NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
138
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
The physical geography of the district would indicate the occasional, if not the frequent,
occurrence of thunderstorms, and the site suggests malarious fever of a severe type on
the subsidence of inundations. On these points, as also on the thermal range, rain-fall, and
prevailing winds, sufficient information is not available—any records there are, not extending
over a period of twelve months.
The soil is sandy, impregnated with salts, so as to present, after rain, extensive patches
of saline efflorescence. It exhibits also the baked glazed appearance of a level tract period-
ically inundated. There is little or no vegetation. Its water-supply, of fair quality, is
plentiful, derived from the river Nara, which runs near, and is said to be perennial. It
appears to overflow its banks annually. Forage and general supplies from the adjacent
country are said to be ample. The village of Mittree, a mud structure, is within a short
distance of the encampment, but on somewhat higher ground. The tract does not appear
capable of drainage during the period of inundation, and suffers, it is said, so intense a heat
during the hot season as to induce the very natives to emigrate to the adjacent hills for
shelter.
On sanitary and climatic grounds it is, in my opinion, unsuitable as a site for a per-
manent camp.
S u m m a r y o f t h e S t a t i s t i c s f o r t h e Y e a r 1 8 7 6 a n d 6 p r e v i o u s y e a r s .
1 4 4 A S K E T C H O F T H E M E D I C A L h I S T O R Y O F T H E N A T I V E A R M Y O F B O M B A Y .
Years.
Average
Daily
Strength.
Admissions
into
Hospitals.
Ratio per
Cent. of
Admissions
to Average
Strength.
Mean of all.
Average
Daily Sick
per Cent.
to Average
Strength.
Mean of all.
Deaths in
Hospital.
Ratio of
Deaths in
Hospital
per cent.
to Average
Strength.
Ratio of
Deaths in
Hospital
per cent.
to Admis-
sions.
D e a t h s
out of
H o s p i t a l
and on
Leave.
Total
Deaths out
of the
Average
.
Strength in
the year.
Ratio per
Cent. of Total
Deaths to the
Average
Strength.
Ratio per
Cent. to
Strength of
Hindus who
died in and
out of
Hospital and
on Leave.
Ratio per
Cent. to
Strength of
Mahomedans
who died in
and out of
Hospital and
on Leave.
Ratio per
Cent. to
Strength in-
valided for
d i s c h a r g e o f
the Service.
Ratio per
Cent. to
Strength in-
valided for
change of
Climate.
1876 ... 22,583.3 26,918 119.2
3.79
2 4 7
1 . 0 9
0 . 9 0
4 9
2 9 6
1 . 3 1
1 . 1 4
1 . 5 7
4.27
2.17
1875 ... 22,819 25,475 111.63
3.38
2 1 3
0 . 9 3
0 . 8 3
6 6
2 7 9
1 . 2 2
1 . 3 0
1 . 1 8
4.27
1.83
1874 ... 22,750 26,601 116.92
3.67
176
0 . 7 7
0 . 6 6
7 2
2 4 8
1.09
0. 99
1 . 1 2
4.60
1.73
1873 ... 22,967 29,035 126.86
3.82
1 6 5
0 . 7 1
0 . 5 6
8 1
2 4 6
1.07
...
. . .
4.35
2.11
1872 ... 22,903 36,209 158.09
4.54
2 2 6
0.98
0.62
9 5
3 2 1
1 . 4 0
3.98
2.13
1871 ... 22,959
29,733 129.50
4.31
236
1 . 0 3
0 . 7 9
9 7
3 3 3
1 . 4 5
3.12
2.10
1870 ... 22,715 28,380 139.08
4.33
1 9 1
0 . 8 4
0 . 6 8
9 5
2 8 6
1 . 2 6
3.71
2.33
B 1 9 6 —3 8
APPENDIX II.
RETURN showing the Admissions and Deaths, &c., amongst the Native Troops of the Bombay Presidency at the several Stations
for the Year 1876 compared with 1875.
1876.
1875.
D i v i s i o n .
Regiment.
Station.
Average
Strength.
Average
Daily Sick.
Admis -
sions.
Deaths
i
n
Hospital.
