Vaccination and re-vaccination.
General health and physique of
men.
24
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
22. Of the total number of admissions into hospital malarious fevers figure conspieuously,
ague furnishing 631, and remittent fever 7—in all 638; the
greatest number of admissions per individual month being in
April, viz., 109; this figure is far in excess of that of the previous year. Only 3 cases of acute
rheumatism were admitted during the year. Of chronic rheumatism and lumbago the
admissions were more numerous, 47 of the former, and 18 of the latter. Under the heading
"Venereal Diseases" 40 cases were admitted; this figure is less than that of the previous year
by 2 per cent. of strength. The total number admitted with diseases of respiratory system was
104, of which admissions from catarrh constituted 83, bronchitis 11, pleuritis 7, and pneumo
-nitis 3. The total number of diseases of digestive system was 90, diarrhœa constituting 22,
dyspepsia 20, and dysentery and colic 14 each. Under the head of "injuries" will be found
the large number, 199, the origin of the greater number of which is to be attributed to causes
connected with the construction of the new lines. This figure, however, is much less than that
quoted in last year's annual report of this hospital.
23. One case of cholera occurred towards the end of October. Collapse soon set in after
admission; subcutaneous injections of æther were resorted to
with the best results, the patient rallying after each injection,
and, finally, recovery was complete. Small-pox of a very mild type appeared in the month of
January and continued till April, when it ceased, and again appeared in December. Seven
-teen cases in all were treated, 15 of which were discharged cured, and 2 are under treat
-ment at present. In all cases marks either of vaccination or inoculation were apparent.
Causes of sickness.
Epidemics.
24. This has been strictly attended to during the past
year.
25. From my short experience of this regiment I have
nothing further to add to what Dr. Sexton has already stated
in previous reports.
26. In reference to the treatment of malarious fevers with sulphate of cinchonidine,
from the short experience I have had of such diseases, I am
led to infer that in certain forms of the fever cinchonidine is
effectual. I allude to what might be called acute cases of inter
-mittent fever, i.e., when the disease does not exhibit a tendency to run on for any consider
-able period. On the other hand, when the disease occurs in individuals whose constitution
has been weakened by age, frequent attacks of fever or other diseases, and the fever appears to
have taken a deeper root in the system; in such cases I think quinine is the more useful medi
-cine.
Treatment of diseases when
special.
Instructions.
27. Clinical instruction is daily given to the subordinate
medical staff of the hospital.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL T. BEATTY, M.D.
The high rate of sickness noticed in the last report had continued during the past year.
The strength of the corps remained in both years, 1875 and 1876, 690. During the past
year the total number of admissions into hospital was 1,311, compared with 1,381 in 1875.
It may, I consider, be fairly assumed that the constant fatigue which the men have under-
gone in building the lines, the insufficiency of food commensurate with the labour gone
through, aided by climate, have all been instrumental in keeping up the high rates of sickness
in this regiment. Two casualties occurred, and 58 men were invalided.
The same remarks, which have been made with reference to clay-washing the floors of the
staff hospital, are applicable to this.
The necessity for a contagious ward still exists.
H. M.'s 26th Regiment Bombay N. I.
POONA.—In medical charge of Surgeon W. MCCONAGHY; strength 598.
During the year the regiment has been stationed at Poona. It arrived on the 15th of
December 1875 from Bombay, where it had been quartered for
some weeks during the visit of His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales. For the first four months of the year the general health of the regiment
was only reported fair, as ague was more or less prevalent. However, this was to be expected,
owing to residence, for the nine previous years, in Baroda, Nusseerabad, and Surat,—stations
where all troops are subject to malarious disease. From May the general health of the men began.
to improve, and though still a number of them were liable to attacks of ague on slight exciting
causes, yet the physique and general appearance have considerably improved since their resi -
Location.