Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
10
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
9. The rainfall for the year at Surat was 90 inches, a heavy continuous downpour,
Influences of climate or local with hardly a break. This is much above the average, which
circumstances on health. is 36: it did not appear however to have any special prejudicial
influence on the health of the men.
10. The total number of admissions from all causes was 1,130, a considerable decrease
from last year, which was 1,501. Of these 707 were from
malarious fever, for although in the summary 46 cases of febri-
cula are given, they come under the head, I think, of malarious fever, being cases of fever of
short duration without any marked premonitory prolonged rigour ; so that taking these cases
as all of malarious origin, and comparing them with last year, there is a considerable decrease.
In 1877 the admissions from malarious fever were, ague 676, febricula 409, remittent fever
16, being a total of 1,101, so that I am justified in my previous assertion that the general
health has improved. Dysentery and diarrhœa have as usual prevailed, dysentery
causing 44, and diarrhœa 56 admissions. From cholera there were 3 admissions and
1 death. The remaining diseases call for no special remark, being principally rheumatism
and ulcers. The former were mostly candidates for the Invaliding Committee, and the causes
of ulcer were partly' those of blistered feet, and partly from other causes, the socks before
alluded to not having been introduced until late in the year. As regards treatment there is
nothing new or special to remark ; the cinchona alkaloid has been largely and successfully
used iu the treatment of malarious fever.
11. 5 deaths occurred in hospital, 3 out of hospital. Of those in hospital 2 were from
_
remittent fever complicated with acute bronchitis, always a
particularly fatal complication, 1 from remittent fever, and 1
from ague complicated with acute bronchitis, and 1 from cholera. Of the deaths out of
hospital 1 died suddenly on the first march out from Vingorla from disease of the heart,
valvular and hypertrophy. 2 died when absent on medical certificate, 1 from anæmia, the
other from disease of the liver.
Details of treated.
Mortality and its causes.
12. Cholera and small-pox prevailed in the neighbour-
hood, but not in an epidemic form.
13. Vaccination has been successfully carried on and the
lymph has been good.
14. 26 men were invalided during the year, and for the following causes : old age 16,
scurvy 3, eye diseases 2, diseases of the lung and spleen and
rheumatism 1 each, and other diseases 2.
15. In the Sanitary Sheet and Report I have already mentioned that on arrival at
Requirements and recommend-
ations.
unhealthy action, which he attributed to infection from the mud floor. We both recom-
mended that the floor of the hospital should be removed to the depth of about 6 inches, and
fresh earth applied ; this was done, and since that I have not had any trouble with any cases ;
before this was done I -mated them in tents.
One case of ulcer was shown me by Dr. Boyd, which presented a peculiar glazed appear-
ance. with absence of all granulation, which I thought looked like scurvy. There were
however no other symptoms of scurvy about the man, nor had Dr. Boyd observed any in
other cases.
Invaliding. and its causes.
Dharwar 1. was advised by the Medical Officer 12th Regiment
N. I., Dr. Boyd, not to treat any cases of ulcer, wound or
abrasion in the hospitaL, ash e found all these cases took an
Special observations, experiences
of treatment, sanitation, &c.
16. None.
H. M.’s 21st Regiment N. I
BOMBAY.—In Medical charge of Surgeon Major M. M. MACKENZIE.
Average Strength
700
Deaths in Hospital
9
Do.
Present
693
Do. out of do.
6
Admissions
..
1,042
Invalided
47
Daily Sick
29'6
Sick Leave
12