Details of treated.
General diseases.
Mortality and its causes.
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
40
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
10. The admissions were 1,345, 22 remained sick at close
of previous year, making the total treated 1,367.
The re-admissions numbered 701.
Malarious fever was the chief cause of sickness, 78.2 per cent. of the total admissions
being shown under this head. Of 1,052 admissions, 94 were
cases of febricula, 913 of ague, and 45 of remittent fever. One
ease of cholera occurred in September.
The rheumatic affections were not numerous, 1.7 per cent. only of the total admissions.
Syphilitic diseases contributed 1 .4 per cent.; most of the cases
were contracted on escort and detachment duties. 2 cases of
scurvy occurred towards the end of the year. Both patients were men of long service; one
was invalided, the other remains under treatment.
Two cases of nervous disease have come under treatment, one of epilepsy in a young
sepoy, the other of anæsthesia of the skin of lower extremity in a man of 22 years' service;
both were invalided.
Twenty-eight cases of catarrhal conjunctivitis were admitted, 24 of which occurred
during the dry months of the year, the greatest number in one month being in March.
There were four admissions from disease of the circulatory system, with one death from
valvular disease of the heart.
Diseases of the respiratory organs furnished 49 cases, being 3.6 per cent. of total
admissions. Thirty-three cases of bronchitis and bronchial catarrh, 3 pleurisy, 4 pneumonia,
and 9 asthma. The number of the last named referring to three patients only. Two were
invalided and one remains under treatment. One case of pneumonia was fatal.
The cases under head of digestive system numbered 71, a percentage of 5.2 to total
admissions. They were chiefly of diarrhœa and dysentery, and neither was at any season
specially prevalent. There were 7 admissions from guinea-worm, all contracted by men
either on furlough or on detachment or escort duty. None have resulted in permanent
injury.
Boils, whitlow, and ulcer were the chief cutaneous affections. Two of the six cases of
ulcer returned resulted from the hypodermic injection of quinine.
11. The deaths in hospital were 11, 3 from intermittent fever, and complication arising
from it, 5 from remittent fever, 1 from cholera, 1 from valvular
disease of the heart, and 1 from pneumonia.
12. Nothing for remark.
13. Vaccination has been performed weekly from arm to
arm, and the results generally satisfactory.
14. Thirty-four men were reported by the Annual Invaliding Committee as unfit for
further service, 3 for general debility, 21 as worn out, 2 for
chronic rheumatism, 2 for heart disease, and 2 for confirmed
asthma. From chronic bronchitis and syphilis one each, 1 for broken down health from
malarious fever, and 1 for dementia.
All had served over 21 years in the ranks; the average service of the whole being
between 22 and 23 years. One man of short service, subject to epileptic seizures, was also
invalided.
15. The want of a contagious disease ward was noted by Deputy Surgeon General
Wyllie in inspection report for 1878. The much worn and
uneven brick flooring of the wards and the ceiling cloth
hanging in tatters remain also as then reported. The wooden
shutters with which the window opening of the wards are fitted, renders the wards either
dark or draughty, and glass windows should be substituted. The earthen flooring of both
hospital and line latrines should at once be replaced by stone paving.
16. Malarious fevers have throughout the entire district been of unusual prevalence.
Detailed remark on this will no doubt be given by those under
whose observation the civil population comes. The fact is to
be especially noted in recording the medical history of the Regiment for the past year to
prevent misconception, and lest these diseases from which the men have suffered so much
should be attributed to insanitary conditions of their lines rather than to more general causes
outside them. The extent to which the men's duties exposed them during the season when
malarious influence was most prevalent, has already been noted under para. 6.
Sub-Division A.
B.
Invaliding.
Requirements and recommenda-
tions.
Special observations.