MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
6. The duties of the men are not excessive. Polo is played three times a week, and, be
-sides being a healthy exercise, it teaches the boys and Oomed
-wars of the regiment to ride. There is a regular gymnastic
course now for all recruits and men who have recently joined,
men having been sent to Poona to learn the course, and these in turn acting as instructors
to the regiment. On the whole the regiment may be said to be very healthy, the percentage
of average daily sick having been only 24.
7. The hospital has already been reported on unfavourably by the Deputy Surgeon
-General, the Sanitary Commissioner, and every Surgeon since
1873. It is situated badly, being to windward of the lines and
leeward of the parade-ground, from which at certain seasons
clouds of dust envelop the building. There is not half accom
- m o d a t i o n e n o u g h , t h e r e b e i n g o n l y s u f f i c i e n t f o r t w e l v e p a t i e n t s , a n d t h e r e a r e
n o
q u a r t e r s
for the hospital subordinates.
8 . T h e g e n e r a l h e a l t h o f t h e t r o o p s i s d e c i d e d l y g o o d . M a n y c a s e s o f s y p h i l i s d o n o t
make their appearance, unless in the late secondary or tertiary
forms, but often Oomedwars and recruits, nearly all sons of men
in the regiment, are found to have had or to have it.
This existence of disease in the regiment is undoubtedly greatly due to the fact that
Sirur lies just between Poona and Ahmednagar, two towns in which the Contagious Diseases
Act is in force; hence if women are not passed in either of these places they in some cases
make a move to Sirur with a view of evading the Act,—such I know to have been the case
both from Poona and Nagar.
9. On the whole, this may be said to have been a very healthy year, the total admis
-
sions, including those of the detachment at Dhulia, having been
only 226, as compared with 288 on the same numerical strength
last year. The greatest number of admissions was, as usual, from intermittent fever, being
82. Contusions, fractures, and blistered feet, 34, come next on the list. There have been
three cases of epilepsy,—rather an unusual number,—and one case of acute mania, which was
cured. There were thirteen admissions from rheumatism, some of them very bad and ob
-stinate, thirteen of diseases of the eye, and four guinea-worm. The only case of scorpion
-sting admitted, though many occurred, very nearly died, and was not discharged for weeks.
Other admissions unimportant.
10. There have been four deaths in the regiment; the first was a case of sub-acute
cystitis of syphilitic origin, which came down from the detach
-
ment at Dhulia; the second, that of the Wordee Major, was
from snake-bite when the regiment marched into Poona; and the third and fourth occurred at
Dhulia, from cholera and cancer respectively.
11. There were three epidemics during the year in the town, syce and regimental lines :
namely, ophthalmia, small-pox, and cholera; but ophthalmia was
the only one which affected the men to any extent, though two
cases of cholera occurred among the children of the regiment, and one amongst the men. Alto
- g e t h e r
I h a d 3 5 c a s e s o f c h o l e r a u n d e r t r e a t m e n t i n t h e t o w n a n d l i n e s . T h e r e w e r e 1 3 c a s e s
of small-pox among the women and children, of the syces principally.
1 2 . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f p r i m a r y v a c c i n a t i o n s w a s 5 9 , a n d o f r e - v a c c i n a t i o n s 3 0 . F i v e
children were too young to be vaccinated. Of 13 cases of
small-pox that occurred, one died.
1 3 . T h e n u m b e r i n v a l i d e d t h i s y e a r w a s u n u s u a l l y l a r g e , b e i n g e i g h t e e n ; o f t h e s e s i x
were from rheumatism, four from nervous diseases, five from old
age and debility, and three from defective vision.
1 4 . F i r s t , t h a t a n e w h o s p i t a l b e b u i l t o n t h e s i t e p r o p o s e d , l a r g e e n o u g h f o r t h e
requirements of the regiment, and having suitable quarters for
the hospital staff, bathrooms, urinals, &c., in all of which
points the present hospital is deficient. Second, that the pre
- s e n t b u i l d i n g u s e d a s a l o c k u p r o o m o r c e l l b e d o n e a w a y w i t h , a n d a p r o p e r s t a n d a r d c e l l
be erected. Failing this it is my opinion that no man ought to be confined in the present cell
for more than two, or at the outside three days. Thirdly, that elongated earthen koondies or
long iron pans should be put into pits in each backyard, as the system now in use is not
quite satisfactory.
28
Duties, exercise, and amuse
-ments: their effects on health.
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings: present condition,
hygienic and otherwise.
General health and physique.
Details of treated.
Mortality and its causes.
Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Invaliding and its causes.
Requirements and recommen
-dations.