44
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
5. Food was neither abundant nor of good quality throughout the greatest portion of
the year, but has materially improved of late. Prices also,
which were at first very high, are now much more moderate.
The men should wear more under-clothing when on night guards at this season of the year,
but their tunics seem too small to admit of this. Their shoes also fit very badly, and occasion
numerous shoe-bites. Beyond this, and the increase of cases of pulmonary disorders at this
season from the cold, I cannot trace any ill consequences to deficient or badly fitting clothes.
6. During most of the year two companies had been at Kaladgi, and, as most of the
Kolapur infantry (State regiment) had been out in the dis
-tricts on famine duty, our sepoys were more than sufficiently
occupied, having to supply guards which the Kolapur infantry
usually supplied. The two Kaladgi companies have since rejoined head-quarters, and, as
the Kolapur infantry had mostly come in from the districts, the work would have been
lighter but that the left wing has left for Sholapur, which again throws a great amount of
work on those that remain. Nights in bed average three per week. The sepoys amuse
themselves a good deal at native gymnastics. Neither duty nor exercise seems to affect their
health injuriously; on the other hand, one can at once distinguish the gymnast (of whom
there are several amongst them) by his appearance and the condition of his muscles.
7. There are two detached hospital buildings, one larger than the other, and each
excellent. Only one of these is generally occupied by patients,
the other being reserved for women; and only once since I
joined the regiment in March was I under the necessity of
putting sepoys in this smaller building. This was during the
rains, when the number of patients was greater than usual. Both buildings are well
ventilated and are kept in excellent order.
8 . T h e p h y s i q u e o f t h e m e n i s p r e t t y g o o d , b u t t h e r e a r e a n u m b e r o f p u n y f e l l o w s
among them, not worth anything on active service, and whom
the regiment would be much better quit of.
9. Including the sick of the wings at Kaladgi and Sholapur, the total treated num
-
bered 727. The chief diseases were malarious fevers, which gave
273 admissions, rheumatic affections 35, syphilis 23, diarrhœa
24, dysentery 34, and diseases of the lungs 45.
Food and clothing.
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.
10. There were four deaths—two from ague, and one each
from pneumonia and bronchitis.
11. Cholera and small-pox, especially the former, prevailed to a considerable extent in
the city of Kolapur and Baura. Every precaution was taken,
and neither of these diseases attacked the regiment.
12. There were sixteen primary vaccinations, all on infants, and all successful; three
cases of re-vaccination, all on adults with previous vaccination
scars, and all unsuccessful.
13. There were seventeen cases of invaliding, from the following causes:—From old
age and debility nine, bronchitis two, varicose veins two, and
one each from pneumonia, cardiac disease, ulcer, and leprosy.
14. It would be advisable to have a road made from the hospital to the main roads,
which is only two hundred yards distant. At present there is
no road at all leading to the hospital.
Inspection by Deputy Surgeon-General BEATTY.
The sanitary condition of the lines was good, and the drainage sufficient. The water
supply, which is drawn from four wells, is abundant and pure.
Though cholera and small1-pox prevailed to a considerable extent in the town of Kola
-pur, neither of these diseases attacked the men. This immunity was unquestionably due to
the precautions exercised by the commanding officer assisted by the medical officer of the
regiment.
Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccination.
Invaliding and its causes.
Requirements and recommen
-dations.