Regiment.
Station.
Average
Strength.
Average
Daily Sick.
Admis-
sions.
Deaths
in
Hospital.
P r e s i d e n c y D i v i s i o n , A d e n a n d B o m b a y M a r i n e . Detachment 4th Regt. N. I. Bombay
... 136.0
5.6
100
2 Detachment 4th Regt. N. I. Bombay
...
141.5
6.3
133
2
20th Regiment N. I.
...
Do.
... 594.5
42.7
722
13 20th Regiment N. I.
. . .
Do.
... 621.7
29.3
624
9
21st
do.
...
Do.
. . . 568.5
12.5
283
3 21st
do.
. . .
Do.
... 586.0
17.4
371
5
Right Wing 7th Regt. N. I. Tauna
... 276.0
4.2
171
2 Right Wing 7th Regt. N. I. Tanna
...
301.0
8.2
267
5
17th Regiment N. I.
... Surat
... 631.6
35.0 1,194
15 26th Regiment N. I.
... Surat . . .
614.0
34.4 1,240
11
Detachment 20th Regt. N.I. Janjira
...
17.0
0.1
6
...
Detachment 20th Regt.N. I. Jaujira . . .
17.0
1.4
8
...
Do. 21st do. ... Bushire
...
16.0
0.7
18
...
Do. 21st do. ... Bushire . . .
16.0
0.4
37
1
Do.
do. ... Bassadore
...
12.0
2.7
198
...
Do.
do. ... Bassadore ...
12.0
2.0
155
...
Do.
do. ... On board the
Do.
do. ... On board the
Steamer "Dal-
housie"
...
8.0
0.2
10
...
Steamer "Dal-
housie "
...
8.0
0.3
14
...
Do.
do. ... On board the
"Magdala" ...
8.0
...
...
...
Do.
do. ... On board the
"Magdala" ...
8.0
. . .
. . .
. . .
Do.
do. ... On board the
"Abyssinia" ..
8.0
...
2
...
Do.
do. ... On board the
"Abyssinia"...
8.0
. . .
. . .
Do.
do. ... On board the
"Hugh Rose".
9.1
0.9
3
...
Do.
do. ... On board the
"Hugh Rose".
10.0
0.2
14
...
Do.
do .... On board the
" Quangtung."
8.0
. . .
. . .
..
.
Do.
do. ... On board the
"Quangtung".
8.0
0.3
9
. . .
Details attached to 21st
Regiment N. I.
... Bombay
...
28.0
1.9
16
5
Details attached to 21st
Regiment N. I.
... Bombay
...
35.0
2.5
32
1
6th Regiment N. I.
... Aden
... 642.6
14.3
425
4 2nd Gr. Regiment N. I. ... Aden
... 592.0
13.5
363
1
4th and 5th Co. Sappers
and Miners ...
... Do.
... 104.2
2.2
48
...
5th Co. Sappers and Miners. Do.
...
97.0
1.5
46
...
Aden Troop ...
... Khor Mucksa...
89.5
6.1
158
1 Aden Troop ...
... Khor Mucksa,
Detachment 6th Regt. N. I. Perim
...
50.0
0.3
9
...
Detachment 2nd Gr. Regi- Aden
...
90.7
5.5
188
...
ment N. I. ...
... Perim
...
45.8
1.1
21
...
2nd Co. Native Artillery .. Aden
...
66.8
1.1
29
1
Detachment 21st Regt. N. I. Bagdad
...
10.0
. . .
. .
. . .
Total,.. 3,207.0
128.7 3,363
4
.
Total ... 3,288.5
125.4 3,551
36
APPENDIX
Squadron 1st Regt. N. L. C. Baroda
...
144. 8
6.6
205
...
Squadron 1st Regt. N. L. C. Baroda
...
158.1
6.6
233
. . .
N o r t h e r n
9th Regiment N. I.
...
Do.
...
662.0
11.9
452
2 9th Regiment N. I.
... Do.
...
648.3
15.6
481
11
22nd
do.
...
...
Do.
...
647.6
22.1
634
6 22nd
do.
... Do.
...
