NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
1 3 1
The number of patients treated in the dispensary during the year
under report was 4,066, of whom 34 remained from last return, and
4,032 were fresh admissions ; of these 4,043 were cured or relieved,
1 absented, 5 died, and 17 remained under treatment.
1,106 were cases of fever (ague), yielding a ratio of 27. 23 per cent,
There is much less fever towards the sea than more inland and above
the Ghants. The in-patients were 4, and one death, these are included
in the above.
No register of temperature or rainfall has been kept.
Dissatisfaction had been felt with the Hospital Assistant stationed
here, and at my visit I was led to consider that Gungadhur Venayek
was not well fitted for the post of a medical charge, and I conse-
quently recommended his removal, which was sanctioned. A 3rd
Class Hospital Assistant, Withul Biccajee, General No. 866, educated
in the Vernacular Class, Grant Medical College, was placed in his
stead. I cannot say that the work of this Assistant is quite satis-
factory, but I would suspend judgment pending the Civil Surgeon's
next visit and my own inspection. The annual report is ill pre-
pared, not written by himself, and shows that a minimum of care
has been used in making it up.
Vaccination is not alluded to in the report, but I found that it had
been attented to, but not to any extent. Seven post-mortem exami-
nations were made during the year.
Only one minor operation was performed.
S a w a n t w a r i — N a t i v e
S t a t e .
The dispensary here seems by no means to do that good that
might be expected in such a place, and which would, I think, surely
follow a more energetic executive. At my inspection there appeared
to me no evidence of an active interest taken in the medical duties.
The operations of the dispensary were as follows:
There were treated 1,601, of which 36 remained from previous re-
turn, 1,565 were fresh admissions, 1 died, 374 absented, and 40
remained, 1,186 were cured or relieved.
Fevers produced the largest numbers of applicants for treatment,
there were 896, of which 667 were ague cases, giving a percentage
of 41.66 to total treated of all diseases. Diseases of stomach and
bowels are next in frequency.
There were 106 operations performed, the greater part of which
were opening abscesses and extracting teeth.
Linder Civil Hospital, Sawantawari, I have spoken concerning the
Sub-Assistant Surgeon in medical charge.
Matheran.
The dispensary at Matheran is a part of the Superintendent's
Office ; not many of tile native persons of the district attend ; the
chief use of the dispensary being the supply and preparation of
medicines to the residents on the hill. Surgical instruments and
the building are provided by Government, but medicines, the pay
of the Hospital Assistant also, are provided by Local. Funds.
132
The Superintendent's pay is debited wholly to Government.
The daily average number of patients for the last 5 years has
been 5.2.
The population at the last census was 1,056. Water is obtained
at the commencement of the season from springs, but the supply is
procured from storage grounds : it is barely sufficient for the season.
The number of cases treated here was 139, of which 3 remained
from last report ; of these 135 were cured or relieved, none died,
absented none, and 4 remained.
The present Superintendent considers that there is a local malaria,
which atmospheric changes, insufficient food, and shelter render the
lower classes more prone to receive,
Vaccination has been performed by the Native Vaccinator from
Karjat, who periodically visits the hill,
No capital operations have been performed, there were 6 minor.
At my annual visit of inspection I found the dispensary in good
order, the supply of medicines sufficient. Instruments few, in toler-
able order.
Dr. Simpson's report gives in review no particular points to notice,
Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Dispensaries.
Attached to the Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy Hospital are two dispen-
saries, one for male, and one for female patients.
The Dispensary for Male Patients.
This dispensary under the charge of the 3rd Physician, J. J. Hos-
pital, had 19,284 persons treated in the year under report ; of these
612 remained from the previous year's return, and 18,672 were fresh
admissions, 12,923 were cured or relieved, 5,804 absented, none
died, and 577 remained. The average daily attendance was 161 . 8 ,
The prevailing diseases were fevers, bowel and chest complaints,
skin affections, rheumatism, venereal diseases, &c. The number of
admissions show a considerable increase during the year.
J. J. Hospital Female and Children's . Dispensary.
The female and children's dispensary had a less number of ad-
missions during the year under report, there were 14,844 treated, of
which 1,554 were remained from previous year, 13,290 were fresh
admissions ; 11,342 discharged, cured or relieved, 3,189 absented,
none died, and 313 remained. The average daily number of sick was
greater than in the previous year, showing, I presume, that longer
treatment was required, or daily attendance was more regular of the
cases, as the admissions during the year were less.
