12
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
The rainfall this year amounted to 86 inches, 6 cents, which is rather less than the usual
quantity. It was peculiar that the rains fell extremely heavy in June and July, in August
and September scarcely any, and none in October. During the month of May, and beginning
of June, there was a great scarcity of water, so much so that I had to supply the sepoys from
some of the Jail garden wells.
HER MAJESTY 'S 26TH REGIMENT N.I.
SURAT.—In Medical Charge of Assistant Surgeon McConaghy; Strength 640.
The av erage strength of the regiment during tha past year has been 640.
Number of admissions from all causes . . .
1,590
Number remaining on 1st January 1872 . . .
71
Daily average number of sick . . .
40.6
Percentage treated to strength . . .
259.5
Deaths to strength . . .
1.6
Deaths to treated . . .
0.6
The regiment marched from Nasirabad in wings, which arrived in Surat, respectively, on
the 22nd January, and 11th March.
The general health of the regiment, during the year under review, has been fair, except
in the latter part of July and the months of August and September, when both the sepoys
and their families suffered much from ague and dengue.
The prevailing diseases during the past year have been ague, dengue-fever, rheumatism,
bronchitis, cholera, and bowel-complaints.
Ague.—There were 748 admissions from ague during the year, and though this number
is very high, yet it will contrast most favourably with that of the previous year, when the
admissions were 1,311.
The type of the fever was generally of a mild nature, and readily amenable to treatment
with the exception of that prevailing in August and September, when it was of a more
obstinate character, and frequently associated with diarrhœa. In 1871, whilst stationed at
Nasirabad, the men suffered so severely from ague, in many cases complicated with splenitis,
that up to the present time they have not completely recovered from its debilitating effects.
The ordinary treatment by quinine, and liquor arsenicalis was usually pursued with satis
-factory results; however, the infusion of chiretta combined with a dilute mineral acid was
frequently administered, and in many cases with marked success. In April and May, 13 cases
of ague were selected for treatment by the hypodermic injection of quinine. A solution of
quinine (quinine gr. iii, dilute sulphuric acid, m. iii, water 3 g.) was most carefully filtered
and injected under the skin of arm with the following results:—In four cases, though the fever
was rather severe, the injection was most efficacious and completely arrested the disease after
a second or third repetition. In four, the injection had a favourable result in stopping the
progress of the fever, but as an ecchymosed and swollen patch took place at the seat of each
injection, causing more or less annoyance to the patients, the operation on the whole cannot
be considered satisfactory in these cases. Two cases were not influenced in the least by its
administration in this manner, and were ultimately cured with liquor arsenicalis. In two
instances the ecchymosed patches, at site of injection proceeded to sloughing and resulted in
the formation of weak, indolent ulcers, each almost as large as a four anna piece; these were
very slow in healing, and consequently necessitated the patients remaining in hospital several
days after the disappearance of the fever. Both these patients suffered severely from ague,
complicated with splenitis during the previous year at Nasirabad. The disease in the remain
-ing case becoming complicated with bronchitis, the injection was discontinued after the
second operation. In summing up the result of these cases, it would appear that the
hypodermic treatment is most suitable for strong healthy patients who have previously
suffered but little from ague, and that on the other hand it is frequently followed by swelling
and ecchymosis, in some instances going on to sloughing in those whose constitutions have
been sapped by the malarial poison.
Three cases of remittent fever are recorded during the year, two of these died on the
line of march.
Dengue.— This disease was present in the city, and surrounding villages upwards of a
month before it attacked the camp, and as it is generally believed to be infectious, its late
appearance may in a great measure be attributed to the precautions taken to prevent, either
the sepoys or their families coming in contact with it. The first case in the lines occurred
on the 16th May, and from this date until the beginning of October it was present in an
epidemic form. This disease attained its maximum in August, when thirty-six patients were
admitted.