NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
73
H. M.'s 3rd (Queen's Own) Regiment Light Cavalry.
NEEMUCH.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major C. J. F. MACDOWALL.
Average Strength
480.2
Deaths in Hospital
0
Do.
Present
443.8
Do out of do.
1
Admissions
461
Invalided
13
Daily Sick
12.6
Sick Leave
6
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions.
Daily Sick.
Deaths in H o s p i t a l
1874
Neemuch
15.5
4.0
0.7
1875
Do.
116.9
3.6
0.2
1876
Do. and Nusseerabad
133.8
3.5
0.4
Average
88.7
3.7
0.4
1877
Neemuch and Nusseerabad
103.8
2.8
......
Location and movements.
The regiment arrived from Delhi at Neemuch on the 22nd February 1877. A squadron
is always absent at Nusseerabad. It is changed every second
year. A small detachment, which is changed monthly, patrols
the roads between Neemuch and Mundisoor.
The Lines and their surround-
ings : present condition, hygienic
and otherwise.
2.
I venture again to call attention to the peculiarity of Native Cavalry lines in general,
and here in particular. Each hut save those of the bachelors
has a courtyard for the females to bathe in, &c., since these pur-
dah women cannot or will not frequent public latrines or wash-
houses. But public latrines and baths would be better, if
practicable, than either a bathing-place inside the hut or in a small courtyard. Although these
courts are kept comparatively clean, the question of doing away with them has long been
discussed, and I have come to the conclusion that, as a preventative against the evils of
bathing, &c., &c., in-doors, they need only be made larger; the washing-place should be
cemented, as also the outlets leading from these to the gutter outside. The immediate
drainage of the lines is surface, and satisfactory. Several new surface drains have been
made. The courtyards of the huts are almost all drained by a runlet coming through and
under. the wall to the gutter or surface drain outside.
Conservancy.
3. The Magistrate has supported me in every case by fining all people concerned in
permitting or causing nuisances of any sort in the cantonment.
Conservancy carts and sweepers are not numerous enough.
Filth is not always removed as soon as it might be, although it is deposited in allotted spots,
and is removable day and night, whether in the lines or in the bazaar. There are masonry
latrines for the troops on the rocky ground (too far off), and earthen ones for the bazaar, where
the ground is soft. This ground is so limited that it can scarcely be cultivated.
Water supply.
4. This is obtained mostly from wells, of which analyses have been furnished before.
I submit my own analysis (made last year) of the four
military wells :—
Water decanted after subsidence.
Grains per gallon.
Grains per gallon.
Total
Solids.
Chlorine.
Free
Ammonia.
Albuminoid
Ammonia.
Royal Artillery well
26
4.96
None.
.0042
H. M.'s 68th Foot well
20
2.99
. 0 0 0 7
.0056
24th Regt. N. I. well
24
2.48
. 0 0 5 6
.0112
3rd Light Cavalry well
24
2.12
None.
.0042
19 m
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
75
Requirements and recommen-
dations.
15. The total abolition of all secret cesspools in the courtyards of the huts ; good
saucer stone gutters are required instead of the earthen ones
running down in front of the huts; also a new masonry latrine,
neither too close to the lines, nor so far as the present one.
Low parapets round the draw-holes of flat covered wells are needed. I have had this done
in the case of the hospital well, as the washings ran in.
Inspection by Deputy Surgeon-General WYLLIE.
Inspected 8th December. Health to date very satisfactory. The present hospital,
occupied in April last, was formerly that of the Royal Artillery. It has sufficient and suit-
able room, and there are ample subsidiary buildings ; but the situation is inconvenient by
distance, and open to some objection as lying between the regimental bazaar and grass-
cutters' lines. For these reasons one of the vacated Artillery barracks near to the Cavalry
lines is being got in readiness as an hospital, and it will afford superior accommodation, with
all needful out-offices.
I found the lines fairly clean and in tolerable repair, but noticed the existence of cess-
pools in some of the family enclosures. These, I understand, will now be removed.
H. M.'s 10th Regiment N. L. I.
NEEMUCH.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major F. R. O'KEARNEY, M.D.
Average Strength
703
Deaths in Hospital
1
Do.
Present
637.7
Do. out of do.
3
Admissions
1,211
Invalided
22
Daily Sick
38.7
Sick Leave
33
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions. Daily Sick.