Dr. Ward, who is in charge of this dispensary, does not consider
any of the diseases call for special remark. They were chiefly cases of
fevers, disease of stomach and bowels, diseases of the heart and
lungs, and skin diseases.
At my visits to these dispensaries, I was satisfied with the manner
in which the duties were conducted. At the male dispensary there
are alterations urgently required, which I have remarked on under
the Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Hospital.
133
The dispensary for females and children, which is held in close
proximity to the obstetric Wards, is susceptible of much improve-
ment.
TABLE showing the number of malarial fevers, or ague, treated at
the various Dispensaries in the Presidency Circle, with the ratio of
per cent. to all other diseases.
Number s .
Malarial Fevers.
Out-door.
In-door.
Treated. Died.
Ratio of
Treated
to Treat-
ed all
Diseases.
Treat-
ed.
Died.
Ratio of
Treated
to Treat-
ed all
Diseases.
1 Alibag Dispensary ... 1,228
. . .
2 3 . 3 4
. . .
. . .
......
2 Bandora do.
... 1,630
1
27.27
...
. . . ......
3 Bardoli do.
. . .
979
...
27.52
2
1
25
4 Bhewndy do.
. . .
764
. . .
18.09
. . . ...
......
5 Broach Civil do.
.. 2,141 ...
23.79
...
. . .
......
6 Balsar Dispensary
. . . 1,595
1
30.88
1
. . .
5.88
7 Kalian do.
. . . 1,219
2
28.12
1
...
5.88
8 Chikli do.
. . . 1,115 ...
32.28
... ...
......
9 Coompta do.
... 1,356
1
18.82
12
3
9.16
10 Coorla do.
. . . 2,989
. . . 44.67
...
. . .
......
11 Dapuli Civil do.
. . .
348
. . . 20.17
21
2
35.59
12 Elao Dispensary .. 2,289
...
32.91
1 ...
20
13 Hansot do.
. . 1,253
. . .
24.57
. . . ...
......
14 Honore Civil do. .. 1,104 ...
27.18
2
. . .
50
15 J. J. Civil do.
. . . 4,017
. . .
11.74
. . . ...
......
1 6 Karwar Char. do.
. . . 1,620
. . .
38.31
... ...
......
17
Do. Civil do. ..
527
...
39.5
. . . ...
......
18 Matheran do. ..
45 ...
32.37
. . .
...
......
19 Mandvi do.
. . .
811
...
19.98
2
...
28.57
20 Nausari do.
. . .
732
. . .
11.74
4 ...
10.25
21 Ophthalmic Civil do. . . . .....
. . .
......
. . . ...
......
22 Uran Dispensary ...
887
2
32.25
...
. . .
......
23 Pardi do.
..
945
...
17.07
...
...
......
24 Parack do.
. . .
900
. . .
20.72
2 ...
10.52
25 Pen do.
. . 1,304
1
21.46
...
...
......
26 Randier do.
. .
806 ...
17.15
. . .
. . .
. . . . . .
27 R. Wadia do.
.. 1,794
1
33.17
...
...
. . . . . .
28 Ratnagiri Civil do ..
158
. . .
4.54
... ..
......
29 Sawantwari do. do ..
909
1
56.77
...
...
. . . . . .
30 Surat do. do . . . 2,329
. . .
29.32
...
. . .
......
31 Tanna do. do . . .
713
. . .
46.38
...
...
......
32 Anklesar Dispensary . . . 1,358
...
23.5
. . .
...
. . . . . .
33 Vengurla Civil do. ..
138
1
22.11
10 ...
13.89
34 Dockyard Dispensary . .
638
1
16.58 ...
...
......
Grand Total . . 40,641
12
23.04
58
6
14.42
1 7 M D
134
In each of the hospitals and dispensaries in this report, I have
made it a point to allude to the amount of "ague" shown in the
Returns .
It is almost unnecessary to speak of its great prevalence in the
districts, particularly great in those of the Tanna, Surat, and Broach
Zillahs in the north, and Karwar in the south, where tidal creeks
abound, and produce the poison which gives life to ague, and misery
to a large mass of the people.
Taking dispensary practice as an exponent of the amount of this
fever in the various districts lying below the Ghauts, it is evident
that it must prevail to a far greater extent than it is possible for
present hospitals or dispensaries to assist in the alleviation of.
