Location and movements of
corps.
Detachments.
107
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
19. The treatment with cinchonidine has not been a success. This drug appears
unfit to grapple with the confirmed local miasmatic fevers. In
mild cases it has been found occasionally useful, but more
particularly as a tonic or an adjunct to the febrifuge action
of quinine. The hypodermic injection of 5-grain doses of neutral sulphate quinine,
dissolved in water with citric acid, and carefully filtered, was found almost in every case
successful both at Mehidpore and Neemuch. This injection was only used in those cases
where the use of quinine in 3 ten-grain doses up to 30 grains and over daily was found in
-effectual. The bromide of potassium was administered with marked effect to a patient
long suffering from jaundice and intense pain with violent tetanic-like spasms (opistho
-tenos), apparently the result of the passage of a gall stone. The spasms seemed effectually
controlled by the action of the remedy, given in full doses gr. xv.
20. From the foregoing it will be seen that the general health and sanitary state
of the head-quarters while at Mehidpore was most unsa
-tisfactory,—conditions due, more or less, to a protracted stay in
a highly malarious and unhealthy climate; that the accommodation in the hospital has been
improved by the addition of another building, but that overcrowding, especially in the
rains, still exists; that there were no epidemics, and that vaccination and re-vaccination
have been successfully carried out during the year.
21. The medical pupils are daily instructed in the uses, doses, and therapeutic appli
-cation of medicines; in writing, copying, and framing returns,
and in the general routine duties of the hospital. The present
lads have only recently joined. The former medical pupil, Gumbeer Sing, General Number
712 (being declared fit), was sent to the Grant Medical College, Bombay, in October last.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL D. WYLLIE, M.D.
Health has been most unsatisfactory, the percentage of treated to strength (289.95)
being nearly double that of any other corps,—a matter referrible to lengthened residence in
the very malarious cantonment of Mehidpore, and to the extreme frequency of ague concur
-rently resulting; mortality, however, was exceptionally low, and confined to 3 casualties for
the year. Since arrival on 7th November, sickness has mainly abated; but some time, I ap
-prehend, will be required to restore a fair standard of health. Of local insanitary influences
at Mehidpore the more notable are lowness of site, bad drainage, bad water, and dearness of
the staple food (bájri) of the Bombay sepoy. The lines are fairly average, with plinths; and
proper ventilation is feasible, as they are not back to back. Dr. O'Kearney refers to the old
Cavalry lines as being healthy and eligible as a site. I have not seen them, but consider
that data on this subject might be desirable. The Neemuch lines are inferior, and duties at
present heavy; but in all other sanitary surroundings, as in climate, the regiment greatly
profits by the change. The Mehidpore hospital is insufficient in accommodation. That at
Neemuch adequate, but deficient in supplementary buildings. At my visit (November 28th)
I found the wall ventilation excessive, and complained of; this defect has since been reme-
died, and the floor lateral ventilation is now under control; all else was satisfactory: vacci
-nation was duly carried out among the men and families.
H. M.'s 3rd Queen's Own Regiment L. C.
NEEMUCH.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major C. J. F. MACDOWALL;—strength, 324.4.
Treatment of diseases when spe-cial.
Resumé of the whole.
Instruction of medical pupils.
1. The whole regiment marched to Delhi on the 9th of
November from Neemuch, and was very healthy during the
march.
2. No change since last year. There is a squadron at
Nusseerabad.