50
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
taut three miles, is sometimes complained of by the men furnishing the guard. The veran
-dah asked for last year has been granted, and they are now well protected from the sun.
All recruits practise gymnastics, chiefly on the horizontal and parallel bars, under the super-
-vision of a subedar.
7. In March last, in consequence of, the removal of the European hospital to another
situation, the ward. given up to the sick of another regiment
was returned to the Grenadiers. Taken together, the two
wards now available give accommodation for thirty patients.
Ventilation is accomplished. by opposite doors and windows,
and an upward current is provided for by vertical shafts passing out at the roof. The floor
is well paved—a great advantage. There is good natural drainage in the direction of the
river. No fault can be found with the surroundings.
8. The general health of the regiment, as deduced from admissions to hospital and
the average daily sick, shows an improvement on the two
previous years. Causes which at one time affected it severely
(scurvy, severe remittent fever, and heavy duties) are no longer in operation, though their
effects can still be seen in many permanently impaired constitutions. A large proportion of
those cases, however, have been weeded out by the Annual Invaliding Committee; and under
better conditions of health, and by the careful selection of recruits, the physique of the corps
will no doubt steadily improve. At present it is very fair.
9. The local circumstances which may be presumed to affect the health of the regiment
have reference to the lines. The floors of the huts are sunk
and unpaved; there is no system of ventilation, and surface
water is not carried off rapidly enough. These facts have a
bearing on the annual amount of sickness from ague, pulmonary diseases, and rheumatism.
10. The greater number of admissions were furnished by the following diseases, viz.,—
ague 234, or about 37 per cent of the total; rheumatic affec
-
tions 77, pulmonary diseases 54, diseases of the skin 38, diar
- r h œ a 3 3 , d y s e n t e r y 2 4 , d i s e a s e s o f t h e e y e 2 7 , i n j u r i e s 5 3 , d e b i l i t y 1 6 . O f t h e t o t a l t r e a t e d ,
610 were discharged to duty. The cases of ague were not of a severe type, and proved
readily amenable to full doses of quinine or cinchonidine. Bronchial catarrh was a frequent
accompaniment, more rarely hepatic or splenic engorgement. Only one instance of remittent
fever came under observation, and it terminated favourably. Rheumatic affections were chronic
in character, and occurred in men of long service, especially those who considered themselves
entitled to pension. Of diseases of the respiratory system, chronic bronchitis had its usual
high complement. There were eleven cases of pneumonia; most were of an adynamic cha
- r a c t e r , a n d t w o p r o v e d f a t a l . U n d e r t h e h e a d o f i n j u r i e s , m o s t o f t h e c a s e s w e r e a b r a s i o n s
of the lower extremities from ill-fitting shoes, and the remainder contusions and sprains of
little moment. There were, however, two severe gunshot wounds. The first was suicidal,
and immediately fatal; the other accidental, and resulted in the loss of a finger. Malignant
cholera gave four admissions, with one death. The cases of small-pox were all modified by
previous successful vaccination, and were uncomplicated throughout. Venereal disease was
uncommon: gonorrhœa gave seven admissions, primary and secondary-syphilis one each, soft
chancre with suppurating bubo one.
11. Amongst the treated six deaths occurred. Out of hospital there were also six
deaths—two from chronic diarrhœa; one case was on sick certi
-
ficate, the other on detachment duty at Sadra; and one each
from valvular disease of the heart, debility, and suicidal gunshot wound, and hepatic disease.
Mental distress accounted for the suicide. The man shot himself in the abdomen with his
rifle.
12. Cholera appears to be almost endemic at this station, as it is an annual visitant,
and its introduction from without can seldom be proved. It
was prevalent at Baroda in the month of October, when the
wing of the 22nd N. I. removed to Ahmedabad from that station, and a case occurred on the
march to Sadra among the men of the detachment, a few days after the arrival from Baroda.
On the 27th October another man of the same company was attacked with the disease, in.
camp. On the 30th there was a case among the Grenadiers, another followed on the 5th,
and a third on the 12th November. All three did well. Two women succumbed to the
malady a week later. After a considerable interval, and when it was thought the epidemic
had died out, the last case was admitted. The man had been. ill some time in the lines with
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings: present condition,
hygienic and otherwise.
General health and physique.
Influence of local circumstances
on health.
Details of treated.
Mortality and its causes.
Epidemics.