11
PRESIDENCY DIVISION, ADEN, AND BOMBAY MARINE.
at Bombay a few clays after his arrival in India. A second case of the complaint proved
fatal in a recruit boy, but as he is only classed as a public follower, he is not shown in the
Annual Return.
Bright’s Disease.—Two cases of acute Bright’s disease were admitted, and of these one is
dead, and the other still under treatment. Both cases were complicated with enlarged
spleens and livers, and were accompanied by rapid ascites with general anasarca later on.
A case of apoplexy occurred and proved fatal in hospital.
Debility .—Eleven cases of debility were admitted, and the same number from splenitis.
A case of dementia, which has improved so much that the man is now almost perfectly sane,
but of course not fit for the duties of a soldier, has been under treatment. The man would
have been sent to the Bombay Lunatic Asylum at first, but no private company would take
him, and there being no Government vessel available, he remained at Aden, and will now be
handed over to his friends. The remaining admissions present nothing worthy of special
mention.
11. There were four deaths in hospital at Aden and three on sick leave. The deaths
Mortality and its causes.
in hospital were due, one to apoplexy, one to Bright’s disease,
and two to scurvy complicated with ague, bronchitis and g eneral
debility. The deaths on sick leave were caused, one by phthisis pulmonalis, and two by
ague, dysentery, and general debility.
12. There was a slight outbreak of small-pox amongst the native population, which did
Epidemics.
not extend to the Troops, and which was introduced by
pilgrims to and from Mecca.
13. Vaccination was carried out as required in the Regiment by the public vaccinator
Vaccination and re-vaccination. at the Civil Hospital. There was no re-vaccination, as no
recruits joined from India.
14. There were 29 men discharged during the year, and of these five had served over
32 years and were entitled to pension, eleven were old and
worn out, five were worn out and scorbutic ; one suffered from
bronchitis, one from debility, one from deafness, one from splenitis, one from bad scurvy, one
from scurvy and worn out, one from varicose veins and worn out, one asthmatic and worn
out. There were two short service men in addition to the above discharged, one for dementia
and the other for debility.
15. The Regimental latrines require altering, as their present condition is, as before
Invaliding and its causes.
Requirements and recommend-
ations.
mentioned, anything but satisfactory. The lines require some
arrangement for the disposal of the refuse bathing water and
other fluids in the married quarters.
16. In my opinion a very unwise move was suggested during the year by the Brigade
authorities, and this was, the removal of the sick from the
military native general hospital to the Native Infantry one.
Nothing prevented this from being carried out, but the fact that both hospitals have been as
full as they could possibly well be, since the affair was mooted. In spite of all this,
it is still in contemplation, and on the relief of the 25th, when the 14th Regiment arrives,
will I believe be carried out. I have expressed my opinion on the subject, and did my
utmost to convince the local authorities that the move was an unwise one on sanitary grounds,
and if carried out would convert a healthy and in every way desirable hospital into an over-
-
crowded and unhealthy one. It was actually proposed to enclose the front verandah, thereby
shutting off the ventilation. Aden is a place that requires plenty of space and free ventilation
for the successful treatment of disease, and it seems a pity, when Government provides all
this in the shape of a good hospital, to interfere on the score of a petty local economy.
28th Regiment N. I.
SURAT.—In Medical charge of Surgeon Major J. F. KEITH, M.D.
Special observations.
Average Strength
691
Do.
present
.....
625
Admissions
1,489
Daily Sick
...
35.8
Deaths in Hospital
14
Do. out of Hospital
5
Invalided
48
Sick Leave
57