Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Invaliding and its causes.
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY. 47
4. This is very indifferent the greater part of the year, and very bad in the hot weather.
The supply is from three wells and the river Sipra. The men
principally use the latter. During the cold and rainy seasons,
when the river is high, the water is pretty good, especially if properly filtered. This opera--
tion, however, one cannot expect a sepoy to do. In the hot months of the year, when the
river is very low and sluggish, the water is very bad, well-water being then preferable.
5. There has been no dearth of food; the men make use of the regimental bazaar, in
which there is always a good stock of meat, grain of different
kinds, and vegetables for sale. There is also a weekly bazaar
held on Sunday, in the town of Mehidpur, which is also patronised. The bachelors, as a rule,
live pretty well; married men with large families have to stint themselves. There has been
no change in the clothing. Orderlies in the hot weather are allowed to go about in their
native dress.
6. The duties have been the usual parades, guards, and musketry. Average number
of nights in bed for all ranks was 7.7. The recruits have to
attend a course of gymnastics, and some of the younger men
join them. A few of the men fish and go out shooting. Duties
have not been prejudicial to the health of the men.
7. No change made to the buildings, which have so often been reported on. They
have been kept clean by being thoroughly whitewashed twice
during the year; and the accommodation has been sufficient;
the ventilation is good. The out-houses are all complete and
in good order; a dead-house is required. Conservancy is
well attended to; the men are always warned not to soil the floor with water or urine, and
are provided with pans for that purpose. The excreta is daily removed by the conservancy
cart, and burned three miles from camp. Water-supply is from the river Sipra and a well near
the lines.
8. The wretched climate of Mehidpur has considerably affected the health of the men,
and although several of them are naturally of good physique,
and will bear a favourable comparison with most of the Bombay
regiments, yet the period of service (three years) at Mehidpur, notwithstanding change
of wings to Augur, has considerably weakened them, and it is to be hoped that the approaching
change to Mhow will prove beneficial.
9. This has been freely dilated on by the different medical officers that have served at
Mehidpur, and it is no doubt one of the unhealthiest stations
in the Bombay Presidency. It is very depressing, and this
together with malarial influence, renders life to both officers
and men a wretched existence.
10. 1,623 cases were admitted during the year, compared with 1,258 the year previous,
average daily sick being 2.87, compared with 26.3 for 1878.
The increase of sick was due to a large amount of malarious
fever, 1,316 being under this heading, 4 of which number were cases of remittent fever.
The type was mostly quotidian, and was treated with the cinchona alkaloids, quinine being
used in obstinate cases and in the remittent form. The cases of ague were generally uncom--
plicated. Several of the men, however, have enlarged spleens from repeated attacks of fever.
Malarious fever is most prevalent in October and November. There were 55 admissions
from diarrhœa and dysentery. In the cases of dysentery I found large doses of ipecacuanha
most beneficial. Sixteen cases were admitted under the heading of chest affections, and the
remainder from other causes.
11. There were 5 deathsin hospital, and none out, during the year; 3 under the heading
of ague, 1 remittent fever, and 1 from dysentery. In the cases
of ague the immediate cause of death in one instance was
thrambosis of the heart ; the second had otterrhœa, which caused abscess of brain and death.
12. I am pleased to record that neither a case of small-
-pox nor of cholera occurred during the year.
13. Thirty-seven cases of successful primary vaccinations
and 23 re-vaccinations.
14. Two men pensioned as time-expired, 13 invalided, 8
with pension, 4 with gratuity, and one, under five years' service,
without gratuity.
Water-supply.
Food and clothing,
Duties, exercise, and amuse-
ments; their effects on health.
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.
Mortality and its causes.