Deaths in
H o s p i t a l
1874
Mehidpur and Agar......
223.7
7.1
......
1875
Do.
do.
......
213.9
6.7
4.2
1876
Do..
do.
......
230.9
7.7
0.8
Average...
222.8
7.2
1.7
1877
Neemuch
189.9
6.1
0.1
Location and movements.
The head-quarters were stationed at Neemuch throughout the year. The left wing
from January till its return on the 19th February was located
at Nusseerabad, during the temporary absence of the 16th Re-
giment N. I. at Delhi. Besides these movements several escort parties have had to be sent
on the Mhow and Nusseerabad roads.
The Lines and their surround-
ings : present condition, hygienic
and otherwise.
2. The lines and surroundings have already been described in former reports, and con-
tinue much in the same state as before. They are maintained, as
usual, clean and in a tolerably good state of repair, but the main
sanitary defects as to construction, space, light, and ventilation,
total absence of plinths, &c., must, it is feared, remain as before ;
nothing will remedy this but the building of new lines on the standard plan.
Conservancy.
3. The latrines are kept clean and in good order. The distance, which is nearly 500 yards
from the lines, is felt as inconvenient; but, owing to the absence
of other available sites, and danger of injury to the drinking
water, this inconvenience seems at present irremediable. The line and latrine refuse is daily
carted to a considerable distance, and buried in trenches away from all sources of water
supply.
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
77
Invaliding and its causes.
14. There were in all 22 invalided, of whom 19 were Hindus and 3 Musalmans. For
malarious fever 6, lung diseases 3, hernia 1, old age and debi-
lity 10, secondary syphilis 1, and injury to tendo Achillis I.
Requirements and recommen-
dations.
15. A contagious diseases ward and dead-house are much required. The present
lines should be abolished, and new lines built on standard plans,
with adequate space, plinths, drainage, &c. The wells should
be deepened, and reservoirs to retain water constructed, and
the adjoining nullahs so bunded as to raise the water level.
Inspection, by Deputy Surgeon-General WYLLIE.
Inspected 8th and 9th December. Health unsatisfactory, but materially better than in
the previous year, when the regiment was at Mehidpur. During the past eleven months, in
an average daily strength of 598, there have been 1,051 admissions into hospital, of which
815 were due to malarious fevers. In April the number of such cases received was 124, and
in May as high as 227. It is noteworthy that the same exceptional result happened in the
case of the 25th Regiment after removal to Mhow in 1874, of an excess of ague in the
summer months as the outcome of malarious saturation acquired during two years' residence at
Mehidpur. Apart from this exceptional feature the admissions have been relatively few, and
mortality very small.
Hospital consists of two old barracks, and has ample and fairly suitable accommodation.
with sufficient subsidiary buildings, excepting a dead-house. I found all well ordered.
Lines clean and in tolerable repair ; huts more defective than average. Two urinals have
lately been constructed : a hollow perforated stone slab raised some 18 inches and adequately
screened with an iron receptacle below, removable from outside, is the arrangement; it is
more troublesome than that at Nusseerabad, but sand is not procurable. Permanent latrine:,
are constantly in use, but here, as elsewhere in the Mhow command, inconveniently distant
from the lines.
H. M.'s 16th Regiment N. I.
NUSSEERABAD.—In medical charge of Surgeon W. C. KIERNANDER.
Average Strength
719.3
Deaths in Hospital
3
Do.
Present....
668
Do. out of do.
1
Admissions
831
Invalided
29
Daily Sick
22.2
Sick Leave
6
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions. Daily Sick.
Deaths in
Hospital.
1874
Mhow
1875
Do.
137.6
4.2
0.7
1876
Nusseerabad
200.4
6.0
0.6
Average
1877
Nusseerabad
124.4
3.3
0 . 4
Location and movements.
The regiment marched into Nusseerabad from Delhi on the 2nd February, having left
the latter place on the 8th of January.
20 m
79
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
11. There were three deaths in hospital—two from pneumonia and the third from.
beriberi. Private Lana Sing was admitted on the 25th October
with pneumonia. On the morning of the 29th he woke from
sleep, gave a few gasps and died. The post-mortem showed a very large liver, his right
lung limg was in a state of red hepatization, and the immediate cause of death was a large clot in
the heart. The case of beriberi was the only one of its kind I have seen in this part, of India.
