Syphilis.
Scurvy.
Phthisis pulmonalis.
Principal causes of mortality.
Mortality according to ratio.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
70
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Seven cases of primary syphilis occurred, which were suc
-cessfully treated by mercurial vapour baths.
One case of scurvy was admitted, and was sent away on
sick leave.
Three cases occurred; 1 proved fatal; he was much ema
-ciated, and had been ailing for the last three years; 2 were sent
away on sick leave.
Seven cases were treated, of which 1 was invalided; he had frequently suffered from neural
-
gic pain, having been more or less under treatment for the last
eight years. His father and brother died from the same disease.
He was treated with hydrate of chloral, chloroform, poppy seeds, oleum cinnamomi, potassæ
bromide, but with no marked benefit; and as his health was completely undermined by the
attacks, he was invalided.
Neuralgia.
Conjunctivitis.
Fourteen cases, treatedwith lead, opium, collyria, and quinine
Seventy-eight cases of bronchitis in long-service men of bad constitution were treated.
Indeed after ague this disease was the most frequent cause of
admission. Thirteen were invalided, and 5 were sent away
on sick leave.
Bronchitis.
Asthma.
One case was admitted with functional disorder, and sent
away on sick leave.
Nineteen cases were treated, some of these showing very acute symptoms; but large
doses of ipecacuanha controlled the disease, and all recovered.
One case of tedious convalescence was sent away on sick leave.
Dysen tery.
Diarrhœa.
There was nothing particular in the cases of diarrhœa; they
were all mild, depending upon improper food, weak digestion,
or changes of climate.
Only one case of hepatitis was treated during the year; it was chronic. His health was
broken down by syphilis and scurvy. He was treated with
ammonia hydrochloras, taraxaci, nitro-muriatic acid, and stimu
-lants internally; externally turpentine stupes and counter-irritants.
One obstinate sloughing ulcer in the sole of the left foot was
treated with opium and recovered.
Hepatitis.
Ulcer.
8. Malignant cholera 1, choleraic diarrhœa 1, phthisis pul
-monalis 1.
9. Mortality according to ratio was as follows: Hindus 2,
Mussulman 1.
10. Cholera was the epidemic from June to September.
11. The total number of primary vaccination was 52 and
re-vaccination 335. Lymph was good during the year. Vacci
-nation was performed twenty-five times in the whole year.
12. The health of the sepoys of the wing has been good; indeed, take them altogether,
they are a healthy body of men, are well set up, and there are a
good many athletics among them who go in thoroughly for
gymnastic exercises.
13. The men of the wing are, as a rule, a healthy body; with the exception of cholera
there has been little serious sickness during the year. With
reference to cholera I can only repeat what I have said in the
case of the I st Grenadier Regiment N. I., that the lines are spacious and well laid out, and
with huts better than at most places, but still they are old. Malarious fever has prevailed to
a great extent among the men, and cholera, which appears to be an annual scourge, carried
off 9 persons. It may, therefore, be worth considering whether the present site is not un
-healthy, and a new one desirable. 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 3 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; therefore, the sooner the
other Native hospital, now appropriated for the use of Europeans, is given back, the better,
General health and physique of
men.
Resumé of the whole.