78
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
1878.
1879.
Flour 11 seers per rupee.
7 or 8 seers per rupee
Ghee 1½ " "
¾ o r 1 " "
Dhall 8 " "
6 " "
Meat (goat's) 5 "
4 " "
Milk 12 " "
9 " "
Vegetables, wood, and fowls have increased in price even in a greater degree, Those
men stationed beyond the "ration frontier" receive the usual ration of atta, dhall, ghee, &c.
The dhall was generally bartered for meat, all the men of the regiment being meat-eaters,
with the exception of six or seven. Each man generally consumes about 3½ lbs. of goat's or
sheep's flesh in a week. A great boon would be conferred on the men on outpost duty were
compressed. vegetables served out to them free of charge, or at a nominal cost.
A great improvement has taken place in the clothing of the Regiment, the loose blouse
being introduced instead of the alkalic, and thick cloth trousers instead of those made of
khadi. Under the blouse a large amount of under-clothing can be worn, which was formerly
impossible. When the Regiment was sent on service, each man received a water-proof sheet,
blanket, jersey, a pair of gloves, and a pair of stockings. Lately Balaclava caps have been
provided regimentally.
4. Outpost duty in some places has a decidedly ill effect on the health of the men.
On the 30th of June 59 sabres arrived from Sooie, and I find the
following in my remarks made at the time in the weekly return
of sick:—"The health of the detachment is very bad; all the men suffering more or less from
scurvy." They had been at Sooie for over eight months without vegetables, and had to drink
water containing large quantities of saline impurities.
5. No change has taken place in the hospital and its surroundings with the exception
of some repairs done in the old ward. The walls and floors are
still damp.
6. The general health of the Regiment has, I think, deteriorated during the year on
account of the following causes:—Hard work and exposure to
great changes of climate in the Bolan Pass, an epidemic of
cholera along the posts between Jacobabad and Dozan Mullah, and the outposts not having
been relieved sufficiently often. 103 recruits have been enlisted during the year, partly to
fill up vacancies caused by invaliding, &c., and partly on account of the augmentation.
Their physique, with a few exceptions, is excellent.
7. As there were no floods around Jacobabad, the climate throughout the hot weather
was not as moist as usual; but during the months of Septem
-
ber and October heavy dews fell every night. It was usual
formerly to consider the drying up of the inundation water a cause of malaria, but this idea
is completely disproved by the great prevalence of malarial fever during the past year.
8. Of the 648 admissions, no less than 247 were re-admissions, the latter occurring
chiefly amongst the recruits, who suffered during the autumn
from repeated attacks of malarial fever. From the 25th of
September to the 6th of November, the daily average number of recruits in hospital was 19,
during
causing 43 per cent. of the daily sick durg that time. Ague, which was unusually preva-
lent, but in most cases of a mild type, caused nearly two-thirds of the admissions. In some
it was complicated by sudden congestion of the lungs, which in one case proved fatal, the
patient being a young recruit. Some men who had served in the Bolan Pass were admit-
ted for ague, accompanied by diarrhœa. These cases proved most obstinate in treatment,
as when the diarrhœa was stopped the paroxysms of fever increased in severity and vice versa.
A complete change of air was the only effectual remedy. Contusions, chiefly injuries received
from horses, are the next most frequent cause of admissions. Some of the cases were
due to the shoe worn on dismounted duty. Ulcers and boils, of which there were 14 and 23
cases respectively admitted, were the prevailing complaints during July and August, and
were both due to the increased strain put on the cutaneous circulation during the hot
weather. Dysentery and diarrhœa occurred chiefly in men on outpost duty, who were sent
into head-quarters for treatment. Thirteen cases of gonorrhœa, 4 of primary syphilis, 5 of
Duties.
Hospital.
General health and physique.
Climate.
Details of treated.