One case of fever died out of hospital; he was sent to the General Hospital at Delhi while we
were there, and died soon after.
1 2 . T h e r e w a s a n e p i d e m i c o f s m a l l - p o x i n t h e b a z a a r , b u t o n l y 3 c a s e s o c c u r r e d i n
the regiment. The disease was of a mild form, and the men
made quick recoveries.
1 3 . V a c c i n a t i o n w a s c a r r i e d o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f v a c c i n a t i o n s
was 27, and all were successful. There were 49 re-vaccina-
tions; of these 26 were successful and 23 unsuccessful.
14.Twenty-nine men were invalided, fifteen of them after long service, five for
chronic bronchitis, five for chronic rheumatism, and four for
defective eye-sight. Two men who had only short service
were discharged with a gratuity, being unfit for service—one for defective eye-sight, and the
other for guinea-worm.
Mortality and its causes.
Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Invaliding and its causes.
Requirements and recommen-
-dations.
15. We have no special ward for contagious diseases,
but the practice of building temporary huts is perhaps as
good as anything that can be devised.
16. The sanitation of the regimental lines has been so much improved, and the cli
-matic influences so favourable, that there has been very little
sickness in the regiment during the year, and I have no ob
-servation to add to my remarks of last year on the subject.
Inspection by Deputy Surgeon-General WYLLIE.
Inspected 29th November. Health so far very favourable, the usual autumnal ague
showing far less than half its ordinary incidence. Hospital, on Bengal standard plan, is com
-plained of as hot in summer, and cold and gusty in winter; is about to be provided with a
ceiling, which will meet present objections; details of organization and conservancy all satis--
factory.
I was particularly pleased with the improvements made in the lines since my last visit—the
tidy, cleanly appearance of the huts, and the excellent arrangements in progress for drainage.
Three urinals, two for men and one for women, have also been recently constructed by Colonel
Pierce on his own plans. The urine is received on sand laid down in masonry beds, and
renewed twice weekly. I could. detect no smell outside the screen wall, and very little with
-in, although the sand had been in use for three days I regard this addition as very
commendable, as it will certainly be a great convenience, and I anticipate that the arrange--
ment will prove a success for imitation elsewhere.
Special observations, new ex-
- p e r i e n c e s i n t r e a t m e n t , s a n i t a t i o n ,
&c.
80
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
SIND DIVISION.
Average Strength Present during the year...
. . .
2291.7
Average Daily Sick per cent. to the Average Strength
...
4.2
Ratio of Mortality per cent. to the Average Strength ...
...
1.2
H. M.'s 29th Regiment N. I.
KURRACHEE.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major C. MORTON.
Average Strength
694.9
Deaths in Hospital
3
Do.
Present
615.2
Do. out of do.
2
Admissions
411
Invalided
15
Daily Sick
17.1
Sick Leave
7
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions. Daily Sick. Deaths i n
Hospital.
1874
Hyderabad
125.6
3.4
0.4
1875
Kurrachee
85.7
3.3
0.6
1876
Do.
95.1
2.8
0.7
102.1
3.2
0.6
1877
Kurrachee
66.8
2.7
0.5
Location and movements.
The 2nd Belooch Regiment was quartered in the Depôt barracks, Kurrachee, from the
1st January to 21st October, on which date the corps left
on field service to join the Mittri Field Force. The regiment
proceeded by rail to Kotree, where it embarked on board the Indus Flotilla Steamer
Cramborne on the evening of the 21st October, and disembarked at Sukkur on the morning
of the 29th idem. Thence it marched to Mittri, viâ Jacobabad, arriving at the former
place on the 12th November, where it was encamped to 31st December. The men enjoyed
excellent health on the road, and, bearing in view the long marches over weary reaches
of fine sand, did not suffer unduly from shoe-bite.
The Lines and their snrround-
ings : present condition, hygienic
and otherwise.
2. The lines occupied by the regiment in Kurrachee were originally designed for
European troops, and are situated on an undulating, slightly
irregular incline. They have a south-westerly aspect, and
consist of nine blocks of buildings ranged in three rows.
Each row has a central street 182 feet wide, running the entire length, and intersected by
transverse streets thirty feet broad. The barracks are large, roomy, and thoroughly venti-
lated by means of continuous ridges and free lateral openings, and are kept in perfect repair.
