72
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
duties are by no means excessive, and with the exception of guard duty, have a beneficial
effect upon health.
7. The large building is estimated to accommodate 20 patients, exclusive' of two veran-
dahs, which can also be used as wards in case of need. The
subsidiary building erected in 1875 has space for 16 beds, and
the contagious ward for 4. During the year under review 56
was the largest number of patients in hospital any day ; at
that time the verandahs had to be used as wards. In anticipation of a still greater number
of patients the boys’ school was placed at disposal for an hospital, and the patients occupy-
ing the verandahs of the large hospital were removed to the school. The ventilation of the large
hospital has been reported as defective by former medical officers, there being only two
narrow ridge ventilators on the roof. With all the doors and windows shut, the amount of
change of air which could take place by these ventilators would be insufficient, were there
more than 10 patients in the ward ; but by opening some of the doors and windows, ventila-
tion can be made quite sufficient. The hospital buildings are near to the lines. With the
exception of a dead-house, all the necessary outhouses are attached. Conservancy is well,
attended to and the whole is in a fair state as to repair. The hospital water supply is derived
from the river and from a well on the bank of the river.
8.
p
i t a l d u r i n
g
t h e
g
p ast year w0as fargreater
than the year preceding, yet the general health cannot be
considered as having been unusually bad for a station like
Mehidpore. On the other hand, if the figures showing the amount of sickness be compared
with those of Regiments formerly stationed here, it will be seen that the average daily
number of sick in hospital for the year under observation is considerably below the mean of
all years since 1870. Still the amount of sickne s s is considerably above the general annual
mean of the Regiment, and is but the evidence of another year, that Mehidpore is a very
malarious station. These facts may be conveniently shown in a tabular form :—
Daily average number of
sick per cent. to strength
of Right Half Battalion
H. M.’s 24th Regiment
N. I., for the year 1878.
Daily average number of
sick per cent. to strength
of Right Half Battalion
H. M.’s 24th Regiment
N. I., for the year 1877.
Mean daily average number
of sick per cent. to strength
of all regiments stationed
at Mehidpore, from 1870
to 1878 inclusive.
Mean daily average num-
her of sick per cent. to
strength of H . M.’s 24th
Regiment ,N. I., from
1870 to 1878 inclusive.
4.6
3.4
6.73
4.3
The sole cause of this high sick rate is malarious fevers. A great many of the men
show evident marks of the effects of repeated attacks of fever, and when it is remembered
that 77 per cent. of the whole strength has been under treatment, the majority oftener than
once for ague, it will be realized that the general health of the Regiment has suffered consider-
ably during the past year, and that a change of station is now highly desirable. The
general physique of at least one-third of the men of this wing is poor. The tendency to enlist
recruit boys and others having family ties with the Regiment, overlooking their indifferent
physique, is undoubtedly a very deteriorating influence.
9. In former reports it has been pointed out, that the present site of the lines is
rendered unhealthy from the lowness of the situation, which is
liable to become inundated during heavy rains, and cannot be
efficiently drained, from the soil being very retentive of moisture
and highly malarious, from the indifferent quality of the water supply and from its proximity
to a filthy native town and to the river in which men are constantly catching fever by too
frequent bathing. It has been proposed to remove the lines to the situation at the S. W.
limits of the camp, which was formerly occupied by the Cavalry. The advantages claimed
for this site are that it is on a higher level, and there is a good water supply from wells al-
ready made. During the last rains the ground in the immediate neighbourhood encircling
a t l e a s t ¾ o f t h i s p r o p o s e d s i t e w a s a s w a m p , w h i l e t h e s u r r o u n d i n g s o f ţ h e p r e s e n t l i n e s w a s
free from flooding throughout the whole of the rains.
10. From an average strength of 374.4 there were 968 admissions into hospital from
all causes. The daily average number of sick was 17.2, i.e.
4.6 per cent to strength. The average sick time to each man
of the strength was 17 days. Although there were 968 admissions, only 336 different persons
were admitted, as shown in detail in the following form :—
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings ; present condition,
hygienic and otherwise.
General health and physique.
Influence of climate or local
circumstances on health.
Details of treated.