662.2
26.8
977
9
Detach. 1st Regiment N. I.. Sadra ...
...
33.0
0.5
33
...
Detach. 18th Regiment N. I. Sadra
...
41.8
0.4
39 ...
Detach. 13th
do.
Do.
...
16.0
0.3
16
...
10th Regiment N. I.
... Mehidpur
...
361.0
24.3
858
25
10th Regiment N. I.
Mehidpur
...
378 .0
33.2 1,074
3 Detach. 10th
do.
Angar...
...
223 .3
15.4
392 ...
Wing 10th Regiment N. I. Augar
...
243.0
14.9
360
2 Detach. 7th
do.
... Dwárka
...
80 . 7
2.8
115 ...
Detach. 28th
do.
... Dwárka
...
83 . 9
3.3
114 ...
Detach. 28th
do.
... Barda Choky ...
87.9
7.7
283
5
Detach. 7th
do.
...
Detach. 23rd and 25th Regi-
Barda Choky ...
67.2
7.4
261
1 Detach. 16th and 25th Regi-
ments N. I,
..,
... Indore
. . .
217.9
6.0
275
1
ment N. L
...
... Indore
..
224 . 6
6.0
209 ...
Total... 8,937.3
365.5 11,177
68
Total ... 8,547.1
318.2 10,714 105
S i n d D i s t i c t .
29th Regiment N. I ,
... Kurrachee
... 6 2 7.2
18.0
597
5 29th Regiment N. I.
... Kurrachee ...
627.8
20.8
538
4
27th
do.
... Hyderabad ...
655.0
38.0
900
7 27th
do.
... Hyderabad
. . . 679.0
27.8
629
2
30th
do.
... Jacobabad ...
577.9
34.8
1,438
42 30th
do.
. . . Jacobabad
. . . 583.2
25.9
829
13
1st Sind Horse ...
...
Do.
...
325 . 2
14.3
687
5 1st Sind Horse
...
Do.
...
304.5
10.1
570
6
2nd
do.
...
...
Do.
...
340 . 0
11.8
399
2 2nd
do.
...
Do.
... 287.0
9.6
334
3
3rd
do.
...
...
Do.
...
369 . 7
17.7
809
21 3rd
do.
...
Do.
...
356 .0
101
703
4
2nd Co. Native Artillery ...
Do.
...
95.4
7.6
299
10
Total ... 2,990.4
142.2
5,129
92
Total ... 2,837.5
104.9 3,603
32
Grand Total ... 22,583.3
856 . 8 26,918 247
Grand Total ... 22,819.0
772.7 25,475 213
APPENDI X I I .
148
149
APPENDIX III.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT showing the Health of the Native Troops in the Four Divisions of the Bombay Presidency.
1876.
1875.
Averag e
Strength. Admissions. Deaths.
Average
Daily
Sick.
Ratio per
Cent. o f
Admissions
to Averag
Strength.
Ratio of Deaths
per Cent.
Average
Dail
y
Sick per
Cent. to
Average
Strength
Average
Strength.
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Average
Daily
Sick.
Ratio per
Cent. of
Admissions
to Average
Strength.
Ratio of Deaths
per Cent.
Average
Daily Sick
per Cent.
to Average
Strength.
In Hospital.
In Hospital.
To Ad-
missions.
To
Strength.
To Ad-
missions.
To
Strength
Presidency
Division.
Bombay circle.
2,320.7
2,723
40 105.8 117.3
1.4
1.6
4.5 2,396.2 2,904
34 102.7 125.4
1.2
1.4
4.3
Aden
... 886.3
640
5
22.9
72.2
0.7
0.5
2.5
892.3
647
2
221
72.5
0.3
0.2
2.5
Poona Division ...
... 7,448.6
7,249
42 220.4
97.3
0.5
0.5
2.9 8,145.9 7,607
40 224.2
90.3
0.5
0.4
2.7
Northern Division . . .
... 8,937.3 11,177
68 365.5
125.1
0.6
0.7
4.1 8,547.1 10,714 105 318.2 125.3
0.9
1.2
3.7
Sind Division ...
