SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
20.
While malaria therefore is endemic, abundant sub-surface water present, and
drainage impracticable, I think I may safely affirm that in a country like Sind, experience
proves that the planting of trees, grass, &c., would neither diminish the frequency of the
sores peculiar to the province, alleviate their progress, nor shorten their course ; but on the
contrary, I am amongst the number of those who consider they would become aggravated
thereby.
21.
To return from this digression, I proceed to notice the proportion in which the two
classes, Hindoo and Mahomedan, have contributed to the general sickness during the year
under report. The strength of the former is 732, of the latter 2,811. From the first, 977 ad-
missions are recorded, and 20 deaths : from the last 3,743 admissions and 52 deaths. The
Hindoos, therefore, show a considerable higher deathrate than do the Mahomedans. This
amounts to 2
.
7, while that for the Mahomedans is 1 . 3, proving that the latter from their
greater consumption of nitrogenous elements in their food, are better capable of resisting the
tendency to death than are the other class, whose diet, from their larger use of cereals, contain
a greater amount of starch.
22.
The returns show that 24 men died out of hospital and on leave, but these are not
given according to caste : 127 were invalided, 18 being Hindoos and 109 Mahomedans. This
shows a percentage to strength of 2 of the former and 3 . 7 of the latter, which apparently rather
militates against the theory advanced in the preceding paragraph, but while the Mahomedans at
least during youth possess greater stamina and power than the Hindoos to resist, under sick-
ness, the tendency to a fatal issue, it would seem that, owing to their habits being generally
more dissipated, they become sooner worn out and unfit for hard work. Executive officers
are well aware of the greater frequency of rheumatic complaints—complicated with syphilis,
as also of premature old age, the result of debauchery—as witnessed in Mahomedans
who have completed their time for pension. While on the subject of invaliding, I would
desire to bring to the notice of Government a matter which, I think, requires recommendation,
I mean the discharging of men pronounced unfit by the committee with a gratuity who have
nearly completed their period of service qualifying for pension. Cases of this kind are constantly
occurring. Last year there were not less than 9 men whose periods of service averaged from
13 1/2 to nearly 15 years, and yet, in accordance with the rules of the service, having been
pronounced unfit, they were discharged with a gratuity. In the case of men enlisted at an
advanced age, or who have been continually sick, or from other causes can be got to do little
or no work, this rule is a salutary one, and cannot be regarded, even by them, as harsh ; but it
is otherwise with those who, perhaps, have done good service for 13 1/2 to 14 years or upwards,
and then, from causes with which they are in no way responsible, suddenly break down or be-
come incapacitated for further active service, when another year, or after only a few more months,
would have tided them over the period at which they would have been qualified for pension,
and during which, in many instances, they are sufficiently capable of performing light duties.
I have reason to believe that sepoys hold strong opinions on this matter, and are apt to mis-
construe instances of the kind I have mentioned into an intention on the part of the autho-
rities to evade granting them their pension. A larger amount of indulgence towards them, in
this respect, would not be a costly boon, and would remove many a grievance caused by the
existing rule. During the year 237 recruits have been enrolled, of whom 55 were Hindoos
and 202 Mahomedans.
23.
I am glad that for the year under report I have no mention to make of cholera
having visited the province. In the months of July and August last it prevailed to a consi-
derable extent in the Punjab, and was gradually extending to Lahore and in the direction
of Multan ; and it was, therefore, not unreasonable to suppose that, eventually, it might find its
way down the Indus to Hydrabad and Kurrachee in the same manner as it travelled in 1869.
At the request of the Commissioner in Sind I placed myself in communication with the princi-
pal medical officer at Multan, with the view of receiving early intimation of any outbreak of
epidemic cholera that might take place there. In anticipation of its appearance I instructed the
medical officer in charge of Sakkhar to make arrangements for instituting careful enquiries
on the arrival of any steamer or boat from Multan, to ascertain whether persons suffering from
cholera or suspicious cases existed on board, and that, in the event of such appearing, the
sufferers be immediately landed and segregated in the hospital set apart for the purpose ; that
the vessels from on board which such cases were received, should be thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected before being allowed to proceed on their downward journey ; and that all tainted
bedding and clothing should be destroyed. Intelligence reached me that a few cases of the
disease had shown themselves at Multan, but that there was no tendency observed towards
increasing, or to its assuming an epidemic form ; and shortly afterwards it was reported to have
disappeared altogether, apparently taking a north-westesly course. No case was observed in
any of the vessels touching at Sakkhar.
24. Neither has small-pox been anywhere seen in the division. A few cases of measles
have been met with, but they are hardly worth recording ; nor has any other disease —except
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