26
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
7 . T h e h o s p i t a l i s b u i l t o n t h e s t a n d a r d p l a n , w i t h a b a t h r o o m a n d p r i v y a t e a c h e n d ,
but quite distinct and separated from the wards, and also from
the verandahs. The building is placed on sloping ground about
five hundred yards from the Deccan College,—in fact the com
-pounds of the college and the hospital adjoin each other, being,
however, separated by the Alundi road and a double row of trees. The hygienic condition is
satisfactory with the exception of the floors, which are composed of earth, both in the wards
and in the verandahs. This kind of flooring is objectionable on account of the dust which
rises from it, and the patients are besides much annoyed at times by finding their clothing
eaten by white ants, which come through the floor during the night.
8. The general health of the men is not quite so good as in former years, owing to the
dearness of provisions and their inferior quality—alluded to in
para. 5. The distance of the lines both from the Kirkee and
Poona bazaars renders the supplies of meat and vegetables some
- w h a t i r r e g u l a r a n d u n c e r t a i n , b u t t h i s d e f e c t w i l l , n o d o u b t , b e r e m e d i e d , a s t h e N e w J h a n s i
bazaar develops itself, and by and by local gardens may be set up by the men themselves,
or by pensioners from the corps. The physique of the men is good.
9 . I n c l u d i n g t h e r e t u r n s f r o m t h e c o m p a n y a t A d e n t h e t o t a l t r e a t e d n u m b e r e d 4 6 8 .
The principal diseases were—malarious fevers 128 cases, rheu
-matism 34, syphilis 18, and diarrhœa and dysentery 24.
10. Five deaths took place in the hospital; the men were all of over twenty years'
service, with the exception of one man who died of dysentery,
and he had fourteen years' service. One death took place out
of hospital.
Hospital and its immediate sur
-roundings: present condition, hy
-gienic and otherwise.
The general health and phy
-sique.
Details of treated.
Mortality.
Epidemics.
11. There were no epidemics during the year.
1 2 . P r i m a r y v a c c i n a t i o n w a s c a r r i e d o n t o t h e f u l l r e q u i r e m e n t s ; a t t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r
there were twelve children unprotected, and they were all too
young for the operation. No re-vaccination was performed.
1 3 . A g r e a t e r n u m b e r o f m e n w e r e i n v a l i d e d t h a n i n s o m e f o r m e r y e a r s . T w e n t y - o n e
were invalided at head-quarters, and four at Aden. Two were
discharged for unfitness, not having completed the specified
period for pension.
The following were the reasons for invaliding:—5 for debility from premature old age, 3
for defective vision and general debility, 2 each for general debility and loss of teeth. For
jaundice, varicose veins, night-blindness, leprosy, paralysis, impairment of mental faculties,
chronic dysentery, chronic bronchitis, and loss of voice there was one each invalided.
1 4 . I w o u l d s t r o n g l y r e c o m m e n d t h e f l o o r s o f t h e h o s p i t a l t o b e r e c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h
concrete, and asphalt to be laid down both in the wards and in
the verandahs.
Inspection by Deputy Surgeon-General BEATTY.
Conservancy arrangements are strictly attended to. Water supply is good and abundant.
The hospital, which faces the west, is built in accordance with the standard plan. With
the exception of the flooring, which is composed of mud both in the verandahs and ward, the
hygienic condition was satisfactory.
The medical officer complained of the objectionable construction of the flooring, both on
account of its uncleanness and unhealthiness.
At the time of inspection several of the patients complained that their clothing, if laid on
the floor, was eaten by white ants during the night. The medical officer strongly recom
-mends that the floors of both wards and verandahs be reconstructed with concrete and
asphalt.
The general health of the men was not so good as in previous years. This may be
attributed to the dearness and inferior quality of the food procurable during the past famine
season.
The hospital, at the time of inspection, was found to be in the highest state of efficiency,
and the books and records carefully written up to date.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Invaliding.
Requirements and recommenda
-tions.