... 2,990.4
5,129
92 142.2 171.5
1.7
3.1
4.7 2,837.5 3,603
32 104.9
126.9
0.8
1.1
3.6
Total . . . 22,583.3 26,918
247 856.8 119.2
0.9
1.0
3.7 22,819.0 25,475 213 772.7 111.6
0.8
0.9
3.3
A P P E N D I X I I I I .
NCAG-VSI 3/33
Vol. III
1933
THE
Indian Journal of Veterinary Science
AND
Animal Husbandry
Issued under the authority
of
The Imperial Council of Agricultural Research
Published for
The Imperial Council of Agricultural Research
BY
MANAGER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI.
PRINTED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, NE
1935.
Price annas 4 or 5d.
PLATE I.
(× ¾th Natural size)
For explanation see page 26.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
SCHISTOSOMA INDICUM, MONTGOMERY, 1906, AS THE CAUSE
OF A PERSISTENT DEBILITY IN EQUINES IN INDIA,
WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE LESIONS
BY
CAPT. S. C. A. DATTA, B.Sc. M.R.C.V.S.,
Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar.
(Received for publication on 9th November 1932.)
(With Plates I to VI.)
INTRODUCTION.
Apart from cases of hepatic cirrhosis in man, where the ill effects of alcohol or
syphilis can be traced, the pathogenesis of hepatic lesions is largely obscure, but a
perusal of veterinary literature shows that hepatic cirrhosis of the horses has been
described from several parts of the world. The occurrence of what is termed
' Schweinsberger disease ' [ McFadyean, 1889 ] in parts of Germany is known, but
the cause has not yet been ascertained. A form, commonly known as ' Bottom
disease ', has also been described as occurring on the marshy side of the Missouri,
in which a species of Crotalaria (C. sagitlalis) has been incriminated [ Schroeder,
1892 ]. Gilruth [ 1903 ] has described another form as ' Winton disease ' due to
Ragwort poisoning (Senecio jacobca), and an enzootic form of liver cirrhosis, Dun¬
ziekte, has been described from various parts of South Africa, where a similar plant
is considered to be the toxic agent [Hutcheon, 1903, Robertson, 1906, Verney,
1911, and Theiler, 1917 and 1918]. Craig and Kehoe [1921] have recorded the
occurrence of cirrhosis of the liver in the horse in parts of Ireland which has also
been attributed to plant poisoning.
Excepting possibly the cases of Oreste and Ercolani, which will be referred to
below, no records are available, however, from other parts of the world of cases of
liver cirrhosis which resemble in any great degree the peculiar type to be considered
in this paper. Of the many problems which have engaged the Veterinary Scientist
in India, nodulated portal cirrhosis of the horse's liver, associated with intractable
debility, has been one of the most difficult to solve. In first describing the condi-
tion as " Calcareous degenerations in the horse ", Smith [ 1885 ] stated that it had
A 2
PLATE II.
FIG. 1. (× 4)
FIG. 2. (× 32)
For explanation see page 26.
FIG. 3. (× 6)
FIG. 4. (× 3.2)
SCHISTOSOMA INDICUM, MONTGOMERY, IN EQUINES
3
were some which were scarcely visible. Oreste and Ercolani were of opinion that
these nodules contained as a nucleus the ovum of a distoma, but according to
Mazzanti they are produced by the embryos of nematodes carried by the blood."
Another statement of Lingard should be quoted here in connection with the filarial
theory of origin mentioned above:—" No filaria embryos were observed in the
blood during life, and no cutaneous lesions occurred on the body, but calcareous
deposits were found in the parenchyma of the internal organs, especially in the
liver and lungs, post mortem." Again Montgomery [ 1906 ] also encountered small
pearl-like nodules in enlarged livers in all cases of equines from which he collected
S. indicum, but as will be seen later he was inclined to ascribe them to filarial
embryos. In Montgomery's experience at Muktesar, 76.9 per cent. ponies were
infested with schistosomes, but no definite changes, apart from petechial hæmorr-
hages and chronic venous congestion, were detected in the intestines, although 20 or
30 parasites were readily detected.
