konkan. The treatment chiefly
consisted in gs. xv . ipecacuanha moderated by ms. x. tinct. opii, sinapisms to
epigastrium, fomentations, and an occasional dose of pulvis creta aromatic, with or
without opium. The case of h e r n i a i n g u i n a l , o w i n g t o a b n o r m a l l y p a t u l u s r i n g , t o g e t h e r
B 1 9 6 — 2 7