My visit to the dispensaries in the year led me to consider that the
only way to remedy the evil, to reach the classes amongst whom "fever"
and "disease of the stomach and bowels" most prevail, is to establish
small unpretending dispensaries in small towns, or in groups of
small villages or "Wadees." These diseases constitute two-thirds of
those Which people suffer from, who now present themselves at the
dispensaries of districts. If small dispensaries, therefore, with a few
useful medicines were available, persons labouring under such diseases
would quickly seek the relief, which, distance, occupation, &c., prevent
them from applying for when the required journey is some miles
away.
BOMBAY MARINE.
As a part of the Medical charge of the Presidency Division, the
Bombay Marine has not, as far as I am aware, been ever regularly
brought into report form. Since the abolition of the Indian Navy
the reports and returns have been desultory, and the endeavour is
now being made to bring them into regularity.
The charges, under the Presidency Medical Circle, consist of cer-
tain vessels of the Bombay Marine, the small naval station at
B a s s a d o r e , a n d o f t h e d i s p e n s a r y o f t h e D o c k y a r d , B o m b a y .
Strength.
European. Native.
1. H. M.'S. Steamer "Dalhousie" ...
. . . 21
90
2. Gun Boat " Hugh Bose"
... ...
15
94
3. Steamer " Quangtung"...
...
... 15
85
4. Steamer " Comet"
... ... ...
11
32
5. Bassadore
...
... .
... ...
11
6. Dockyard Dispensary ...
... ...
1,865 including
Europeans.
7. Turret Ship " Magdala"
...
...
4
50
8.
, , " A b y s s i n i a "
... ...
5
50
9. " May Frere" ...
...
...
. . . 2
25
10. "Amberwitch" ...
... ... ...
5
40
1 1 . "Satellite" ... ... ...
1
20
12. "Snake"...
...
... ...
. . .
. . .
5
135
The superintendence of the duties of the Marine Surgeon may be
added. Returns are received from the first six only. The sick oc-
curring in any other vessels I have not received any statements con-
cerning, nor do I know anything of them with the exception of the
two Turret Ships.
Of the vessels of the Bombay Marine mentioned above—
The " Dalhousie " carries an Assistant Apothecary in Medical
Charge, H. Murray, General No. 107. She i.s chiefly employed
on Transport Service, conveyance of stores, &c., as will be observed.
from the history subsequently given of her. Mr. Hurray is favour-
ably reported on and has conducted his duties satisfactorily.
The "Hugh Rose," Gun Boat, in. Medical Charge of Assistant
Apothecary J. Whelan, General No. 122; he held charge from
November 1871 to March 1872, and relieved Assistant Apothecary
Lawrence who was in charge from November 1870 to November
1871. Assistant Apothecary Whelan has reported himself sick. The
"Hugh Rose " appears to have been employed in the Persian Gulf
throughout the year.
The " Quangtung " Steamer is in Medical. Charge of Assistant
Apothecary J. Huntley, General No. 126. The duties of this vessel.
are, I believe, chiefly political. She has been stationed at Bushire,
Bahrein, Muscat, Aden during the year.
The " Comet " has Hospital Assistant P. C. Pais, General No. 451,
in Medical Charge, the duties of this vessel are, I believe, political.
There is nothing whatever to show in the return of the Hospital
Assistant in charge, what duties she has been employed on and
where stationed in each month. Hospital. Assistant Pais, judging
from his returns, is not a very intelligent subordinate.
A Sub-Assistant Surgeon is attached to the Bassadore Station, on
the Island of Keshen, which is separated from the Persian mainland
by the Clarence Strait ; this is stated to be, in consequence of its
large spread of mangrove jungle, "a fertile source of malaria. "
This officer appears to perform not only his medical duties but
also those pertaining to a chief authority at the place. The Bassa-
dore population is about 800. The report of Sub-Assistant Surgeon
A. K. Hakin, L.M., I would beg to draw attention to, it is chiefly
topographical and fairly written, but it also treats of the diseases of
the island and general characters of the place and people.
There are no reports or returns received of sickness in this popula-
tion ; where diseases of the eye, &c., are so prevalent, treat-
ment, according to dispensary practice, should be afforded. I have
asked for information on this point.
In the list of Medical Officers and Subordinate Medical Officers,
forwarded monthly by the Superintendent, Bombay Marine, there
appears the name of Acting Assistant Surgeon Baker of the
"Comet," River Euphrates. Of this officer's duties I am not oc-
136
quainted, nor do I receive reports of any kind from him ; but the re-
ports of the "Comet," as before stated, are received from Hospital
Assistant P. C. Pais. There are also those of Assistant Apothecar y
J. Lawrence, General - No. 111, attached to the "Amberwitch," and
Assistant Apothecary T. Stephen, General No. 117, to the "Con-
stance" : from these also no returns are received.