The condition described in this article is known to be very prevalent amongst
army animals in India, and although figures are not available, it is probably safe
to assume that heavy losses are incurred also by the civil population in India as a
result of this condition, since it is unusual to find the same standard of sanitation,
hygienic conditions of watering, feeding and housing, etc., of equines in the villages
and towns in the various parts of the country compared to that usually obtaining
in military establishments in India. As Lingard [1905] points out, in country-
bred ponies, but poorly fed and working in unhealthy districts, one occasionally
finds at post mortem their livers riddled with concretions so closely set together that
additional nodules could be introduced with difficulty.
As a result of some intensive work recently carried out at this Institute, it is
now possible to record certain definite findings concerning the etiology of this
condition. It will be shown that this peculiar affection of equines in India is a
clinical manifestation of Schistosomiasis, the predilection seat for the deposition of
the ova being the distal portions of the intestinal tract, particularly the large colon
and rectum, and also the liver.
Due to certain unavoidable circumstances, the present studies had to be re-
stricted to such preserved tissues as have been received at this Institute from out-
side since 1921, involving about 60 consignments of specimens which were collected
from about 80 cases. The samples consisted mainly of pieces of liver, though in a
few instances portions of the intestines, portal and mesenteric glands, and lungs
were also included. For the preparation of Plate 1, as an illustration of the typical
macroscopic lesions, some of these small pieces of morbid tissue have been selected
and assembled together.
4 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, I
The complete clinical picture of this condition, from the initial infection to the
final culmination, has yet to be described and it is unfortunate that clinical cases
of the disease were not available at Muktesar prior to the preparation of this
article. Further it has not been possible to undertake a tour to the enzootic areas
for studying the clinical aspects at first hand. In view of the above difficulties, it
seems advisable to reproduce a small number of reports of representative cases, as
supplied by field workers with actual experience of the disease, for the benefit of
readers, and it must be made clear that only such cases have been chosen as have
been confirmed by macroscopic and histological features to be due to schistosome
infection.
CASE REPORT NO. 1.
Two specimens of liver were received from Rawalpindi on 7th February 1922.
The covering letter stated that about twelve months earlier (on 31st January 1921)
the mules and horses which constituted the 17th Pack Battery proceeded to the
Murree Hills and retained good condition up to June. From the moment the rains
set in, however, the animals as a whole fell away rapidly in condition and remained
so in spite of the strictest supervision and veterinary treatment of about 15 of the
very worst cases. The animals retained excellent appetites and were lively through-
out, having exhibited no other symptom excepting debility. A negative reaction
to the Mallein test was obtained and no organisms could be demonstrated in the
blood stream. A post-mortem examination on mule No. 144, destroyed on 30th
January 1922, showed a Habronema tumour in the stomach. Large intestine
contained strongyles and encysted worms in the bowel walls. Liver was apparently
of normal size but was dotted throughout with fibrous nodules. Another animal—
horse No. 16—was destroyed the next day. Post-mortem examination showed
Habronema worms in the stomach. Calcareous nodules varying up to the size of a
pea were found distributed throughout the intestines but these were most abundant
in the rectum. A few calcareous nodules were also seen in the lungs. Liver was
markedly enlarged and cirrhotic, being 50 lbs. in weight. The organ was hard and
unpliable and contained calcareous material. The post-mortem appearances
suggested that the whole battery was infected in the same way. In order to
rid the animals of the common gross parasites of the digestive tract, the use of
carbon disulphide and oil of chenopodium was recommended.
Histological examination carried out then indicated a very intense worm
infestation of recent origin in the first case (mule No. 144) and a more chronic
form of worm infestation in the second case (horse No. 16). It was not possible
to determine the species of the worm but nematodes were suspected as having
SCHISTOSOMA INDICUM, MONTGOMERY, IN EQUINES
5
migrated into the liver probably through the peritoneal cavity, from the stomach or
intestines.
CASE REPORT NO. 2.
