POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
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Diarrhœa but few cases, all slight and quickly recovered.
Gonorrhœa—one of old standing, contracted elsewhere—soon got well.
Splenitis—one case in 10th N.L.I, slight and recovered in a few days.
Bright's disease.—The case of an officer who was admitted on 6th June and died 13th
idem.
Epididymitis occurred in December 22nd to one of the bhistees of detachment 10th N.L.I.
The patient was convalescent at the end of the year, though not discharged.
Abscess cases slight among the troops, and one man belonging to the bazar on whom I
operated for a bad "perineal" abscess, being emaciated and weakly, died ultimately; not it
would appear from the abscess so much, as from a coincident complication of the lungs, somewhat
of a bronchio-phthisical and senile form.
Debility—one case, 11th N. I., was invalided, being fairly worn out and unfit for active
service. Another was that of a European Serjeant, P.W.D., who had suffered previously
from delirium tremens and ultimately debility, from which he soon recovered after change
of air.
Fracture of Scapula in an old woman who fell from a horse—was about one month under
treatment and recovered.
Amputation of the right hand and wrist occurred in a woman of the bazar, who it seems
was murderously attacked at night (2 P.M.,) by a man (now undergoing imprisonment), who
severed at a blow the metacarpal bones of the fingers with a chopper, besides inflicting another
deep scalp wound on the back of the head with the same weapon, and a similar wound over the
left scapular region of her husband who tried to protect her from her assailant. Before reach-
ing hospital much blood was lost, and the operation being performed by me under chloroform,
the woman progressed and made a good and complete recovery in about 2 months.
Snakebite.—This was an officer's servant who was bitten in the foot by a snake, supposed
to be a "Foorsa." A tight ligature was applied immediately above the wound, the punctures
lanced and allowed to bleed freely, and ammonia in small and repeated doses administered
internally. Hæmorrhage or rather oosing from the wound and gums continued more or less
copiously for several days, which it was found impossible to stop; the limb was extended above
the body; astringents, styptics, &c., were used ; but the hæmorrhage did not cease. The boy
was supported with nourishing broths, soup, milk, eggs, and nourishing diet, and tincture ferri
sesquichloridi given internally, when in the course of four or five days the bleeding ceased from
both the wound and gums, and the boy made thenceforward a good and speedy recovery, the
amount of the blood lost being roughly estimated at about two or three pints or more. The hy-
podermic syringe was not used, it being thought desirable to withhold it, until deemed more
expedient.
The general health of the women, both European and Native, in the Fort has been good,
ague being the prevailing ailment.
The health of the Bengallee Rajah and son and State prisoners, has been generally good ;
their food, clothing, &c., has been well attended to. The same observations apply equally to
the Punjaubee prisoners of State, recently (on 15th December 1872) arrived here from Allaha-
bad, and connected with the Kooka disturbances in the North-West. These have been for the
greater part well since arrival, though it was with some difficulty they were prevailed on to dis-
continue the pernicious habits of eating opium, and the use of " bang" and charrus and ganja,
without which narcotics they seemed to think existence was impracticable. This delusion,
however, was soon got rid of, as I have prohibited altogether the use of any of the above, and
they have, consequently, benefited in health by the restriction ; their food and clothing are
plentiful and equally suitable, both of which they can have as much of as they may reasonably
stand in need. These prisoners are placed in cells barred, and guarded day and night by
loaded sentries placed over them. They are allowed to take exercise during the day, accom-
panied by a guard, and by night are locked up and placed under strict surveillance. Their
quarters are small, inadequate, and unsuitable, and it would be desirable could better be pro-
cured for them, especially as they appear to be confined in this fortress for life.
The general health and sanitary condition of the garrison staff and details, their quarters,
&c., have been as satisfactory as can be expected, under the circumstances, and there have been
no specially developed sources of disease to account for beyond the forty cases of small-pox and
one sporadic case of cholera, all of which occurred in the Pettah bazar at the foot of the hill.
Were, however, a dispensary with an assistant (as long since recommended) established
in this place (the Pettah), these complaints would have been checked or stamped out earlier
and more efficiently ; and it was fortunate none this year appeared among the troops, &c., in
the Fort on the top of the hill, owing to quarantine established with police patrols, &c.