MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN EXPEDITION.
It was found necessary to arrange for the conservancy of each encampment on a totally
different plan. At Fort Manoel, where the tents were pitched
on rocky soil, close to the seashore, conservancy was managed
by means of barges, 10 of which were in daily use. These barges were so arranged that the
solid and liquid excrement were most carefully separated and deodorized with dry earth.
Down the centre of each barge iron buckets, filled with dry earth, were deposited, and
trowels, holding 1 lb., left for the purpose of covering the excrement with earth. The
barges which had been in use during the day were towed out to sea at night, and after being
thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, were returned to their places, others being supplied in
the meantime.
At St. Antonio the trench system of latrines was used, but owing to the rocky soil on
XV
Conservancy.
Trench conservancy at St. An-
tonio.
which the troops were encamped, it became necessary to have
pits sunk 6 feet deep and 3 feet wide for each Regiment. The
sweepers attended twice daily, and covered the night-soil with
dry earth, previously deposited for the purpose. When the pits filled to within a foot or
two of the surface, they were covered in and abandoned and new ones dug.
To ensure sanitation being the more effectively carried out, orders were issued directing
one of the medical officers at the respective camps of St. Antonio
and Fort Manoel to alternately act as weekly sanitary officer,
in addition to his regimental duties, and report any special
circumstance requiring immediate notice.
Bodies of persons who died at St. Manoel were taken out to sea and buried, no burning
Further measures adopted for
ensuring a perfect system of
sanitation.
Disposal. of dead bodies.
being permitted; whilst at the camp of St. Antonio, a dis-
tance of six miles from the town of Viletta. cremation was
allowed to those who adopt this method of disposing of the dead.
As the greater portion of the bearers enlisted were totally untrained, a uniform system
Dooley bearers instructed in
carrying doolies.
of instruction was established, and each medical officer in
charge of a Regiment was directed to afford instruction, and
see that the bearers were practised daily for one hour in
putting doolies, dandies, and stretchers together, placing and removing wounded men, and
carrying them without jolting. In time a commendable amount of proficiency was attained,
and the bearers became a very useful set of men.
Whilst at Malta, owing to the extreme heat in tents at St. Antonio, and the difficulty
General Hospital for European
and Native sick.
of treating cases of sickness amongst the European troops, it
was arranged that all cases of a serious nature should be sent
in ambulance carts for treatment to the European General
Hospital at Malta.
For the treatment of similar cases amongst the Native troops, a general hospital, afford
ing accommodation for 32 beds, was established at the Lazaretto Barracks, and a Medical
Officer placed in special charge.
The range of the thermometer during the day reaching 125° in the sun and 90° in the
Extreme temperature during
the day.
shade, it was recommended that the hospital marquees should
be thatched over. This suggestion, which was at once com
plied with, served to reduce the temperature in tents consi
derably, and tended much towards the comfort and recovery of the sick.
In the month of June a number of cases of inflammation of the mucus membrane of
Parasitic affection of the
mouth.
tongue and inside of cheeks and lips were brought to notice.
The disease was particularly prevalent amongst the Native
troops encamped at St. Antonio and Fort Manoel, and was
believed to be produced by insufficient nitrogenous food. In several cases which appeared
amongst the sepoys of the 25th Madras N. I., ulceration of the cornea was a prominent symptom.
It was at once recommended that a bi-weekly issue of 8 oz. of meat be granted to the
Change of diet recommended.
troops and native followers in lieu of 1 lb. of flour, and an
equivalent of vegetables, such as onions and potatoes, granted
instead of the sanctioned 4 oz. of dall.
The disease on further careful microscopical enquiry was ascertained to be of parasitic
nature (oidium albicans) wholly unconnected with any scor
butic affection, and which soon yielded to an improved diet
Nature of disease.
and disinfecting local remedies.