Jaundice.
Splenitis.
Guinea worm.
Contusions.
Mortality according to race.
Epidemics.
67
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
Emphysema.
The case of emphysema is a bad one; the man broke down
suddenly at the "double," and is now under treatment.
Twenty-seven cases were treated, some of them showing very acute symptoms; however,
as usually obtains, large doses of ipecacuanha controlled the
disease, and all recovered. In 2 cases of tedious convalescence
the men were sent away on sick leave.
This case of intussusception occurred in a regimental bheestee, admitted with pain and
tumour in the right iliac region, extending into the umbilical.
While drawing water the above symptoms suddenly appeared,
and he said he suffered so eighteen years previously. He was treated with castor oil, opium,
morphia, gentle manipulations and kneading, warm injections thrown high up; but all was
useless, and he sank seven days after. A post-mortem, examination revealed an intussusception
of the ileum into the cœcum, and above that point, for 4 inches or so; the intestine was
completely twisted; the part intussuscepted was gangrenous.
There was nothing in the cases of diarrhœa calling for special notice. They were all sim
-
ple cases depending upon improper food, weak digestion, or
climatic changes.
This case was brought in from Sádra in a very bad state. He had been operated on in an
incomplete way, and the operation had to be again performed.
He was naturally weak, and after some time, under good diet
and tonics, recovered.
Not one case of hepatitis was treated.
Dysentery.
Intussusception of the intestines.
Diarrhœa.
Fistula in ano.
One fatal case of jaundice occurred; the man had starved.
himself for some time, and was in a very weak state of health.
Two of these were very aggravated cases, returned from.
leave, and subsequently invalided.
Five cases occurred. One man had the remarkable num
-
ber of 15 taken away.
The case of eczema is in a long-service man of bad constitution and scorbutic. The
disease has attacked the right leg, and is getting better under
blistering.
One man, an old syphilitic and scorbutic case, was treated for an obstinate ulcer near the
external malleolus. Everything was tried: opium in large doses,
mercurial vapour bath, red precipitate ointment; but he had to
be invalided. There was a curious case of ulcer behind both hips (almost symmetrical) in a
syphilitic subject; he came back from sick leave with sinuses on both sides, which were freely
opened; but his constitution was broken, and it was necessary to invalid him.
Eczema.
Ulcers.
Of the 47 cases entered as contusion, 41 were of the lower
extremity, and as usual were due to badly-fitting shoes.
16. Mortality according to race was as follows:—1 Mus
-
sulman and 10 Hindus.
17. The only epidemic during the year was cholera.
1 8 . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f p r i m a r y v a c c i n a t i o n s w a s 6 3 , a n d o f r e - v a c c i n a t i o n s 2 3 9 . T h e
quality of lymph was good, and vaccination was performed
thirty times during the year.
19. The men, as a rule, are scorbutic, and a large number of them have also the syphilitic
taint. The previous history of the regiment shows that there
have been causes at work to deteriorate their health: for example
they were at Aden for three years, and there got saturated with
the scorbutic taint; thence they went to Belgaum, where line-building seems to have neutral
-
ized the benefit that good climate might otherwise have effected; their next station was
Poona, where they had heavy duties in furnishing guards; and at their present station I do
not consider they are fortunate in the climate. Although a very large number—71—were
taken before the invaliding committee, of whom 62 were invalided, still the regiment re
-
quires further weeding, to a great extent, to make it, in my opinion, an average regiment as
regards its effectiveness, and ability to undergo a campaign, for example. It has frequently
been remarked to me by the officer commanding that on parade a large number of men fall
out; and if they are kneeling to fire, recover themselves with great difficulty, and the poorness
of their physique has been often commented on.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
General health and physique of
the men.