54,
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
daily, the earth gradually became polluted, and as the family bathed anywhere in these
enclosures, the soil was almost continually damp and evaporating.
On my recommendation, the Commandant has cleared away the earth to the depth of
two feet, placed "moorhum " instead, and constructed chunam and stone floors for the bath-
ing places and privies.
To the east and south, within a distance of 112 paces from the front of the lines, the
fields are constantly irrigated by the Kurruckwasla water. I fear this is one of the main
causes of the continuance of malarial fever throughout the year.
3. The latrines are situated 150 yards distant on the left front of the lines towards the
north. They require white-washing, the floors are out of repair,
Conservancy. and the walls require pointing, the base bricks being decayed.
At present the sowars void urine on the floors, causing an insanitary state. I have recom-
mended that urine should be received separately into pans.
4. Good. Kurruckwasla water through pipes. Some
prefer to drink well water. Supply ample.
5. Food indifferent. Supply ample. No change of clothing
F and clothing.
since last report.
6. Exercise parades three or four times weekly ; considerable orderly duty, cleaning
horses and accoutrements. Average nights in bed, conse-
cutive 9.5. Amusements are tilting at the ring, tent-pegging,
sword exercises, such as lime-cutting on horseback at speed
and polo, all having a capital effect.
7. Turning to the hospital, the contrast is indeed striking. On the one hand, a series
of hovels unfit for human habitation; on the other, a splendid
building, perfect in all its parts. In former reports it has been
fully described. Within -thirty yards of the compound there
are irrigation fields. The latrines are kept beautifully clean,
and are in very good repair. The dry-earth system is not in use.
8. During the first four months of the year the general health was excellent ; but the
rainfall brought in its train malaria, which soon reduced health
General health and physique. below par. The cold weather, however, has bad a most bracing
effect; on the whole the physique of the Regiment is steadily improving, although great
difficulty is experienced in obtaining able-bodied recruits with good chest development.
9. I am of opinion that bad drainage and proximity of
irrigated fields have been the great factors in developing miasm,
the agent exciting paroxysmal fevers and causing inefficiency.
10.The total admissions, out of the average present strength, amounted to 598.
Of these, 354 were from quotidian ague, being an excess of 105
Details of treated.
cases contrasted with last year. This was due to the change
from the very dry climate of Deesa to the moist air of Poona; and also to the very bad state
of drainage in the lines after the rains, besides the moist state of the ground kept up all the
year by irrigation.
The greatest number of admissions were in June, July, and August, when the
daily sick amounted to 38. In most cases six grains of mixed cinchona alkaloids thrice
daily were exhibited ; but in severe cases always quinine in large doses were given with
great effect. In one case of hyperpyrexia the patient became comatose, when quinine was
administered hypodermically and ice applied to the head with a happy result. Of the
remaining admissions, contusions gave 70, dysentery 27, syphilis 11, lumbago 10, rheumatism
9, brow ague 4, sciatica 1, conjunctivitis 5, inflammation of the ear 1, inflammation of the
glands 1, gum boil 2, bronchitis 4, pneumonia 2, pleurisy 5, dyspepsia 1, diarrhœa 10, colic
13, constipatio 1, fistula in ano 2, jaundice 1, splenitis 2, hœmorhoids 1, gonorrhœa 5, bubo
1, orchitis 2, abscess 10, guinea-worm 7, erythema 1, urticaria 1, pemphigus acute 2, burns
and scalds 1, fracture of forearm 2, sprain of ankle 5, simple fracture of leg 1, and 1 wound
of thumb from horse-bite on the line of march. The distal phalanx of a sowar's thumb was
bitten off by his charger. He was dragged for some distance, when a comrade hit the horse
on the head with a peg, but the animal did not let go till he bit through the joint and tore
out about 10 inches of the flexor longus pollicis tendon.
Colonel Sykes proceeded on three months' sick leave to Bombay with enormously
enlarged spleen, the organ reaching to a point below the umbilicus, his health being
seriously impaired.
Major Stopford obtained two months' sick leave to Mahableshwar, suffering with ague
quotidian, neuralgia of face; and insomnia. Of an average strength of nine European
officers, the admissions were as follows, viz., ague quotidian 5, neuralgia of face 2, diar--
rhœa 1, and splenitis 2.
Water -supply.
Duties, exercise, and amuse-
ments; their effect on health.
Hospital and its immediate sur-
roundings ; present condition, hy-
gienic or otherwise.
Influences of climate or local
circumstances on health.