Lines, &c.
Conservancy.
Water-supply.
Food and clothing.
Duties, exercises, &c.
Hospital, &c.
General health and physique.
Details of treated.
57
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
1 3 . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f p r i m a r y v a c c i n a t i o n s d u r i n g t h e y e a r w e r e 1 4 8 , a l l s u c c e s s f u l .
There were seventeen children on the rolls unvaccinated, who
were either too young or sickly.
14. The number of invalids this year was unusually small, only ten, and this was
partly due to all men not likely to stand service having been
got rid of last year, when the Regiment was under expectation
of active service. Of the men discharged, seven were for debility and ague, &c., one for
varicose veins, one for palsy of the right arm, and one for physical disability.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Invaliding, and its causes.
Requirements and recommen
-dations.
15. None, except that some sorts of pans should be intro
-duced into the latrine accommodation when funds permit.
16. Seven cases of guinea-worm came under observation, but only three of these could
be experimented upon in continuation of the previous experi
-ments reported. The reason of this was principally that the
worms were too small and thready, rendering the operation of
stinging them with a scorpion a difficult task ; the best mode
of doing so, however, was found to be by making a hole in a card and drawing the worm
through, then seizing the scorpion with a hankerchief nearly half an inch from the tail and
allowing him to sting the worm, drawn tight, himself. The worm when stung can undoubt
- e d l y b e f e l t b y t h e p a t i e n t , a s a p e c u l i a r t h r i l l i n g a n d e v e n v e r y p a i n f u l s e n s a t i o n i s p r o d u c e d
in the locality, which lasts for some time. The worm dies in a few days as a rule completely ;
but nearly always the next day about seven inches or so comes away quite dead and flat.
In chronic and sub-acute cases of dysentery the following enema has been tried with
remarkable results. It seems to be a course of treatment which has not been extensively or
thoroughly tried, as the leading medical works refer only lightly to the subject, and mention
only nitrate of silver and sulphate of zinc simply, or they pass over the subject altogether.
The prescription used was the following :—Sulphate of copper and tannic acid each xii
grains, with 3 dr. vin. ipecac., and xx minims of hydrochlorate of morphia in oz. xiii of warm
water, as an enema. Every other day the sulphate of copper was alternated with the
sulphate of zinc. In chronic cases the pain is not much, but in sub-acute cases it is consi
- d e r a b l e . I n s o m e c a s e s i t a c t s l i k e m a g i c , a n d i n a l l I h a v e t r i e d , w h i c h a r e n o t m a n y ,
it has been decidedly beneficial. Deputy Surgeon-General Beatty had tried the treatment
in one case when I last saw him, and he assured me that it had been very successful.
Sappers and Miners.
KIRKEE—In medical charge of Surgeon H. P. JERVIS, Surgeon T. MONKS, and
Assistant Apothecary J. DIAS.
Average Strength . . .
103
Deaths in Hospital . . .
2
Do. present . . .
103
Do. out of Hospital . . .
. . .
Admissions . . .
192
Invalided . . .
5
Daily Sick . . .
5.8
Sick Leave . . .
. . .
1. No. 3 and 4 Companies were quartered in the New Jhansi, Kirkee, until 14th October,
when they proceeded to Field Service in Afghanistan , leaving
a depôt at Kirkee.
Special observations and expe
-riences in treatment.
Location and movements.
2. As reported last year, the hygienic condition of the
lines is defective in drainage.
3. No alteration from last year.
4. From Khurruckwasla Canal ; good and abundant.
5. The food supply and clothing is as previously reported.
6. Have been as usual at Kirkee.
7. The hospital is in good repair, and affords sufficient
accommodation.
8. The general health and physique were much impaired
by the effects of the expedition to Malta and Cyprus in the
previous year.
9. A considerable proportion of the admissions were
for ague.