Exercise, amusement, and occu
-pation.
Lock-up rooms and cells.
52
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
5. The food is good and wholesome, but since the arrival of the regiment has been
very expensive, more especially since the districts have been
afflicted with famine. The amount of grain compensation has
latterly been increased to the troops with marked good effect, and there is now no reason to
complain of any great hardship on this account.
6. The duties are moderate, though rather more severe since the famine commenced,
as the regiment has had to take the jail and residency guards
to allow the Kolhápur Infantry to be employed on out-post all
throughout the famine district. This does not seem to have had any bad effects on the health
of the men, who are remarkably healthy, though the number of nights in bed at present is
only two.
Food.
Duties, and their effect on health.
7. The men have their native gymnastics and amuse-
ments, and their military duty gives them plenty of occupation.
8. Are well adapted for the purpose; are lofty, well built
and ventilated, and roomy.
9. There has been no over-crowding, the hospital accommodation being ample, and the
best I have ever seen for native troops. The conservancy and
water-supply are good.
Hospital accommodation, &c.
Sickness, mortality, and invalid-
ing.
Principal causes of mortality.
10. Average strength
547
Percentage of
Treated to strength
103.6
Deaths to strength
0.36
Deaths to treated
0.35
Average daily sick
16.0
Invalided 10, percentage
1.8
11. Bronchitis and malaria.
12. The rainfall during the past year has been much below the average, being only
22 inches 42 cents, the effect of which has been to increase the
price of provisions all over the district, and create a famine in
some parts. The rain, as well as being scanty, was not well distributed over the season.
Influence of rainfall.
Epidemics.
13. There has been no epidemic in the regiment.
14. Vaccination has been thoroughly carried out in the regiment. The total number of
vaccinations being 153,—primary 110, and re-vaccinations 43,
the former being infants, and the latter adults. Shortly after
the arrival of the regiment, I, with the kind assistance of Mr. Sinclair, the Civil Surgeon,
started animal vaccination with most beneficial results ; at present there is no one under age
unprotected in the regiment.
15. Since our arrival here there have been several cases of syphilis. I obtained the
sanction of the officer commanding for an examination of the
bazaar twice a month, which has had a beneficial effect. The
general physique of the regiment is very good.
16. Intestinal worms are very common in Kolhápur, and very frequently occur in the
form of lumbrici in cases of fever and diarrhœa, to which I
believe they are frequently the predisposing cause, the symp-
toms in many cases resembling true cholera in all its signs. Children under treatment for
fever are always much relieved by the administration of santonine at the commencement of
their treatment, and frequently recover after voiding large quantities of round worms.
17. The condition of the sepoy has been reported on so often, that it is unnecessary for
me to enter into any details. The fitting of boots and im-
provement in clothing are matters to be thought of. The
revision of pension rules would be of the greatest benefit to the whole native army. The
condition of the regiment under existing circumstances could not be better than it is.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Physique of the men.
Special observations.
Re s u mé of t he whol e.
Native medical pupils how taught.
18. Are instructed in dispensary and making up medicines in the laboratory ; in
clinical medicine, and surgery, in the wards; and reading during
their leisure time.