The hygienic condition of the lines and their surroundings received the most careful
attention, and the sanitary state in which they were kept was highly conducive to health.
Conservancy.
3. The system of conservancy is the standard plan, which in many respects is de-
fective. The iron receptacles do not fit accurately into the
stone compartments, and in consequence the urine and fœces
fall between the stones and the pans. These receptacles are far from being sanitarily per
-fect. They have no partitions to separate the urine from the fœces, and are not sufficiently
strong at the bottom to bear for any length of time the constant friction of pushing in and
pulling out; the sides are equally weak, and become dented in all directions. A compart-
ment for the urine might be made spittoon-fashion, to prevent the contents from being
Invaliding and its causes.
14. Fifteen men were invalided for the following diseases—rheumatic affections nine,
syphilis four, and lung diseases two.
Requirements and recommen-
dations.
82
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Mortality and its causes.
11. Two deaths from pneumonia occurred in January, and were the result of the cold
prevalent throughout that month. One casualty arose from
enteritis in February, and possibly was occasioned by the
ingestion of an irritant. The deaths out of hospital were two ; but, as the men were on leave,
I am not in a position to state of what diseases they died.
Epidemics.
12. There was no epidemic in the regiment, though small-pox was prevalent in the
city and bazaars, yet only one case occurred in the regimental
lines, and that in the person of a sepoy of the 1st Belooch Re-
giment, temporarily attached for duty. The usual precautions to stay the spread of the disease
were taken, and were attended with perfect success.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
13. Vaccination and re-vaccination received the most
careful attention, with successful results.
15. The great requirement of Kurrachee is an ample supply of good water. Quarters
for hospital assistants, contiguous to the hospital, and a dead
—house, are also much required.
Special observations, new ex-
periences in treatment, sanitation,
&c.
16. The not unfrequent occurrence of typhoid fever and other preventible diseases
among the troops quartered in Kurrachee calls for special ob
-servation, and I would reiterate what I have before urged, that
in all matters affecting the sanitary state of military corps,
whether European or native, it is impossible to overlook sur-
rounding influences which act prejudicially on the public health. It should ever be borne
in mind that the same local non-sanitary conditions which deteriorate the general standard
of health affect alike the military as the civil population. When an epidemic breaks out
in the locality of the one, it generally extends to the other. Attention, however, is so
concentrated on the limited area occupied by regiments that pathogenic causes outside that
area are unregarded, or passed over as lying beyond the limits of military supervision and
control.
Inspection by Deputy Surgeon-General Joynt.
This corps was hurried off to Mittri (Sind frontier) on very short notice, and was not
formally inspected. I had ample evidence, however, of the zeal and efficiency with which
Surgeon-Major Morton discharged his duties, not only in daily routine, but also in his careful
arrangements for the welfare of the regiment on the march.
H. M.'s 27th Regiment N. I.
HYDERABAD.—In medical charge of Surgeon S. B. HALIDAY
.
Average Strength
699.6
Deaths in Hospital
4
Do.
Present
636.2
Do. out of do.
1
Admissions
635
Invalided
49
Daily Sick
27
Sick Leave
12
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions. Daily Sick.
Deaths in
Hospital.
1874
Kurrachee
75.1
1.8
0.3
1875
Hyderabad
92.6
4.1
0.1
1876
Do.
137.4
5.8
1.0
Average...
101.7
3.9
0.5
1877
Hyderabad
99.8
4.2
0.6
11. Primary vaccination has been successfully performed 63 times, and re-vaccination
8 times.
Invaliding and its causes.
SIND DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
89
Details of treated.
9. The admissions for the year numbered 551. The prevailing diseases were—ague 222
cases, dysentery 22, diarrhœa 38, rheumatism 15. There were
6 cases of hypertrophy of the spleen, and 2 of pneumonia.
Contusions numbered 100. Three cases of sunstroke occurred.
Mortality and its causes.
1 0 . T h e r e w e r e 1 1 d e a t h s — t w o f r o m d i a r r h œ a , a n d o n e e a c h f r o m c o n c u s s i o n o f t h e
brain, sword-cut (murdered), capital punishment, sunstroke,
erysipelas, intermittent fever, shock, and bronchitis. The cause
of one was unknown.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
12. Twenty men have been invalided during the past year, principally for old age and
debility.
