Duties, exercise and amuse
-ments; their effect on health.
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings; present condition,
hygienic and otherwise.
2
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
1. The head-quarters has been in the interior four times on patrolling duty during the
year, and small detachments from June to September in the
plains, six. or seven miles distant from Khor Maksar, in
consequence of rinderpest disease amongst the horses..
2. The lines consist of two long (pucka) pendals, lying north and south, facing inward,
with the horse lines (pucka), built during this year, between
them. The lines are at the western side of the hospital. The
site is good, and the whole have been in good repair during
the year. The pendals are divided by bamboo partitions into
rooms. The space between the two blocks of pendals is 228 feet; height of plinths is about
.1½ feet. Roof composed of Zanzibar rafters and reeds; the matting is covered with stones
and chunam. Ventilation good, by means of holes in the walls. Height to ridge of exter
- n a l w a l l i s 3 f e e t 8 i n c h e s , o f i n t e r n a l w a l l 8 f e e t 8 i n c h e s , a n d o f d o o r w a y 7 f e e t 7 i n c h e s .
Superficial area of single men's rooms, including verandah, is 126 feet, Cubic space per
man is 648 feet. There are, besides, three Native officers' houses. The family quarters are
temporary buildings erected by the married men at their own expense.
3. There is one permanent conveniently situated latrine attached to the hospital, which
is kept clean; the night-soil is removed three times a day. The
men and the male followers resort to the neighbouring sandy
plain for natural purposes, and the small privies in the family lines are regularly cleaned by
sweepers; no nuisance or injury to health is occasioned by this system.
4. Fighting men received two gallons of condensed and three gallons of Shaik
Oothman's (brackish) water a day; both are good of their kind,
and the quantity is deemed sufficient.
5. Rations are not issued to the men of the Aden Troop. Khakee or white clothing
for the hot season, and cloth for the cold season, are well adapted
for the climate.
6. Ordinary guard duties and patrolling in the interior; they seem to have no injurious
effect on the health of the men. The men exercise in playing
polo, athletic sports, &c., and sword exercise, which appears to
do them much good and to improve their health.
7. An excellent hospital is in use, with accommodation
for 12 patients; it gives a space for each patient of 3,212 cubic
feet. The accommodation is good, and the surroundings are
in very good order.
8 With the exception of the large number of admissions in the months of March and
April, the general health during the year has been good and
the troop is fit for active service.
9. During the year the rainfall consisted of only a few slight showers, which in no way
affected the health of the Troop or exercised any influence on the
state of the climate, which was said to have been cooler than
usual. The climate of Aden is most enervating, and affects
the system of those serving in it to such an extent that it renders them very subject to diseases
peculiar to the station, notably fevers, bowel complaints, and bronchial affections.
10
The average strength of the year was 86·4 and the total number of admissions into
hospital 180, out of which 161 were discharged, 16 transferred
to the 25th Regiment N.L I. Hospital for treatment, 1 died,
and 3 remained under treatment on the 3rd December 1879, making a total of 181 treated,
including 1 remaining from previous year, being 14 cases less than in the preceding year.
Ague, as usual, caused the largest number of admissions, and furnished 65 cases. The
disease was of a mild type and occurred chiefly in the months of January, February, March,
and April, soon after the Troop returned from the malarious country. The cases were all
treated in the usual way with cinchona alkaloid, and quinine in the more severe ones.
There were 11 cases of rheumatism, due in a great measure to exposure to vicissitudes
of climate.
There were 9 cases of bronchitis, acute and chronic, caused by exposure; one man sent
on sick leave to Hindoostan for this complaint. There were 9 cases of splenitis treated;
out of these, one proved fatal. The man recently returned from furlough and had been sent
with a detachment into the interior on duty, where he contracted fever and an enormous
spleen. The cases of wounds were mostly slight ones, and the remaining admissions require
no comment.
11.
One death occurred from enormous enlargement of
the spleen, caused by long residence in Aden.
Location and movements.
The lines and their surround
- i n g s ; p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n , h y g i e n i c
and otherwise.
Conservancy.
Water supply.
Food and clothing.
General health and physique.
Influence of climate or local
circumstances on health.
Details of treated.
Mortality, and its causes.