65
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
treated in the same building. It is expected, however, that the new European hospital will
be soon ready, so that the Native one, which has been diverted from its legitimate purpose,
may be set free for the reception of the sick of the Native wing.
As before remarked, the building was not at all times sufficiently roomy for the accomo
-
dation of the sick of both regiments. The larger ward, which
is allotted to the 1st Regiment, is capable of accommodating 22,
and the smaller ward, which is reserved for the wing, 12. There is one small room, which is
usually occupied by females or cases requiring isolation.
Accomodation and defects.
Improvements.
The dead-house, which was asked for by my predecessor
is now completed.
A separate building at some distance from the hospital for the isolation and treatment
of contagious and infectious cases, and a female ward, are great
desiderata. Privies and cook-houses are also required for the
hospital assistants.
The hospital latrine is conveniently near and well ventilated; at my suggestion it has been
partitioned into 5 compartments, the central one having 3 seats
,
two on either side 2 seats, and the two corner ones, 1 seat each
—
9 in all; this was done in consequence of the men complaining of want of privacy. Eve
r y
attention was paid to cleanliness; disinfectants and dry-earth were freely used, and the night
-
soil carried away and deposited in trenches 2 miles off.
The water-supply of the hospital is from a well just outside the compound, and is good
and abundant. A suggestion was made to store the water for
daily use in a water-cask instead of a badlah, but it fell through
o n a c c o u n t o f c a s t e o b j e c t i o n s .
15. The total number of cases treated in hospital was 846, against 798 in 1875, of which
18 remained from the previous year; the total number discharged
was 743 to duty, and 75 otherwise; the total number of deaths
was 11 in hospital, and 1 in the lines in February, that of a
sepoy who put his gun to his mouth and blew the top of his skull away. Sixteen men were sent
away for change, and 62 invalided. None were discharged by court-martial or otherwise.
The average daily sick was 28.79, against 24.6.
The percentage of treated to strength, 128.18, against 126.77.
The percentage of deaths to strength, 1.67, against 0.48.
The percentage of deaths to treated, 1.50, against 0.38.
The percentage of daily average of sick to strength, 4.36, against 3.91.
The above figures contrast unfavourably with those of last year, the difference being pro
-
bably due to this climate being hotter and more malarious than that of Poona.
Distinct small-pox of a mild form made its appearance on 20th March among the regi
-
mental followers, and all the instructions laid down in para. 10
of G. O. C. No. 239, dated 25th March 1863, were fully and care
-
fully carried out, and a site for the treatment of this, and any other cases that might occur,
was selected by me in conjunction with Surgeon-Major McGrath, R.A. Two more cases of a
confluent type occurred soon after among the followers, but all three recovered, and the slight
outbreak ceased, the tent which had been used for them being destroyed in my presence.
The disease was probably imported along the line of rail from Bombay, where it was then
epidemic. The three cases bore marks of vaccination.
I had previously commenced re-vaccination of the officers, men, and families of the re
-
giment, and in a short time all who had not been re-vaccinated during the last five years were
thus protected; a similar precaution was adopted in the case of those who returned from leave
Ague of a mild type was the principal cause of admission into hospital, 400 in all having
been treated. The disease, as a rule, readily yielded to 10
grain doses of quinine internally in the more severe cases, and
2-grain doses, subcutaneously administered, in the milder, the solution of the neutral sul
-
phate being used for the latter. Ague was very prevalent during, and just after, the rains,
then abated for a month or so, but towards the end of October became again very prevalent,
so much so, indeed, that I wrote in recommending various sanitary measures.
Five cases only are shown, but several admitted under ague assumed later the remittent
form, and a few ran into continued. Three deaths occurred
from remittent fever, in two instances complicated with
pneumonia, and in one with cerebral effusion. All these cases were of a very low type calling
for decided stimulating treatment.
B 1 9 6 — 1 7
Requirements.
Conservancy.
Water-supply of the hospital.
Sickness, mortality, and invalid-
ing.
Small-pox.
Ague.
Remittent fever.