58
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
duty, excepting 50 men returned in column "otherwise," 72 remaining under treatment at
the end of the year; of those men discharged in column "otherwise," 45 were sent for
change of air to their respective countries, 4 short service men were discharged the service
as physically unfit (vide para. 14), and one man for " dementia" was sent to the Lunatic
Asylum, Colaba. Of the total treated, the largest figure by far as usual appears under the
heading general diseases, especially malarious fevers, of which 1,717 were treated ; of these
1,445 were quotidian, 102 tertian, and 170 remittent; percentage of fevers treated to
average strength being 264.96, percentage of fevers treated to total diseases treated 85.89.
These fevers were characterised generally throughout by strong febrile paroxysms accom-
panied in almost every case more or less with gastro intestinal complications, usually
bilious vomiting or purging, one or both with frequent severe cephalagia and occa-
sional complications of spleen, liver, or lungs, followed by anorexia for a few days,
together with general debility and not unfrequently a tendency to a recurrence of the
fever followed by scorbutus, &c. The treatment with the cinchona alkaloids was used
nearly in all cases, and in the milder forms with some degree of success, but in the
more severe and protracted fevers (especially the bad quotidian and remittent) quinine
either by mouth in large doses or hypodermically (170 cases were injected) had to be
administered in order to check the return of the paroxysms. As useful adjuvants for other
remedies and antiperiodics, or even if given alone in mild cases, these drugs are certainly
useful, but I do not for a moment think that they can ever be made to take the place wholly
of quinine, as far as this station and its fevers during the past year were concerned. Of the
remaining 45 cases under the head of general diseases, 2 of chicken-pox and 3 of measles
occurred; all were isolated in a separate ward, were mild and tractable, but the measles
were complicated with strong bronchitic affections, yielding however to treatment. Two cases
of malignant cholera in June, both recovered under ordinary treatment ; 1 erysipelas simple
was treated and discharged, 19 cases of rheumatism, of which 4 were acute and 15 chronic,
with 8 of lumbago, are recorded. Most of them were more or less of a mild form, but the
acute were treated with full doses of salicylic acid and bicarbonate of soda, with good and
immediate effect. 10 of syphilis, viz. 6 primary and 4 secondary, were treated (contracted
originally on escort duty or from milk and cooly women or others, who enter cantonments
for the ostensible purposes of trade and work, &c.) All were discharged well to duty, except-
ing 3 and 1 remaining, viz. as follows, 2 of short service had to be invalided and discharged,
1. man discharged otherwise was sent on sick leave, and 1 man recently admitted for
secondary eruptions in December last, is still remaining under treatment. Nervous system,
shaking palsy 1, the same case as mentioned last year, sent on medical certificate, who
having now only a few more months to get through for pension, has been kept on in the
hope that he may live to obtain it ; but as his case was complicated during the past
malarious season with a severe attack of remittent fever, there are but little hopes, it is
feared, of his living to enjoy this favour very long, and as he is perfectly useless in the
Regiment, will be shortly sent away for further change to the seacoast, from which without
rejoining the Regiment he can, if necessary, be invalided in Bombay or elsewhere.
Neuralgia 2, and pleurodynia 1, mild, were treated; dementia 1. This was the case mentioned
in last year's report, who was sent to the Lunatic Asylum, Colaba, in January last. Conjunc-
tivitis, 24 cases treated (1 remaining) ; all were chiefly of the ordinary mild catarrhal form.
One case however admitted on the 27th October was rather unmanageable, having been
complicated with considerable debility and anæmia from previous attacks of malarious fever.
The case has since slowly done well and was discharged on the 15th December last to duty,
having been 1 month and 20 days in hospital. Hordeolum 2, with 2 mild cases of inflamma-
tion of ear (external meatus), treated. Respiratory system, 17 cases treated, 1 coryza, 2
bronchial catarrh, 11 chronic bronchitis, 2 pneumonia, and 1 pleurisy. The above were of the
ordinary kind, and generally amenable to treatment ; 2 of chronic bronchitis, however, were
sent for change of air, one of whom it appears from over exposure while travelling died
shortly after reaching home; the other was returned well to duty. Digestive system 49 cases
treated; of these chiefly dysentery 13, diarrhœa 18, and malœna 1, require notice. Of the
13 cases of dysentery one only had to be sent on medical certificate, suffering from general
debility, 11 were duly discharged to duty, and 1 is still remaining owing to complications of
remittent fever. Of the 18 cases of diarrhoea, 1 died from this disease, complicated with
malarious dysentery, and the remainder 17 were soon returned to duty. One case of malœna in
a strong Punjabee was admitted and died within 10 hours after coming to hospital, from
excessive uncontrollable hœmorrhage from the bowels. Urinary and generative system,—3
cases of gonorrhœa and 2 of orchitis were treated ; those of orchitis required leeches and
antiphlogistic regimen, and were soon discharged to duty. Locomotive organs—2 of
synovitis, viz. 1 acute and 1 chronic. The former was severe and had to be treated with
leeches, blisters, iodine, &c. ; both were soon returned well to duty. Cellular tissue—5 of
guinea-worm and 1 of abscess. Two of the former were rather protracted, leading to
burrowing sinuses along the legs, which bad to be opened up to ensure treatment. All the
others were mild and more tractable. Cutaneous system—40 cases, all of a more or less