Requirements and recommen-
dations.
13. A slight alteration might be made in the men's boots and head-dress with advantage ;
the first are too large, and the latter too small. Latrines
should be built for the women. Cross ventilation is required
in the lines. Filters are required in the hospital.
H. M.'s 30th Regiment N. I.
JACOBABAD.—In medical charge of Surgeon ELTON BURROUGHS.
Average Strength
764
Deaths in Hospital
13
Do.
Present
610
Do out of do.
0
Admissions
850
Invalided
20
Daily Sick
25.4
Sick Leave
14
Years.
Station.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions. Daily Sick.
Deaths in
H o s p i t a l .
1874
Jacobabad
105.9
3.3
2.5
1875
Do.
142.1
4.4
2.2
1876
Do.
248.8
6.0
7.2
Average...
165.6
4.6
3.9
1877
Jacobabad
189.3
4.1.
2.1
Location and movements.
The right wing returned from Mittri, under the command of Major Humphrey, in
April ; the head-quarters and left wing, under Colonel Mainwar-
ing, marched for Mittri on the 26th October last.
Lines and their surroundings :
present condition, hygienic and
otherwise.
2. The lines are situated to the east of camp ; they are capable of holding a thousand
men ; each man is supposed to have 800 cubic feet of air
space. The dwellings are built on the ground. Ventilation
is good.
Conservancy.
3. There is only one latrine, which is used by the prisoners also, but to each of the
married quarters one is attached ; these are cleaned twice a
day.
Food.
5. Grain of all descriptions has risen in price, but a good supply can easily be obtained.
in the bazaars.
Duties, exercise, and amuse-
ments : their effects on health.
6. The guard duties are very heavy, especially now, when so few troops are in camp.
The favourite amusement is wrestling, but this is only practised
by a few ; one or two admissions into hospital have been the
result of falls. There is a gymnasium, and all the recruits
have to go through a course.
23 m
STATEMENT.
25 m
Summary of the Statistics for the Year 1877 and seven previous years.
Years.
Average
Dail
y
Strength
Present.
Admiss i on s
into
Hospitals
Ratio per
cent. of
Admissions
to Average
Strength.
Average
Daily Sick
per cent.
to Av erage
Strength.
Deaths i n
Hospitals.
Ratio of
Deaths in
Hospitals
per cent.
to Average
S t r e n g t h " .
Ratio of
Deaths in
Hospitals
per cent.
to Admi
s-
sions.
Deaths
o u t o f
Hospitals
and On
Leave.
Total
Deaths in
and out of
Hospitals.
R a t i o p e r
cent. of Tot al D e a t h s t
o t h e
A v e r a
g e
S t r e n g t h .
Ratio per
cent. to
St r e ngt h of
Hindus who
died in an d
out
o f
Hospitals and
on Leave.
Ratio per
cent. to
Strength of
Ma
h o m e d a n s
who died i n
and out of
Hospitals and
on Leave.
Ratio per
cent. to
Strength in-
valided fo
r
discharge
the Service.
Ratio per
cent. to
Strength in-
v alided for
change of
climate.
1877
22,561.0 25,130 111.38
3.49
215
0.95
0.85
95
310
1.37
1.39
1.22
4.51
2.03
1876
22,583.3 26,918 119.20
3.79
247
1.09
0.90
49
296
1.31
1.14
1.57
4.27
2.17
1875
22,819.0 25,475 111.63
3.38
213
0.93
0.83
66
279
1.22
1.30
1.18
4.27
1.83
1874
22,750.0 26,601 116.92
3.68
176
0.77
0.66
79
248
1.09
0.99
1.12
4.60
1.73
1873
22,967.0 29,035 126.86
3.82
165
0.71
0.56
81
246
1.07 ......
. . . . . .
4.35
2.11
1872
22,903.0 36,209 158.09
4.54
2 2 6
0.98
0.62
95
821
1.40
3.98
2.13
1871
22,959.0 29,733 129.50
4.31
236
1.03
0.79
97
333
1.45
3.12
2.10
1870
22,715.0 28,380 139.08
4.33
191
0.84
0.68
95
286
1.26
3.71
2.33
M E D I C A L A N D S A N I T A R Y R E P O R T O F T H E N A T I V E A R M Y O F B O M B A Y .