Epidemics.
12. None.
16
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Meat is tolerably cheap throughout the year. The average quantity of food taken by the men
daily; both Mahrattas and Mussalmans, is, rice 8 ozs., bread 1½ lbs., mutton 4 ozs., dhal 4
ozs. Mussalmans take more mutton, and Hindustani men, Brahmins, and Kshetryas, who
do not eat rice, take more bread. The men wear on parade and at all mounted duty a blouse,
which is loose and comfortable; at all stable and other duty a tight-fitting jacket; in other
respects they are dressed in very much the same fashion as the Bengal Cavalry. Last year I
pronounced the men's boots as unsatisfactory, and reported a large number of shoe-bite cases
(42 admitted in hospital) which occurred on the march from Poona to Neémuch, incapacitating
the men for work. A new and superior supply has since been obtained from Cawnpore, but
there are still constant cases of shoe-bite occurring amongst the men, which either necessitates
their being taken in hospital, or getting leave from riding parades. I am of opinion that
this evil might to a great extent be remedied by making the men wear some kind of socks.
6. Duties not too heavy; nights in bed 9·4. Amusements of all kinds are supplied to
the men, and I believe are most beneficial to their health. A
good gymnasium has been erected in the lines during the year,
and all recruits have to go through some eight or ten months'
course of gymnastics on joining the regiment. Tent-pegging, polo, and native sports, such
as wrestling, are encouraged.
Duties, exercise, amusements;
their effect on health.
Hospital and its immediate sur-
roundings; present condition, hy
-gienic, and otherwise.
7. The hospital, an old Royal Artillery barrack, is roomy
and well ventilated, the roof has recently been repaired. The
latrine is within fifty yards of the hospital.
8. The general health at head-quarters has been remarkably good. A scurvy taint
prevailed amongst the men in the detachment at Nusseerabad,
necessitating a large number of them taking lime juice daily.
There have been 621 admissions into hospital during the year, including the admissions in the
squadron at Nusseerabad, against 1039 for the year 1878. The large number of admissions
for 1878 was due to the regiment being on service in Cyprus, where they suffered from the
fever of the country (bilious remittent ?) and on return to Poona from general anæmia and
malaria. The general physique of the regiment is excellent. Fifty-three recruits have been
enlisted during the year, thirty-nine of whom were Hindus. Of this number (39), twenty-four
were obtained from the Deccan by a recruiting party sent from the regiment. Most of
these were considerably over regulation height (5 ft. 6 in.) and chest measurement (32 inches).
9. The year has been a particularly healthy one with the regiment. No epidemic has
occurred. The rainfall for the year, 28 inches 7 cents, is con-
-siderably under the average, which, taking the last five years,
is 36 inches 3 cents.
10. There have been 404 admissions for fever of all kinds during the year, the largest
number for one month being in October. For dysentery and
lung diseases 4 and 5, respectively. Injuries of all kinds
admitted (60), considerably less than last year (93). Forty-four men were admitted for skin
diseases, principally scabies and boils. For conjunctivitis 15, rheumatic affections of all
kinds 18, and for nervous affections, such as neuralgia, tetanus, and vertigo, there were 6
admissions. Eleven cases of venereal diseases occurred during the year, primary syphilis 3,
secondary syphilis 1, and gonorrhœa 7.
11. Four deaths have taken place during the year. One from traumatic tetanus, one
from empyœma, following upon pleuropneumonia, a third the
result of a fall from a horse in a recruit, the fourth occurred in
a native officer, acute pneumonia subsequent to a severe attack of remittent fever.
General health and physique.
Influence of climate or local
circumstances on health.
Details of treated.
Mortality and its causes.
13. Vaccination is carried on according to regulations; twelve children have been
vaccinated during the year, all successfully. Eight at present
unprotected, being under age.
14. Nineteen men have been invalided during the year, fourteen of which number
were worn-out and debilitated, one debilitated with long stand
-ing syphilitic taint, one for epilepsy, two for lung diseases, and
one for injury to head.
15. On completion of the new latrines, the two old ones situated near the wells supply
-ing water should be done away with. To abolish
female latrines in the courtyards of the huts a latrine for women
is required, which should be built as near the lines as possible.
This need not be in the least offensive or injurious to health, if kept properly clean. The
huts themselves in many instances require repairing, and some more efficient mode of carrying
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Invaliding and its cause.
Requirements and recommend
-ations.