76
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
4 . T h e s a m e a s p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d ; o w i n g t o t h e s l i g h t r a i n f a l l t h e s u p p l y h a s
been somewhat scarce, most of the wells having rapidly dried
up.
5 . T h e f o o d s u p p l i e s , d u r i n g t h e l a t t e r h a l f o f t h e y e a r e s p e c i a l l y , h a v e b e e n n o t o n l y
dear, but scarce; the green food and vegetables, owing to the
protracted hot weather, and insufficient rainfall, have also been
very scarce.
6. These are substantially as given in former reports, and have proved not otherwise
than beneficial to the general health. One recruit of rather
weakly frame and slender fibre, while going through his ath-
letics in the gymnasium, met with an accident causing rupture
of the tendo Achillis of the left leg, from which he had ultimately to be discharged the service,
owing to permanent lameness.
7. The hospital block previously occupied by the 3rd (Q. 0.) Light Cavalry and staff
and details having been vacated was taken over during the
year; it is in good order, clean, and well ventilated ; there has
been no overcrowding. The subsidiary buildings are suffi-
-
cient and conveniently situated. During the year efforts have
been made, with good effect, to plant a few shady trees round the hospital. The hospital
well ran dry in November last, when fortunately it was in part replenished by a propitious
fall of rain.
8. The health of the regiment, though improving gradually, cannot be pronounced
satisfactory, owing chiefly to persistent malarial cachexia con
-
tracted at Mehidpur, many sent on sick leave suffering severely,
and being still liable to recurrences of fever on the least unusual exertion, change of weather,
season, diet, clothing, &c. The physique of the men generally is satisfactory.
Water supply.
Food.
Duties, exercise, and amuse--
ments: their effects on health.
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings: present condition,
hygienic and otherwise.
General health and physique.
Influence of climate or local
circumstances on health.
9. The change to Neemuch from Mehidpur has proved, on
the whole, beneficial to the general health of the regiment.
10. Of the total treated, 1,277, the largest proportion of admissions was due to malarious
fevers, giving a ratio of 72.3 per cent. of fevers to all diseases
treated, and 144.8 per cent. of fevers to the average strength.
The general character of these fevers, though for the most part quotidian or tertian, was
marked by frequent recurrences, and occasional complications of the internal organs,
followed in many cases by general debility and more or less anæmia. Of the several cases
of malarious fever recorded, many (33) had to be sent away for change of air, owing to
extreme general debility engendered by protracted illness and convalescence. Most of the
cases invalided were also, directly or otherwise; due to malarial fevers or secondary influences
contracted at Mehidpur. Large doses of quinine—not less than from 20 to 30 grains—daily
were found effectual, and when ineffectual were at once withheld, in preference for the neutral
sulphate given hypodermically; this latter, however, had ultimately to be abandoned, owing to
the danger of troublesome ulceration supervening on cases suffering from general debility.
The largest monthly number of admissions occurred in April and May, and was due no doubt
to malarial poison, contracted at Mehidpur. The remaining diseases included 23 cases of
chronic rheumatism and 9 of lumbago; there were 11 cases of primary and 4 of secondary
syphilis ; in most if not all of these latter the disease was contracted either at Mehidpur,
Mundisoor, or Jowra, on escort duty. There were also 19 cases of bronchitis, 9 of dysentery,
and 10 of gonorrhœa.
11. One European officer died of malignant cholera on the 19th November, after a short
illness. A sepoy died of hepatitis in hospital on the 5th
November. Private Hoosain Khan died suddenly out of
hospital on parade, on the morning of the 10th September, from rupture of the right
ventricle of the heart. The post-mortem examination revealed atheroma and thickening of
valves with some fatty degeneration of the right ventricle, and hypertrophy of the left. This
man had never complained of any cardiac affection whatever. Private Baji Goolgoolay,
sent on sick leave for paraplegia, was attacked by cholera en route, and died before reaching
home, and another sepoy sent on sick leave for malarial fever and general debility died at
Dapoolee.
12. In the regiment there were none. In the Sadar bazaar there were six cases of
small-pox, which disappeared within a month or two.
Details of treated
Mortality and its causes.
Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
13. Forty-eight primary and twenty-four re-vaccinations were successfully performed.
Those remaining unprotected are yet too young and delicate
to undergo the operation. Lymph good.