11. Five men have died in hospital—one from fatty heart, two from fever, and one
each from diarrhœa and abscess of the liver.
Mortality and its causes.
18
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Duties, exercise, and amuse-
ment; their effects on health.
6. During the first half of the year, before the 8th Regi-
ment N. I. had finished their lines, the duties were very heavy.
The men have used the gymnasium freely, and no doubt much to the benefit of their
muscular development. No accidents of any consequence have occurred.
Hospital and its immediate sur-
roundings: present condition, hy-
gienic and otherwise.
7. There has been no alteration in the hospital and its
surroundings; its present condition is very good.
8. The general health may be pronounced fair perhaps, but has been much impaired
by the great number of cases of ague, conducing to splenic
cachexia. Insufficient food, no doubt, this year has been a factor
in reducing the standard of health. I do not consider that the physique of the men is what
t should be; age is telling on many, who no doubt are much older than is stated.
9. There is a very general opinion prevailing that the increased irrigation consequent
on the making of the Kurruckwasla Canal has the effect of
making the station less healthy; perhaps this may be so, but
I am unable to compare the present time with the past in this
respect.
General health and physique.
Influence of climate or local
circumstances on health.
Details of treated.
10. Ague.—Under this head 553 cases have been ad-
mitted, against 779 last year.
266 once
admitted
266
75 twice
, ,
1 5 0
20 three times , ,
60
14 four
, ,
, ,
56
3 five
, ,
, ,
15
1 six
, ,
, ,
6
379
Total...... 553
Many of these cases were severe ; when complication occurred it was usually of the
lungs. After the rains fever appeared to have some association with the east wind. There
have been 21 admissions from chronic rheumatism, against 11 last year ; men of about twenty
years' service seem very liable to this disease. Seven men have been admitted under the
head of primary syphilis ; in all cases I have endeavoured to find out the woman by whom
the man had been infected. I have succeeded in some cases in tracing it, and have reported
the woman to the officer in charge of the Lock Hospital. Last year six cases were treated.
Of secondary syphilis eighteen cases have been admitted. Twelve cases of dysentery have
been admitted, the same number as last year; the disease does not appear to be at all formi-
dable in this station. Twelve cases also of diarrhœa have been treated; in two cases death
took place. Four cases only of gonorrhœa have been treated,—a fact which, I think, illus-
trates the value of the Lock Hospital.
Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
12. There has been no epidemic disease.
13. Vaccination has been carefully carried on.
1 4 . T h i r t y - n i n e m e
n h
a v e b e e n d i s c h a r g e d w i t h a p e n s i o n , n e a r l y a l l f o r o l d a g e a n d
ebility; many of them were enlisted in the time of the Mutiny,
and were, no doubt, much older than their official age.
Invaliding and its causes.
Requirements and recommend-
ations.
15. Having made four post-mortem examinations, I have
found great inconvenience from not having a dead-house.
The gaiters of the regiment require alteration; instead of being supported at the knee,
as already mentioned, they should be cut so as to fit the leg and brought further over the
ankle. I am of opinion that if properly fitted, so as not to bag about the ankles, they would
keep up Without the band below the knee.