42
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
with success, poor people to purchase it. In consequence of there being no rain from Sep
-tember 1876 to April 1877, there was almost no grazing for animals; their flesh was very
lean and deficient in nourishment. A short time ago a chicken could not be obtained in the
bazaar, even on market days.
6. The duties of the regiment at head-quarters have been those of ordinary parades and
guards. Escort parties have proceeded to the districts in charge
of treasure and gangs of convicts. The average number of
consecutive nights in bed has been 3.71. Some of the men,
when off duty, have amused themselves in gardening. There is a cricket club in the regiment,
and some of the men play twice a week. Some of them train for foot races, and have taken
prizes at the Gymkhana meetings. There is no gymnasium in the lines of this regiment,
but I believe some of the men avail themselves of that in the lines of the other native
regiment. The men practise a good deal with clubs, at wrestling, &c.
7 . T h e b u i l d i n g i s i n g o o d c o n d i t i o n , b u t i t i s t o o s m a l l , h a v i n g a c c o m m o d a t i o n f o r o n l y
eighteen patients. Tents have been frequently pitched in the
hospital compound for the treatment of ordinary cases of sick
-ness, because there was not room in the hospital.
8 . T h e s e m a y , I t h i n k , b e c o n s i d e r e d s a t i s f a c t o r y . A t t h e c l o s e o f t h e y e a r f i f t e e n
men remained in hospital, but eleven of them were cases of
a slight nature.
9. Belgaum and the surrounding districts have been very unhealthy; this may be attri
-buted to the long period of dry weather during the last four
months of 1876 and the first four or five months of 1877, fol
-lowed by heavy rain. Cholera prevailed during the hot
months. Remittent fever of a severe type prevailed till the rains were over, since which time
intermittent fever has prevailed to a great extent all over the districts. So great has been
the demand for quinine for sale in the districts that at one time I was unable to meet the
demand at the Civil Hospital.
10. The total number of treated during the year was 453; of these 439 were admissions.
There were 34 re-admissions, so that the total number of per
-
sons treated was 419. Ague gave 134 of the total number of
admissions, and there were 18 from remittent fever. Respiratory diseases gave 28 admissions;
the largest number (6) was in the month of November. There were no admissions in
August and December. There were 27 admissions from diarrhœa, and 24 from dysentery.
Hepatitis gave 5 admissions, and venereal diseases 22. Of these latter only 4 were cases of
primary syphilis.
11. There were four deaths in hospital,—one each from remittent fever, Bright's disease,
asthma, and diabetes. There were seven deaths out of hospital.
1 2 . F r o m c h i c k e n - p o x t h e r e w e r e t h r e e a d m i s s i o n s i n J a n u a r y , t h r e e i n F e b r u a r y , f o u r
in March, five in April; in all, fifteen cases. One case of measles
was admitted in the month of March.
13. There were 79 children vaccinated, one being the child of a European officer; 69
were native children belonging to the regiment, and 9 belonged
to natives in the regimental bazaar; 34 children were re
- v a c c i n a t e d . T h e r e a r e 8 c h i l d r e n u n p r o t e c t e d , b u t t h e y a r e e i t h e r u n d e r t h r e e m o n t h s o l d ,
or are not at present in a fit state of health to have the operation performed.
14. Seventeen men were invalided during the year. Nine men were invalided by the General
Invaliding Committee. Eight of these were for old age and
debility, and one for glaucoma. One man suffering from
arteritis was discharged with a gratuity. Seven men were invalided by special Invaliding
Committees; two were for asthma, and one each for the following causes:—anæmia, hepatitis,
rheumatism, old age and debility.
1 5 . I a m s t i l l o f o p i n i o n t h a t i n s e v e r e c a s e s o f r e m i t t e n t a n d i n t e r m i t t e n t f e v e r s q u i n i n e
is the only reliable remedy we possess. In the milder forms
of these two fevers I use the cinchonidine and cinchona alka
-loid, but they can only be recommended, in my opinion, on the
score of economy.
Duties, exercise, and amuse
-ments: their effects on health.
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings.
General health and physique.
Influence of climate or local
circumstances on health.
Details of treated.
Mortality and its causes.
Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Invaliding and its causes.
Special observations, new ex
-periences in treatment, sanita
- t i o n , & c .