83
SIND DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
reasons. The Cantonment stands on a plateau, with a sudden but not very considerable drop
to low ground covered with trees. During the height of the river, this ground is purposely
swamped in order to nourish the trees. The river subsides, and this water gradually runs off.
During the months Of September, October, and November ague prevailed almost as an
epidemic. This season was divisable into three periods, merging into each:
1st.—The water was disappearing and the powerful smell of decomposing vegetable mat
-
ter was most noticeable, but a constant and very strong south-west wind prevailed, and
doubtless modified its harmful effects. Admissions from September 5th to 19th, 33.
2nd.—This strong wind subsided, the ground was still moist and the weather warm.
Admissions from September 27th till October 11th, 66.
3rd .—The days being still warm, chill nights came on, and no wind moving, the vapours,
rendered perceptible by any smoke present, were seen to be condensed at sunset, forming a
layer about 6 feet in height. Admissions from October 24th till November 8th, 202.
Doubtless this latter large number of admissions were not entirely fresh cases of malarial
poisoning, but were frequently the result of chills telling on men who had previously suffered,
and thus re-awakening the disease. During the second period hardly an officer or civilian in
the Cantonment escaped.
10. Total admissions during the year 1,839, an increase of 530 on the previous year's
admissions. Eleven deaths occurred in hospital as compared
with nine during 1878. Daily average sick, 61.5. The fol
-
lowing are the principal diseases in their order, of frequency:—Ague 1,318, 534 more than
during last year, cutaneous system 75, diarrhœa 64, dysentery 57, contusions and sprains 52,
and debility 24 cases. Primary syphilis 22, secondary 9, muscular rheumatism 21, bron
-
chial catarrhs 21, bronchitis 19, scurvy 10, phthisis 5, pneumonia 4, and remittent fever 3.
The ague was generally of ordinary quotidian form, and was, as a rule, amenable to
treatment. Exceptionally severe cases occurred, as in the cases of the three remittent
fevers, two of which died under my care at Sukkur. Vomiting was not a marked
symptom, but merely a persistently high temperature with low delirium. A few other cases
in Sukkur were thus complicated. Towards the end of the fever period enlarged spleens
with anemia were exceedingly common. The large amount of diarrhœa and dysentery occur
-
red mainly in the head-quarters during their six weeks' stay in tents before alluded to.
Pulmonary affections were numerous in the early part and the decline of the year, due to the
cold telling on debilitated men accustomed to the more equable climate of the Deccan.
There is a decided diminution in the number of admissions for syphilis, still the number is very
high, there being no Lock Hospital system in this town.
As it seemed probable that the differences of habits between the principal sects of the
Regiment, more particularly of the high-caste Hindoos, of whom there is a large proportion,
and the Mussulmans, would greatly influence their liability to disease, the following table
was drawn up from the Hospital Register for the years 1877, 1878, and 1879:—
MUSSULMANS.
HINDOOS.
Average Strength.
105 1/3.
407 1/3.
Diseases.
Total
Admissions.
Per Cent to
Strength.
Total
Admissions.
Per Cent to
Strength.
Ague . . .
312
296.20
1,929
473.56
Affections of the alimentary canal . . .
42
39.87
188
46.15
Pulmonary affections . . .
22
20.88
9 8
22.83
Venereal affections. . .
39
37.02
59
14.48
Rheumatic affections . . .
7
6.64
81
19.88
Total . . .
422
400.61
2,350
576.90
Details of treated.