58
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
15. The last remaining head to be noticed is " Injuries, Local and General;' of which
there are 32 admissions during the year, as compared with 41 in the previous year ; by far the
greater number of these were from causes incidental to the work of the sapper, such as blows
from working tools, and. splinters from wood or stone whilst at work ;. I do not suppose these
will ever be prevented, but shoe-bite adds largely to the number of this class of disease; and is
certainly preventible. None of these cases call fur further remark excepting-1st, a case of
" green stick fracture" occurring in a lad of 14 years of age ; in this case the bone bent was
the radius of the left arm, and was brought about by gymnastic. practice ; but as there has since
been considerable amount of bony deposit around the seat of injury, it may be questioned
whether some partial fracture of the bone did not take place ; the . 2nd case was fracture of the
left femur, at its upper third, occasioned by direct violence; the man was at work carting
stones by tramway for the new lines, and while endeavouring to- prevent a heavy stone from
falling from the truck he was engaged in pushing, he fell and the stone came with consider-
able force on the thigh, fracturing the bone at the junction of the upper with themiddlee third :-
this man is still in hospital, but promises tc make a fair recovery.
16. Of the two deaths recorded, one occurred shortly after the man's arrival from Aden,
where he was said to have suffered much from fever, diarrhoea, and cirrhosis of the liver ; he
was sent here on sick certificate, and died within thirteen days of his arrival—general
dropsy supervening or resulting from previous existing disease.
17. The- second and only other death occurred in the person of a worn-out old man not
enlisted but an artificer of the corps, who, not being entitled to pension, was allowed to die
quietly in hospital 38 days after- admission.
18. No admission from cholera occurred during the year.
19. Two cases of sina,11-pox were treated, one mild, the other of the severer or confluent
type ; in the latter case the man appeared to derive much comfort from the application of
diluted carbolic acid to the pustules ; it lessened irritation and controlled the peculiar fcetor of
the disease, rendering. attendance on the patient more endurable, and reducing, I think, the
risk of contagion to his attendants.
20. There were 12 admissions from dengue ; the first case occurred in May and the
disease continued prevalent throughout the rains ;. the treatment adopted consisted of a mild
purgative to begin with, followed by diaphoretics in combination with anodynes. I am not
sure that the patients would not have done quite as well without other treatment than rest
and warmth; in no case did it seem to control the resulting pains or render progression easier ;
local applications of aconite to the parts most painfully affected, gave only temporary relief.
I myself was a victim, and went about crippled for more than three months : time alone seemed
to cure the disease.
21. The number of cases of chronic rheumatism treated shows no increase on the pre-
ceding year.
22. Syphilis shows a decrease of three as compared with 1871, but the two' cases which
came under treatment had been neglected and concealed ; both cases suffered much from
rheumatism after the chancre had healed,. and it 'was necessary to send the men away for
change of climate.
23. A case of true leprosy remained long in hospital waiting discharge, which was ulti-
mately effected by special Invaliding Committee.
21. Four cases of scurvy came under treatment during the year, being an increase of 3 as
compared with 1871, but the cases were slight—a little lime-juice and arrack soon restored
the men.
25. A case of mercurial inflammation remained long under treatment, so profuse and
long continued was the ptyalism : the man had been on leave and under native treatment for
26. A case under the head "Digestive System" was admitted for perforation of the palate ;
both hard and soft palates were entirely destroyed; the appearance of the opening showed it
might have existed for years or months ; of course the man declared it recent ; he was sent be-
fore the Invaliding Committee and pensioned.
27. Guinea-worm shows au increase of 6 cases over the preceding year.
28. Vaccination has been carried on energetically during the year ; the total number
vaccinated was 110, of which 74 were successful.
29. Four men or •9S per cent. were invalided during the year, one for perforation of
palate, before mentioned, two for general debility, and one by special committee for leprosy.