Specimens of liver and intestine of a mule destroyed for chronic debility were
received from Mhow on 29th June 1923. Liver was very enlarged and weighed
36 lbs. The consistence was cartilaginous. The nodules in the rectum and large
intestines were thought by the Veterinary Officer in charge of the Hospital to be
due to Habronema megastoma but no habronemic abscess was detected in the
stomach. The laboratory report was as follows:—Two tumour-like growths,
sprinkled on their summits with dark spots of the size of a pinhead, occurred in
the pieces of the intestine. Liver was markedly cirrhotic and the mouths of the
biliary ducts abnormally thickened. The presence of nodules in the peritoneal
surface of the large intestines is not infrequently seen in strongyle infestation of
the large intestines in equines. It is difficult to state to which species the lesions
are due. Gross cirrhotic lesions of the liver, such as are seen in the liver examined,
are known to be due to several species of worms but the species of worm respon-
sible for the condition could not be traced. It seems improbable that Habronema
species cause these lesions, for they are usually confined to the stomach. Besides
the verminous lesion reported, there was very intense infiltration with neutrophile
leucocytes and this appeared to be connected with the presence of large numbers
of organisms. Very large sporulating bacilli were seen but were considered to be
secondary and of little importance.
CASE REPORT NO. 3.
Specimen of liver collected from a mule which died of internal hæmorrhage
was received on 31st July 1924 from Lucknow. Since March 1924 the mule had
been treated for debility, at first in the unit lines and for the last two months of its
life in the Station Veterinary Hospital, but no improvement was noticed. On the
evening of the 28th July he showed signs of internal hæmorrhage, which might
have been caused by injury, and he died a short time afterwards. On autopsy, the
peritoneal cavity was found to be full of blood due to rupture of the vessels in the
region of the liver. The liver was much enlarged and weighed 38 lbs. Two small
habronemic tumours were found in the stomach wall, one of these discharging a
greenish yellow pus.
Histologically, the lesion appeared to be undoubtedly one of intense verminous
hepatitis. Scattered throughout the liver tissue and mainly in an interlobular
situation, numerous nodulated lesions were seen. The report went on to state that
this type of condition was known to be set up by intense fluke invasion of the
6 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, I
liver in other animals, notably sheep, but that one was not acquainted with this
type of lesion occurring in the horse. It was not unlikely that the invasion was a
migration of Habronema worms from the stomach, where two small tumours resem-
bling those commonly caused by H. megastoma were found. No bacterial micro-
organisms were detected in the liver tissue.
CASE REPORT NO. 4.
Portions of liver and intestine of a mule which was destroyed for debility were
received on 19th September 1924 from the Military Veterinary Hospital, LUCKNOW.
Naked eye examination of the intestinal mucous membrane showed certain minute
black patches, direct smears from which were examined by Mr. Amarnath, M.Sc,
then Zoological Assistant to the Director of this Institute, and he found spined ova
resembling those of Schistosoma indicum, but on an extensive examination of the
specimens of liver and intestine from this and other previous cases, this finding
was not confirmed. On this being intimated to the Veterinary Officer concerned,
the following detailed history was forwarded :—
Two mules Nos. 21 and 28 of 5/lst Punjab Regiment were admitted to
hospital on 7th May 1925, both mules being in a debilitated condition. The animals
exhibited no other symptom than general anæmia. There was no rise of temper-
ature and they always fed well. Methods of treatment included stomach lavage,
intravenous quinine hydrobromide, tonics, extra feed with linseed, lucerne, etc.
The mallein test gave negative results in both cases. A slight improvement in
condition was noticed for about six weeks but soon they again started to go down.
As both the animals became very debilitated indeed, they had finally to be destroy-
ed on 3rd September 1925. Exactly similar lesions were discovered on post-mortem
examination in both cases. No adult schistosomes were detected in the intestines
but the blood vessels were not examined. The officer further stated that he had
come across similar cases in Waziristan and Delhi.
CASE REPORT NO. 5.
Liver from mule No. 7 of the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, which was
destroyed on 19th February 1927 at Ambala, was forwarded for examination. The
mule was admitted to hospital for debility on 27th November 1926. He was
apparently healthy but in poor condition. The abdomen was pendulous and the
back muscles atrophied. Extra feeding and medical treatment did not result in
any increase in weight. He was treated for Habronemiasis and stomach lavage
was given on three successive occasions. Blood smears were examined with nega-