108
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
tion. Application has been made to the Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, Sind Division, for the
supply of lymph. Even if lymph were available now, the call for duty is so pressing that men
will not be easily available for the purposes of re-vaccination. But on opportunity presenting
the doubtful cases will be attended to.
14. One subedar-major, two havildars, and fifteen sepoys were invalided at the head-
quarters. Of these one was over 35 years' service, two over
21 years', four over 15 years', six under 12 years', and the
remaining five under 4 years'. Ten were invalided for general debility following repeated
attacks of malarial fevers, chronic interstitial pneumonia, chronic dysentery, and chronic
diarrhea. One sepoy under two years' service was invalided for pernicious progressive
anæmia following cholera; one was invalided for enlarged spleen, one hernia, one for
pulmonary phthisis with enlarged spleen, one for keratitis, one for chronic diarrhœa, and one
for chronic rheumatism. Eighteen men were invalided at the depôt at Jacobabad: seven for
debility, two for syphilis, one for hernia, and two for deafness, &c. Two men besides,
having been over 32 years' service, were pensioned. Thus a total number of 38 were dis
-charged for permanent unfitness for further active service.
15. The addition of a dhobie to the strength of the enlisted followers of the Regiment
would be valuable on service, when only a limited amount of
kit is allowed to the sepoy. When war service is prolonged
and clothes are few, and when the natural tendency of the men
is not towards wearing clean clothes, the want of a dhobie becomes a pretext for wearing
filthy under-clothing. Men are made to wash their own clothes to ensure cleanliness, but
such washing must, as a matter of course, be inefficient. The addition of a cook to the
hospital establishment is still desirable. In my report of the 19th Regiment for 1878 I have
already expressed myself on this subject. For such men as are not allowed "attending men,"
some one is required to cook. I therefore again request that a cook be allowed on the per
-manent establishment of the hospital.
This perhaps will be a fit place for making one or two observations on the training of
bandsmen with a view to their being able to attend the sick on the field. Compliance with
paras. 11 and 12, Section XIV., Bombay Medical Code, on this subject is only possible in
regiments that have a band. In a regiment like this, where there is no band, and even in
regiments wherein bandsmen are available for being trained for applying tourniquets, the
removal of the wounded has to be left to untrained hands. Instruction to dooly-bearers in
times of war is necessarily hurried, and it is not every dooly-bearer that is intelligent or
willing to benefit by it. A body of trained bearers would be a valuable acquisition to the
Field Medical Officer. As regards the construction of permanent latrines I have already
observed in para. 3 above.
With regard to the Resolution of Government restricting the supply of quinine, I have
this to observe. Malaria is such a prominent factor in the causation and complication of
disease, not only as productive of paroxysmal and remittent fevers, but it so often,
indeed so almost invariably, complicates pulmonary affections and diseases of the alimen
-tary canal and other digestive organs, that its effects have to be counteracted by quinine
when nauseating combinations like the mixed cinchona alkaloids are productive of positive
discomfort, slower in action, and otherwise less beneficial than quinine. A large allowance
of quinine therefore is essential. Mixed alkaloids and quinidine sulphate (which latter I am
now using largely with good effect) are useful in their way for trivial exacerbations of fever,
where irritability of stomach is absent. But yet quinine, combined with small doses of arse
-nic or sulphate of iron or otherwise, holds its own as a more powerful antagonist of
malarial poison.
Special observations
16. Beyond what I have al r eady sai d i n t he body of t he r epor t I have not hi ng t o add.
I have been trying the effects of mudar powder in cases of
dysentery. Nineteen cases were treated during the year with
good effect. I am still engaged in further investigating the effects of this drug in suitable
cases.
Invaliding, and its causes.
Requirements and recommen
-dations.