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A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
20. Looking at the previous history of this regiment, and the present condition of the
men, I do not think a prolonged residence in this climate advis
-
able. The regiment is largely tainted with scurvy. That they
are not a healthy-looking corps, has been a subject of frequent comment on the part of those
qualified to give an opinion. I have noticed, too, that severe cases either sink rapidly, or, if
they rally, convalesce very slowly.
The lines are spacious, and well laid out, and. with huts better than at most places, but
still the site is old. Malarious fever has prevailed. to a great extent among the men, and
cholera, which appears to be an annual scourge, carried. off 2 men in the regiment (and
7 persons in the wing). It may, therefore, be worth considering whether the present site is
not unhealthy, and a new one desirable.
I have made many sanitary suggestions during the year; amongst others to raise the
floors of the huts, to improve surface drainage, to search for and fill up old cess-pools—one
having been found under a bathing stone near a hut in which cholera occurred, &c., some of
which have been acted on, and others probably will be in time.
The cultivation of a vegetable garden, I think, would be advantageous.
Clothing, in my opinion, requires modification in almost every particular to render the
men more efficient, if sent on service.
The duties seem to me almost too heavy for the strength of the troops located here; the
men who furnish the city guards have to march three miles, and several have come into
hospital from this duty.
Although the hospital is well situated and is a good substantial building, still it is not
sufficiently roomy for the sick of the regiment and wing; therefore, the sooner the other
Native hospital now appropriated for the use of Europeans is given back, the better, as over
-
crowding occurred during the year. I hope, also, that a building, a little distance off, for
infectious cases and a female ward may be sanctioned.
The sickness, as in past years, has been raised by cholera, and there have been many
cases of malarious fever and malarious ophthalmia.
Invaliding was heavy; 62, out of 71 taken before the invaliding committee, having been
pronounced unfit. It was necessary to weed the troops; but, I regret to say, another large
batch remains to be got rid of.
When small-pox was raging at Bombay I re-vaccinated the whole regiment—officers,
men, and families; and I am happy to state that, although the disease reached this place, only
3 cases occurred in the lines, and they recovered.
Resumé of the whole.
Instruction.
21. Has been regularly given to the pupils, and the medical
subordinates have taken an interest in my daily remarks on
disease and its treatment.
In conclusion, I beg to state that 3rd class hospital assistant Gopal Rao Sinday has done
his duties satisfactorily, and takes every opportunity of improving himself.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL D. WYLLIE, M.D.
This regiment, which has just completed a year in Guzerat, has not had more than an
ordinary proportion of hospital admissions, but mortality has been relatively high (cholera,
however, contributing), and invaliding far in excess of average, consequent on numbers of the
men being prematurely broken down from the effects of scurvy, ascribed chiefly to former
residence at Aden. Lines and remediable health surroundings all satisfactory. Hospital
accommodation proved inadequate in autumn, when tents were required, owing to the sick of the
13th Regiment Native Infantry occupying one of its two wards, the hospital of that corps being
in temporary possession by the Royal Artillery. Vaccination was exhaustively carried out,
both among men and families. The jail guard-room, complained of at paragraph 10 of the
report, is a recent adoption; its ventilation will, as far as practicable, be remedied immediately.
As respects the large number of 61 invalids, it may be remarked that on the assumption of
a Native soldier's service being on a mean equal to 20 years, which at present is, perhaps,
rather above than below the fact, I find, on referring to the records of lapses in the corps by
i nval i di ng, deat h, di scharge, and desert i on duri ng t he previ ous ei ght years, t hat t he number
under the first of these heads has been materially below average, and that the excess now
referred. to only restores an ordinary mean on the above premise.