14
MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 8TH SEPTEMBER 1879, No. 5000.
Artillery at Secunderabad entertain different views in regard to the causation of
these diseases. One considers that hepatitis and dysentery may have been caused
by climatic conditions. He could not trace them to diet, chills, or intemperance.
Another remarks that climate has a large and primary influence in causing gastric
and intestinal diseases, and hepatitis. He cannot clearly specify what these climatic
influences are. He considers that excess in the use of stimulants exerts a decided
influence in the production of hepatic diseases. He was unable to trace any ill
effects to diet, and believed that many cases of dysentery and hepatitis were
caused by chills at night. A third medical officer attributes the dyspepsia in his
battery to drink, and the dysentery to climate in the majority of the cases. In no
case does he arribute it to diet. The diarrhœa is put down to irritation from food.
and probably to the action of cold. He considers climate to be the chief cause
of hepatitis, and intemperance to rank next in importance as a factor. In no case
does he attribute it to the food. In the 12th Lancers, in addition to excesses in
e a t i n g a n d d r i n k i n g , i t i s n o t e d t h a t t h e e l e v a t e d p l a t e a u o n w h i c h t h e b a r r a c k s
are built is much exposed to the winds, and that this, combined with high tempera
-ture, is apt to cause chills against which the men did not sufficiently guard.
Idleness and tobacco smoking are also noted as predisposing causes of diseases of
the digestive system. Diarrhœa was most prevalent during the damp and colder
weather. In the 2/16th Regiment many cases of dyspepsia were traced to
intemperance. Diarrhœa and dysentery were attributed to climate and food : the
meat is said to be poor and the quality of the vegetable ration indifferent. The
Principal Medical Officer of the Circle in his notes on rations remarks : " the rations
have been composed of the usual articles given in India, and have been issued with
-out any change in quantity excepting in the very important item of vegetables.
Fresh country vegetables are not always procurable, and for part of the hot season
and rains dry dhall had to be substituted, which is not a good arrangement, as it is
small in quantity and requires a special mode of cooking to be at all palatable.
Very few indigenous fruits are procurable, and seldom at prices within the soldier's
reach." He considers hepatitis to be due to climate and to be influenced by the
enforced idleness of the soldier's life in India. In 1/21st Regiment dysentery is
ascribed chiefly to the damp, close climate, probably aggravated by intemperance
in drinking. In some cases it was immediately induced by chills at night. Hepa
-titis is ascribed to heat, chills, want of regular exercise, and intemperance. At
Kamptee the Officer in charge of the Royal Artillery remarks : " diseases of the
digestive system were mostly caused by drink and climate ; hepatic diseases were
attributable to drink and heat, and not to unsuitable food. I could not trace any
case to chills at night, although such might have been the case." In 33rd Regi
-ment, Kamptee, hepatitis is ascribed to climate and intemperance. Cannot say how
far food may have been a factor in its production. Suggests an alteration in the
meal hours. Thinks the prolonged fasting between the last meal of one day and the
first meal of the day following calculated to induce a craving for stimulants in the
early morning. Dyspepsia and diarrhœa are attributed in many cases to intem
-perance in drink and to the practice of chewing and smoking rank tobacco. At
Fort St. George the officer in medical charge regards climate as the predisposing
cause in the majority of the cases of diseases of the digestive system. He regards
over-stimulation, unsuitable diet, and chills mainly as exciting causes. He advocates
the abolition of the rum ration ; considers the food ration unsuitable for weakly
m e n ; a n d s u g g e s t s t h e d o i n g a w a y w i t h t h e p r e s e n t h e a v y m i d - d a y m e a l a n d t h e
substitution of a late dinner, e.g., 3 or 4 P.M. At St. Thomas' Mount the medical
of f i c e r s r e ma r ks : " I f a i l t o f i nd a ny s a t i s f a c t or y c a us e f or he pa t i t i s . I t s e e ms t o
replace the pneumonia of cold climates, while dysentery replaces bronchitis." He
cannot trace hepatitis, diarrhœa, or dysentery to intemperance. In some cases
(number not stated) diarrhœa resulted from the use of bad milk. He further
r e m a r k s : " I b e l i e v e t h a t a g o o d d e a l o f h e p a t i t i s m i g h t f a i r l y b e a s c r i b e d t o t h e
practice of throwing off clothing when perspiring, if the practice were not so general
in the Royal Artillery." He suggests the use of serge jackets at stables, and on
any other occasion after exertion in short sleeves. At Trichinopoly dyspepsia is