52
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
10. There were 614 admissions under observation, including 56 re-admissions. There
were 5 deaths in hospital. Six men were sent on medical
certificate, three ague, two venereal disease, one phthisis. The
principal diseases, in order of frequency were as follows :—Ague 249, most of these cases being
of mild type and quotidian in variety; eye-diseases 51, 49 being due to simple conjunctivitis;
2 others to, iritis, contusion of lower extremities 54, most of these cases being shoe-bite due to
ill-fitting boots; primary syphilis 28, cliarrhœa 16, dysentery 16, lung diseases 22, secondary
syphilis 17. guinea-worm 12.
11. There were 4 deaths in hospital, viz. 2 from phthisis pulmonalis, one from
encephalitis, one from pneumonia. One man died out of hos
-pital, having committed suicide by shooting himself through
the left side of his chest.
Details of treated.
Mortality and its causes.
Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
12. There has been no epidemic.
13. Has been carefully and successfully carried out.
14. Twenty-four men were invalided; 13 general debility,1 vertigo, 1 chronic rheuma
-tism, 1 aneurism of thorax, 1 chronic bronchitis, 1 phthisis, 1 im
-paired vision, 1 iritis, 1 deafness, 1 chronic hepatitis, 2 chronic
splenitis.
15. As recommended for the last three years, a small latrine is required for the
regimental solitary cells, as prisoners confined there have to
march under a guard to the hospital latrine, which is some
way off.
16. In four rather severe cases of ague admitted into hospital during the hot stage of
fever, Surgeon Earle found that tincture of opium given in
half drachm doses was very useful (in three of the cases men
-tioned) in producing profuse sweating in about half an hour
after the administration of the drug followed by sleep, and relief of all the symptoms, such
as sickness, nausea, pain in the limbs and lassitude, patient complaining of only very slight
headache. Surgeon Earle still considers the cinchona alkaloid only acts as a mild febrifuge.
In many of the cases admitted into hospital he found rest and good diet far more beneficial
than medicine in restoring the patient to good health.
Inspection by Deputy Surgeon General HEWLETT.
Inspected 10th November 1879. The head-quarter wing arrived at Deesa from Ahmeda
-bad on the 13th January, and the left wing on the 2nd March. The lines in which the men
are hutted are old, dilapidated, and of faulty design. They have been repeatedly condemned.
The ventilation in the huts is defective, and all sullage from married men's quarters is absorb
-ed in the immediate vicinity of the huts. The water supply is derived from wells; most of
these are in the lines, but that for the Purwaries has been sunk under some trees near the river
bank. I recommended this to be immediately covered over. Trench latrines are used and
are effective, but in the interest of persons drawing their water supply lower down, I think
the site in the river-bed is objectionable. The solitary cells being without any ventilation, I
recommended that roof ventilation be provided, and that the walls be pierced. A latrine is
also much required for the use of prisoners. The health of the regiment has been fairly
good during the year. There was no epidemic, and there were only 244 cases of ague admit
-ted during the year. The maximum number of admissions for this disease took place in
May (38). No case of enteric fever was reported. I was on the whole pleased with my inspec
-tion of the hospital and its surroundings. The errors that I found are to be attributed to
inexperience, and only required to be pointed out to be rectified. The hospital itself, I was
informed, had been pronounced unsafe by the Superintending Engineer. It Much requires
repair.
Invaliding and its causes.
Requirements and recommenda
-tions.
Special observations, new expe
-riences in treatment,sanitation, &c.