Mortality and its causes.
Epidemics.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OP BOMBAY.
5. A considerable number of cases of scurvy occurred, chiefly however complicating
cases of already existing primary disease; this necessarily
shows that the men must still be more or less pinched for means.
Food, though much cheaper than it was last year, is still above good year prices, and many
of the men, more especially those with large families, are yet in . the hands of the Bunias
from the debts incurred during the last two years. The pay of the sowar in Silledar Corps
is really very little when all his cuttings have been deducted.
6. The duties of the men are not excessive. Polo is played three times a week, and
Food.
Duties, exercise and amuse
ments; their effects on health.
besides being a healthy exercise, it teaches the boys and
Oomedwars of the Regiment to ride. There is a regular
gymnastic course for the younger men and recruits. The
Regiment is very healthy, the percentage of average daily sick being 2.3.
7. The old hospitals o badly reported on formerly has been pulled down, and a new
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings, present condition,
hygienic and otherwise.
standard guard has been built in its place. A new hospital
on the standard plan has been built, and is now almost ready
for occupation, in the open ground to the east of the lines.
The building now being temporarily used as a hospital was
the old Regimental stores; it is only a few degrees worse than the old hospital, and was only
used as makeshift under pressure of circumstances.
General health and physique.
8. The general health of the men is good, and though
they are small as a body, they are active and intelligent.
9.
9.The climate is remarkably healthy and dry. Upwards of 1,000 young trees have
been. planted during the past year, 692 of which are alive and
flourishing.
10. The number of admissions during the year were 352. Of these 172 were admissions
from fever, being the largest item, as usual. There were
19 cases of dysentery, 7 of venereal, 6 of respiratory disease,
and 2 of scurvy. Though only two cases of scurvy are reported, yet in many instances this
disease showed itself as a secondary complication.
11. The death-rate this year has been high when compared with the last three years.
Influence of climate.
Details of treated.
Three deaths occurred from ague and other complications
which subsequently developed themselves, 1 from cholera, and
1 from tertiary syphilis
12. There were no epidemics in the Regiment during
the year.
13. The total number of primary vaccinations during the year were 53, all success-
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
ful. There were 31 children on the rolls unvaccinated; many
of these were too young and sickly or were in course of vacci
nation.
14. The number of invalids this year, 26, was again most unusually large, and this
Invaliding and its causes
was due to the regiment being under expectation of active
service, and hence getting rid of doubtful men that otherwise
would have been kept on. Of these 11 were invalided as being above 62 years' service, 4 for
chronic rheumatism, 2 for defective vision, 3 for debility and old age, 1 for femoral and 1 for
scrotal hernia, 1 for tertiary syphilis, and one for varicose veins, other causes two. Two supernumerary Native officers were invalided and absorbed.
Requirements and recommend
ations.
15. None, with the exception that iron latrine pans
might be introduced in place of the present system, when funds
will permit.
16. In the cholera case which occurred and was reported in July, the treatment followed
Special observations, new ex
periences in treatment, sanita
tion, &c.
was, large and repeated hypodermic inj ections of hydrate
of chloral, with sedatives, as chloroform and spirit of æther,
combined with simple astringents internally on the relaxation.
theory promulgated by Surgeon Major Hall. Undoubtedly
benefit was obtained by this, as there were no cramps at all, and both the purging and
vomiting were sensibly checked. The patient died during the secondary fever.
Further experiments on guinea worms were limited, as only one case of a syce came under
observation. The man was placed on his face, care being taken that he could not see, and
I then inserted the sting of a large scorpion into a piece of the worm which had been drawn
out. On my forcibly compressing the poison bag he at once exclaimed that he felt a tickling
or thrilling sensation in the calf of his leg, the locality of the worm, distinctly showing that
the animal was sensibly affected by the poison. Next day a considerable portion of the worm
came away.