73
MEERUT DIVISION.
little used, except by the very poorest in Northern India. It was of a kind called urhur or toor
(Cajanus Indicus), a d h a l d i f f i c u l t t o c o o k , d i f f i c u l t t o d i g e s t , a n d t h e r e f o r e l i a b l e t o g i v e r i s e
to flatulence, colic, &c.
Water at San Antonio .—For the first few days after arrival in camp, and until proper
arrangements had been made for issuing aqueduct water, that contained in the numerous tanks
in and about the lines was undoubtedly used for drinking purposes until its use was prohibited.
This tank-water was, however, bright and clear, and apparently free from deleterious matter;
but from the nature of its collection, it probably contained chlorides and nitrates washed in from
decomposed animal and vegetable matters of the surface soil.
Water at San
Antonio.
History of the disease .—On the 10th June, viz., from 5 to 10 days after landing, several men
came to hospital to be treated for colic and diarrhœa caused, it was said, by eating urhur dhal.
Some complained of sore-throat, which was supposed to have arisen from heavy dews at night.
It was noticed, however, that most of these had soft, dark-coloured gums, red patches on the
tongue or palate, or sores at the angles of the mouth. It was recommended to change the dhal
for green vegetable food. On the three following days many cases of a similar character were
seen, and the issue of meat was advised. On the 15th, the issue of dhal was stopped. On the
16th, 40 sowars of the regiment were found with affections of the mouth. Two days afterwards,
of 80 kahars inspected, only 2 had any mouth affection, but 4 were suffering from sore
-throat. Each day, however, many men have come to hospital on account of diarrhœa and
symptoms of dysentery, from which latter affection some cases are under treatment in hospital.
On the 19th there were 45 men with sores in the mouth, &c., and from this date a small quan
-tity of lime-juice was issued daily to all in any way affected. By a "divisional order" fresh vege
-tables were ordered to be substituted for dhal and 10 oz. of meat with bone to fighting-men
twice a week. On the 21st there were 9 cases of dysentery in hospital, of which 4 had spongey
gums and red patches on the tongue, &c. Out of 356 camp-followers (not kahars) there were
43 with sores in the mouth or throat. On the 22nd all the kahars (103) were inspected, only
7 were found suffering, and nearly all of these said they were recovering. At this period it was
noted that in point of actual numbers, fighting-men and camp-followers were equally affected
to the extent of between 11 and 12 per cent.; but in the camp-followers the affection was mild,
whereas in the sowars it was much more marked. The disease lasted for at least six weeks after
the regiment first landed, viz., until the middle of July, from which time only an occasional
case was seen, and that of a mild form.
Symptoms .—The disease has manifested itself in the form of a sub-acute inflammation of
the mucous membrane in the mouth and throat, and apparently in parts of the alimentary
canal, accompanied generally with a certain amount of swelling and discoloration of the gums
in which, however, bleeding has been noticed in one case only. The tongue, fauces, palate, insides
of lips and cheeks, corners of mouth and throat, have in varying degrees the appearance,
more or less, of raw beef, as if the mucous membrane had been denuded of its epithelial coat.
No two cases are alike; some are slight, some severe. In some there has been merely a patch
of red in the centre of the tongue or at its sides or tip, the other healthy parts being covered
with a whitish fur; in others there has been a general appearance of disquamation with cracks
or fissures. Again, in some cases, the parts underneath the tongue have been most affected and
the sub-lingual glands have become very prominent. The same applies to the bare of' the
tongue. No one part of the mouth in these cases has remained free from the affection; whilst
in those in which the throat has been attacked, the voice has been husky and deglutition pain
-ful, although there has been but little swelling of' the part. Soreness of the mouth has been
naturally complained of by all affected, and in many cases there has been colic and diarrhœa;
but the general health has not appreciably suffered, and all, with the exception of 7 taken into
hospital for the treatment of dysentery, have continued to perform their duties as usual.
History of the
disease.
Symptoms.
Cause.
Cause .—In the determination of the origin of this complaint, there was great difficulty
and not a little diversity of opinion; some ascribing it to food, others to water, and others again
to climate. It has already been mentioned that for weeks the staple articles of diet were
flour and urhur dhal. To the latter was ascribed the colic and diarrhœa from which many
suffered during the time that the mouth affection existed; whilst in the continued use of
the former (starchy food) flatulence and dyspepsia, &c., are well known to originate. It is more
than probable, however, that had these articles been the cause of the disease, the affection would
have been more general, seeing that all were more or less subject to the same condition, and
that a certain number of kahars were affected who had been fed on quite a different ration
whilst on board-ship. A similar remark may indeed be applied to the use of the tank-water; but,
on the other hand, there were regiments at Malta which never drank this and yet were affected.
Again, the scanty supply of vegetables was at one time considered to be a cause of this dis
-case, which indeed began to disappear shortly after these were freely used; but in this
case, in all probability, the scorbutic symptoms would have been more marked. Lastly, the
affection was supposed to be a peculiar form of' stomatitis, arising from climatic causes only,
and quite irrespective of errors in food or water, or other preventable cause.
The second point noted at the commencement of this paragraph is one that will be long
remembered with very great pain, seeing that no less that 31 men of' the regiment were poisoned
by Burnett's disinfecting fluid issued for lime-juice. The circumstances under which this
lamentable catastrophe occurred are as follows: In consequence of the appearance in the regi
-ment of the mouth affection, already alluded to, it was deemed advisable to administer lime
-juice to all those who had any appearance of the affection. On three occasions, lime-juice (a
dozen bottles at a time) had been obtained in beer bottles, unlabelled, from the Commissariat