56
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Of the different castes and races in the regiment, those whose native climate differed most
from that of the place in which they were living, suffered most severely from this affection; the
Punjabees and the Purdasees, in proportion to their numbers, contributing a much larger
number of admissions than the Mahrattas or Parwarries. The treatment has been much the
same as described in former reports, the principal item being ipecacuanha. Large doses
seemed most efficacious, when patients could bear larger doses; but, after considerable experi-
ence of the use of this drug at Kolhápur, as well as in Dhulia, I have found the large doses,
no matter how combined or administered, very apt to produce severe vomiting, and not so
efficacious as I formerly found them in Nasirabad, or as I have lately found them in a few
cases in Bombay.
There were four casualties during the year—one from scurvy with latent pneumonia, one
from phthisis pulmonalis, one from dysentery, and one from pneumonia with pleurisy.
One case was returned as poisoning. The patient was a havildar, a native of the Punjab,
who had taken some country medicine, probably a preparation of the " nerium odorum," which
produced vomiting and purging but not to any great degree. He was cold and almost pulseless
when brought into hospital, and continued in this state for many hours. Stimulating emetics,
the stomach pump, and stimulants, were used and hot bottles applied to the extremities; he
gradually revived, having vomited and passed by stool a peculiar dark green fluid. He com-
plained of headache and salivation without mercurial fœtor, for several days afterwards; also of
sore throat, probably caused by the stomach pump tube which he pulled out several times when
it was being used.
Private Kaelap Sing was a sentry at the Treasury on the evening of the 29th September,
when his musket, which was loaded with ball, went off accidentally and wounded both his
hands. A portion of the web between the thumb and index finger of the left hand was blown
away, the flexor longus pollicis tendon was exposed, and a portion of the first phalanx of the
thumb splintered off. The bullet also passed through the right hand portions of the metacarpal
bones, and tendons of the middle and ring fingers were blown away, and other parts were
much injured. There was some bleeding which, however, was controlled by pressure,
and the wounds were very painful and much inflamed for some time; but they progressed
favourably, and were healing rapidly, when he was transferred to the left wing hospital: he
was afterwards granted sick leave.
Dhulia town and cantonment are well known to be very badly situated on low ground,
surrounded on nearly all sides by higher land. The lines are placed on ground so little elevat-
ed that they cannot be properly drained, and the soil seems retentive of moisture, and highly
malarious, and the ground surrounding camp during the monsoon is a good deal overrun with
rank vegetation which it is difficult to keep in check.
The lines are constructed on the standard plan and are in fair order; but it seems to me
that in so extremely hot a station as Dhoolia, the huts should be spread over four times as
much ground as they occupy.
There is no arrangement for ventilation of the huts, or for the escape of smoke, except
the doors which are small, low and insufficient for this purpose, consequently the heat inside
the huts is usually intolerable and the smoke is torturing, as I have often experienced when
visiting the huts in the hot weather and rains: and I have no doubt that to these circum-
stances a portion of the sickness and mortality of the sepoys and a large portion of the great
mortality of their families, should be attributed.
The so-called Dry-earth conservancy was followed; but complaints were made that the
manure yard was an intolerable nuisance, and there was difficulty in finding suitable place for
this purpose at a convenient distance. It was proposed to adopt the Trench latrine system, but
a sufficient extent of' land was not obtainable beyond the minimum distance from the lines,
and the proposal was not carried out.
H. M. 'S SAPPERS AND MINERS.
KIRKEE.—In Medical Charge of Surgeon Major W. DAVEY; Strength 407.
1. Leaving out the present dilapidated condition. of the lines, and the deficient hospital
accommodation—questions which my predecessor has been at the trouble thoroughly to expose—
there seems but little to remark on, excepting the health of the corps during the past year,
which has been very good.