125
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
In the past year the average strength was 494, the admissions into hospital were 885,
the deaths 3, and the number sent on sick leave 7. The daily average sick was 23 or 4.61
per cent., the proportion of admissions to strength was 178.34, and of deaths to strength 0.6.
In the year 27 men were pensioned, whose average service was 20 years, 2 months, and 11
days, and two men of short service were discharged from the service for atrophy and general
debility. Fever has composed the greater portion of the admissions, and was most prevalent
in the past monsoon season, when the disease was of a malarious character, and was obstinate for
a time, particularly in men whose constitutions had previously been affected by the disease.
In some instances that had been treated elsewhere, hypodermic injection had been used with
ouly temporary benefit, and had left large, indelible, ulcer marks on the arm. In the hot season
the disease was apparently connected with climatic causes, and from exposure while repairing
the lines, which was, however, reduced as far as practicable ; also, probably , to a certain extent
from picket duty that was required to carry out the quarantine arrangements up to the 22nd
June. In the rains and cold season the usual thoracic complications were met with, and in
the hot season neuralgic headaches were not unfrequently complained of. There was no case
of typhoid fever in the course of the year. Disease connected with innutrition has been pre-
sent as usual, but has been most marked amongst the families. Were the condition and
development of children taken as a criterion for judging of the health of native troops, the
estimate formed would be an unfavourable one ; for the majority of the children that are born
in the lines are physically unfit for the ranks, and, indeed, a large portion are even unsuited
for entertainment as recruit boys from weakly conformation and defective stamina. The other
most important events in the medical history of the regiment, have been the occurrence of
small-pox and the exemption from cholera, which prevailed in the camp and neighbouring
districts in the the hot season. Small-pox was introduced by a recruit, and was contracted by
him in all likelihood in some village on the line of march ; and in his case the disease prov-
ed to be of a severe character, though he had been vaccinated in former years, but not since
joining the corps. The disease, however, did not extend beyond five cases in all, being con-
fined to two men, one woman, and two children. During the year an inspection has been
made of every individual that came into the lines, even for a few days, and with good result.
In accordance with instructions from the Inspector General, re-vaccination was commenced on
5th November 1872, but was not carried beyond 88 cases from failure of the supply of lymph,
and of these 5 proved successful, 2 of which had small-pox previously, 1 had been protected by
small-pox and vaccination, and 2 had vaccine marks on their arms. The number is too few to
be relied on for generalization, but taken in connection with the results mentioned in the
Madras Monthly Journal of Medical Science, it would evidently indicate that all recruits
should be vaccinated on joining, and that none should be exempted from the operation on
account of their having had small-pox previously or been vaccinated in their native country.
Diseases of the General System and affections of the Respiratory System were not nume
rous. Of the latter there were 15 from bronchitis, of which several were more or less phthisi-
cal in character ; and 5 had to be invalided on this account—1 pleurisy, 1 phthisis, and 7 of
catarrh.
Diseases of the Digestive System were more common, and the most important of this class
were 1 of enteritis with perforation of duodenum, 7 dysentery, and 28 diarrhœa.
Enthetic Disease was very rare in the year under review, from causes which have been
explained in former reports.
Injuries of various kinds of more or less severity were pretty rife : from this cause there
were 15 wounds, 34 contusions, 13 sprains, and 2 fractures. Three casualties occurred in hos-
pital : one from enteritis with perforation of duodenum, one from diarrrhœa, in a man that had
been attacked with the disease while on escort duty at Rutlam, and one from bronchitis with
pulmonary and hepatic congestion and dropsy, in a man of broken constitution.
In conclusion it will be necessary to make a few remarks on the presence of cholera at
the station. In the month of March, the disease was reported to have shown itself at Hurdah,
in the valley of the Nerbudda, on the Khundwa road at Burwai, and on the railway works ; and
on the 22nd March the military authorities established quarantine, and formed an encampment
at Kissonpore to E.N.E. of camp, which was afterwards transferred to Koomare village to the
N.E. of cantonment ; and all the travellers, furlough men, their wives and families were detain-
ed there for 48 hours, and afterwards for 24, on more favourable reports being received. And
on the 22nd June all quarantine restrictions were withdrawn, and medical inspection of indi-
viduals coming from the Khundawa road was merely required, and that was eventually dis-
continued on the 31st July, with the exception of native troops and their families, who have
up to the present time been seen previous to their being permitted to enter the regimental
lines. At first tents were pitched, but afterwards grass huts were erected for the accommoda-
tion of those detained. On the 8th April, the disease appeared in the 15th Hussars, and was
limited to five cases in all ; on the 12th May there was one case in the horse artiliery, and on
32 s