Indents for medicines are received by me from the Uncovenanted
Medical. Officer in medical charge of Muscat, but no returns : and
medicine indents are also received from Teheran, Ispahan, &c. Con-
siderable quantities of medicines are annually indented for by the
Officer in medical charge at Muscat.
I believe the medical returns of certain vessels are submitted to
the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, Sind Division.
The health of the officers and men of the Bombay Marine, a
s far as I am able to collect from the returns, has been. tolerably favour
able during the year.
In my next report I trust to be able to give a clearer account than
I am now able to do, of this part of the medical history of the Presi-
dency Division and Bombay Marine.
As may be inferred from the above, the medical. histories of the
various vessels of the Bombay Marine do not present any very im-
portant features, except that of Her Majesty's Steamer "Dalhousie,"
in which the dengue fever appeared in December 1871, ran through
the whole crew and, at first unrecognized, infected a party of Euro-
pean troops which she carried in that month to Cannanore, Iron
which place a report was sent by the Garrison. surgeon. to the Medical
Authorities at Madras, and from them to Bombay, stating the cir-
cumstances of the existence of the "Dengue," its lowing affected the
soldiers, their wives, &c., &c., and also giving a statement as to the
source of the disease which, had it been correct, would have evi-
denced great want of care in the authorities in Bombay. The state-
ment made by the Garrison Surgeon at Cannanore is to the follow-
ing effect : " The Dalhousie was some time ago at Aden, and on her
return, voyage to Bombay the fever broke out amongst the crew, for
the most part Lascars. At Bombay the vessel was cleaned and
painted, but disinfectants were not used as the authorities at Bombay
did not think the fever contagious."
This statement was taken up and appeared in the Calcutta Medical
Gazette, the Madras Quarterly, in the daily papers of all the Presi-
dencies, and in the Lancet.
To show its utter incorrectness I now submit, first, the return of
sickness on board the "Dalhousie" for the month of April 1871, the
month of her being last at Aden, and her return voyage from it,
and secondly the history of the ship from March 11th, long before the
dengue was known at Aden, until the 15th December 1871, when it
first attacked the crew, when the disease, being mild in character,
was not recognised in time to prevent the ship being used as a trans-
port for the Europeans proceeding to Cannanore. The "Dalhousie,"
137
it will be observed in the history, was painted long before the crew
was attacked.
The history of Her Majesty's Steamer "Dalhousie," Bombay
Marine, from 11th March 1871 to the 15th December 1871, shows that
she left Bombay with European troops for Beypore and returned to
port on the 18th ; on the 23rd she left with a Company of Sappers and
Miners for Aden, where she arrived on the 1st April ; on the 3rd of
this month she left this port to provision Her Majesty's Gun-boat
"Lynx" blockading the East Coast of Africa.
The "Dalhousie" returned to Aden on the 8th of the same month ;
on the 10th April she proceeded to Perim with the Political Resident,
and returned on the 12th idem, and on the 14th left for Bombay with
European Details. She arrived in Bombay on the 23rd April, all well.
During the few days at anchor at Aden the men, I understand, had
little or no communication with the shore as regards being allowed
leave, and I cannot ascertain that they shipped any Lascars at that
port.
R E T U R N o f S i c k o n R o a r d H e r M a j e s t y ' s S t e a m e r
"Dalhousie" in April 1871.
Strength.
E u r o p e a n s
21. Total.
Natives
. . .
Bombay, 1 st May 1872.
Diseases.
Re-
main.
Ad-
mitted.
Died.
Discharged. Trans-
ferred
to other
Hospital. Remain-ing. Total.
I n Ho s p i t a l .
Out of Hospi t al .
T o D u t y .
O t h e r w i s e .
E. N. E . N. E. N. E N.
E
N.
E
N. E . N. E. N. E . N.
15 Ague
. .
. . . . ..
..
. . 2 . . . .. . . . .
2 . .
..
. ...
..
. .
. .
2
30 Erysi pel as . . . .
. . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 . . .. . . .. .. . . . . 2
3 0 6 B r o u c h i t i s
. .
. . . . ..
