xiv
MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN EXPEDITION.
The between decks, where a case of cholera and most of the diarrhoea cases occurred,
was abandoned as a sleeping place for the men, who were
Precautions used for prevent- transferred. to the upper deck. For several days in succession,
ing the spread of disease.
the boards were daily scraped, thoroughly washed with boiling
water and washing soda, and subsequently disinfected with carbolic powder. The between
decks were also fumigated by means of burning sulphur, and a healthy condition of the ship
was endeavoured to. be restored by every means possible.
From the 5th to the 14th of May, fever of a continued type occurred on board.
During this period 3 gunners, 5 seamen and 18 camp followers
The occurrence of fever on (Native) were attacked. None of the cases proved fatal,
board. though the symptoms whilst present were very severe. The
daily average number of sick from 28th April to 15th May from all causes was, in the
Royal Artillery—
Europeans
6.10
Natives
4.33
•
10.43
The ship was put in quarantine on arrival at Suez on 21st May, but was released on
the evening of the same day. On reaching Port Said on the 25th May it was reported to
be in a healthy condition.
On the evening of the 28th April 1878, the Head Quar-
Cholera amongst the F-2 R. A. ters of the F-2 embarked hurriedly on board the Clydesdale.
on board the Transport. ship Strength,
trength, Officers 4, Native Commissioned Officers and Gunners
Cl y d e s d e l e .
86, total 90.
On the 29th of April, the men were inspected on board ship, and, with the exception
of two slight cases of diarrhoea, no sickness was reported.
On the 30th instant, at 11. A.M., whilst at sea, a gunner was taken to hospital suffering
from all the symptoms of malignant cholera. Immediate treat-
First case on board.
ment was resorted to, the man progressed favorably, and was
discharged for duty on 13th May.
On 1st May a second gunner was attacked at 8 A.M. His symptoms coincided precisely
with those of the previous case ; he too recovered and was
Second case.
discharged from Hospital on the 5th instant.
On 2nd May, a third gunner was suddenly seized with the
Third case.
disease; he recovered slowly, and was discharged well on
the 15th.
On 4th May at 8-30 A.M., a Sergeant was seized with all the symptoms of cholera, in
whom collapse set in most rapidly. From the first his case
Fourth case.
was regarded as a hopeless one ; he never rallied, and died at 7
o’clock P.M. From this date cholera ceased, and with the exception of a few trivial cases
of diarrhoea, there was no sickness amongst the men of the Artillery whilst on board.
Whilst on shore there were four seizures, including one native, all of which proved
fatal. On board ship there were four seizures, of which three
Total number attacked with recovered and one died. In addition to the above, a seaman
cholera.
of weakly constitution was seized at 7 A.M. on the 6th of
May, and died at 4 P.M. on the 7th.
124 Native followers embarked on the morning of 28th April. On the same evening,
a bheestie was sent on shore suffering from cholera, result
Cases occurring amongst native not known. On the 2nd May a ghorawalla, a bheestie and a
followers.
native servant were seized simultaneously. The two former
• died on the following day, but the third recovered.
Cessation of sickness.
or native followers occurred.
lta
A r r i v a l s o f t r o o o p s a t M a l t a .
The troops commenced to disembark on the 28th of May,
and were disposed of as follows:—
At Fort Manoel, in tents—13th Bengal Native Infantry,
Disposal of.
31st Bengal Native Infantry, 2nd Ghoorkhas, and 25th
Madras N. I.
At St. Antonio, in tents-2 Batteries Royal Artillery, 1st Bombay Lancers, 9th Bengal
Cavalry, 26th Bombay N. I., and 9th Bombay N. I.