Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
11
PRESIDENCY DIVISION, ADEN, AND BOMBAY MARINE.
8. Considering that the regiment has been two years at Aden, considering the depress
-
ing and peculiarly enervating climate of the place, and the
arduous duties which the men have had to perform, I am of
opinion that the general health of the regiment may be considered good, though very few of
the men are entirely free from a scorbutic taint.
9. The remarks made in the preceding paragraph, respecting the health and physique
of the men, apply here to a great degree. Climate, excessive
work, bad water, a scanty supply of inferior vegetables and other
food, all aid in undermining the constitution, lowering the vital
power, and thereby rendering the individual liable to the invasion of disease—almost inviting
it. Scurvy, rheumatism, and debility result from these facts.
10. The number of admissions registered for the year under review is only 346, and
of these more than half are accounted for under three headings:
viz., chronic rheumatism (and lumbago) 70, diseases affecting the
alimentary canal and digestive system generally 85, and ague 48—making 203 out of the total,
346. There are 29 admissions under diseases of the cutaneous system (including 16 for
boils), and only 20 for diseases of the respiratory system. Scurvy accounts for 31, wounds and
injuries for 24, and burns 4. Diseases of the generative system 3, urinary organs 2, organs
of locomotion 2, cellular tissue 1, syphilis 2, conjunctivitis 3, diseases of the nervous system
9, and debility 9, complete the number, and show, almost at a glance, the diseases from
which the regiment suffered during the year under review.
The diseases which exhibit unfavourably, and from their numbers demand attention, are
the following, viz.—Diseases of the digestive system generally and alimentary canal 85, chronic
rheumatism 70, fever 48, scurvy 26, and diseases of the respiratory system 20. I am
inclined to think that the large excess of admissions under these various forms of disease
may be accounted for, at least to a great extent, by what has been already noticed,—hard
work, bad and exhausting climate, inferior and insufficient food, bad water, and sudden and
severe vicissitudes of temperature, often the result of carelessness as to dress, exposure to
draughts, &c.
11. There have been eleven casualties during the year, seven in and four out of the
hospital—viz., one each from pneumonia, bronchitis, phthisis, and
asthma; one from diarrhœa, one from fracture of the spine, and
one from scurvy and debility. All the casualties but the last named occurred before
I resumed medical charge of the regiment. The casualty from fractured spine occurred
in a man who was under observation as a case of dementia; the man escaped from
hospital one night, and fractured his spine by a fall from the high rocks near the hospital,
to which he had wandered, and whilst endeavouring to escape from the men sent to
take him. Of the four casualties out of hospital, two were cases of suicide, death being
produced in both cases by gunshot wounds of the chest: in one case the aorta and trachea
were divided, in the other the heart was smashed to pieces; both cases occurred in the lines.
The other two casualties out of hospital occurred in men on sick leave.
General health and physique.
Influences of climate or local
circumstances on health.
Details of treated.
Mortality and its causes.
12. There has been no epidemic during the year under
review.
13. Vaccination and re-vaccination have been very re
-gularly performed.
14. Sixty-two men have been invalided during the year 1877, and six proceeded on
leave—on sick certificate. The majority were invalided on
account of general debility, some on account of loss of teeth,
others for irregular action of the heart, some for chronic rheumatism, chronic bronchitis,
scurvy, inability to march, asthma, and one for Bright's disease of the kidney, of which the
man died shortly after having been invalided.
15. I have again to urge the advisability of providing all hospitals with a good filter—
an inexpensive and necessary addition to every hospital dispensary.
Inspection by Deputy Surgeon-General MOORE.
The hospital and lines were inspected on the 6th of December, previous to the departure of
the head-quarters of the regiment. The lines are well built, but not sufficiently raised
from the ground, and the latrines used by the native officers are badly placed. The whole
locality is maintained in a very clean state. The regimental latrines are some distance away,
Invaliding and its causes.