1 1 . . . . . . . . . 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. . . 1
1
422 Quinsy ..
. . .. .. .. 1 . . .. . . . .
.. 1 . .
..
. .
.. ..
. . . . 1
4 6 0 D i s p e p s i a .
. . . . . .. .. 1 . . .. . . . .
.. 1 . .
..
. .
.. .. . . . . 1
466 Dysentery . . . . 1 .. . . . . . . .. . . ... .. 1 1 ..
. .
.. ..
. . 1 ..
13 Tœnia Solium
. . 1 .. . . . . . . .. . . . .
1 . . . .
..
. .
.. ..
. . 1 . .
1 1 1 7 L a c e r a t e d W o u n d
(L.E.)
. . . . . . ..
. . 2 . . .. . . . . .
... 2 . .
..
. .
.. ..
. . . . 2
1029 Wound Sclerotic .. . . ..
. . 1 . . .. . . . .
.. 1 . . ... . . .. ..
. . . .
1
1060 Sprain (Back) ..
. . ..
. . 1 . . .. . . .. .. 1 . . ..
. .
.. ..
. . . . 1
1115 Contusio (knee) ..
. . ..
. . 1 . . .. . . .. ... 1 . . ..
. . .. .. .. . . 1
861 Boil
. .
. . . . 1 ..
. . . . . . .. . . . .
1 . . . .
..
. .
.. ..
. . 1
. .
818 Inflammation . . . . ..
. . 1 . . .. . . . .
.. 1 . .
.. . . ... .. .. ..
1
General Total .. 3 2 1 11 . . . . . . . . 3 13 1 .. . .
... None.
4 13
Europeans .13
Average daily Number of Sick. Natives... .43
Total ..... 56
E u r o p e a n s . . .
1 9 . 0 4
P e r c e n t a g e T r e a t e d t o S t r e n g t h
N a t i v e s . . . . . .
1 3 . 2 6
138
She remained in Bombay harbour quiet until the 14th and 15th May
when she towed the two turret ships "Magdala" and "Abyssinia"
to Butcher's Island, where she remained until the 21st. She on that
day returned to her moorings in the harbour. Or the 28th May she
proceeded to sea in search of a wreck ; called at Carwar for a few
hours, and returned to Bombay, where she arrived on the 1st June 1871.
On the 8th June 1871 the "Dalhousie" was docked and in Dock
she remained until the 12th December 1871, when she was hauled
out and the crew shipped.
On the 15th December there were three cases of fever, which
after occurrences would point out to have been dengue, but at the
time the symptoms were obscure and unnoticed. Up to this period
the few officers and crew who had not been paid off always enjoyed
good health.
The history of the vessel therefore clears her entirely from the
imputation of having brought the disease to Bombay from Aden, the
fever was imported on board from Bombay itself evidently, and the
further history of the ship shows that the three cases abovementioned
were the "fons et origo mali,"for on the 24th December it was re-
- p o r t e d t h a t a l a r g e n u m b e r o f t h e c r e w w e r e s u f f e r i n g f r o m f e v e r ,
and as the "Dalhousie" had to convey European troops to Cannanore
it was thought advisable that the Marine Surgeon should visit and
report on the subject. This was done : the Marine Surgeon did not
recognize anything peculiar in the fever, under which the men were
suffering, 30 in number ; he considered the fever mild in type and
was unable to discover on board any cause for it. The Assistant
Apothecary in Medical Charge, who was himself attacked, could give
no clue to the origin of the disease nor did his own symptoms lead
him to suppose that there was anything peculiar (until some time
afterwards, on return voyage from Cannanore, when the disease con-
tinuing, he considered it arose from the painting which the ship had
undergone in dock and which had not well dried !)
The Marine Surgeon was asked by the Deputy Inspector General
whether he considered the disease shewed signs of the dengue, he
did not think it did.
The troops under orders for Cannanore were therefore allowed to
embark, they did so on the 29th December and left Bombay on the
1st January. My duties called me from Bombay on the same day
and I did not return till the 18th ; during this time fresh circum-
stances had arisen concerning the " Dalhousie."
On the 9th January the Assistant Apothecary in charge reported
his return to Bombay with the steamer, and stated that there were
on his list 5 Europeans, 2 Natives sick, 16 Europeans and 94 Natives
convalescent, having pains in the joints and extremities : all these
were returned as cases of lead poisoning by the Assistant Apothe
cary, who up to this time did not know that the disease was "dengue."
The officers and crew could not perform their duties fully.