144
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
The remaining diseases of the digestive system of any importance, two were of gastritis,
four of dyspepsia, five of hæmorrhoids, three of inflammation, and one of abscess of the liver,
and four from splenitis. One of the sufferers from gastritis has been pensioned, and the case
of abcess of the liver proved fatal. The three cases of hepatitis treated successfully with
chloride of ammonia. There was neither diarrhœa nor dysentery complained of at any time
in the case of abscess which ran a latent course. It was opened with a trochar, and the patient
seemed at first to improve, but large quantities of matter continued to be discharged from time
to time, until he died exhausted from suppuration and hectic. Gangrenous spots were appear-
ing about the opening in the side.
There were twenty-one admissions from lung complaints, and of these fifteen were for
bronchitis, three for asthma, two for phthisis pulmonalis, and one for pleurisy. The three
admissions from asthma were caused by the same man, who has since been pensioned. The
phthisis pulmonalis admissions were also caused by one man, who has been discharged the
service with a gratuity of four months' pay. He is the man who was mentioned in my last
year's report of the regiment, as having suffered severely from hæmoptysis at Dhoolia, and
was of about three years' service.
Four cases of measles occurred, and one, which was complicated with inflammation of the
bronchial tubes, proved fatal. A case of atonic amaurosis, which I considered was brought
on by long suffering from malarial fevers, occurred and the man was pensioned.
A man was pensioned for incontinence of urine, the result of an operation for stone in the
bladder.
A case of functional disturbance of the heart's action in which the patient (who was said
to be a ganja smoker) was in great distress for about forty hours, was treated with aromatic
spirit of ammonia, compound tincture of camphor and spirit of choloroform, of each twenty
minims in an ounce of camphor water every hour until the symptoms were relieved.
The remaining cases not noticed were of the usual description common to native troops.
Six deaths occurred in hospital, four from cholera, one from abscess of the liver, and one
from measles, complicated with acute inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
Twenty-three men were sent before the Annual Invaliding Committee at Mhow ; and
thirty were declared unfit, and three sent back said to be fit for further service. The rules
regarding the pensions and discharge of worn-out sepoys are the cause of a great many admis
sions into hospital from doubtful chronic rheumatism. The fact of a man being unable to ob-
tain his pension, except through an invaliding committee, induces many to feign illness when
they want their discharge. Again the fact of a man getting the same pension after sixteen
years' service as after thirty causes men who have little prospect of promotion, or who wish to
leave the service, to come into hospital and complain of chronic rheumatism as soon as they
have served the former period.
Forty-four recruits have joined the regiment during the year.
Vaccination has been regularly practiced in the regiment.
The Lines and Subsidiary buildings.— The lines consists of eight rows of huts running
north and south, or nearly at right angles to the prevailing winds. They are old, badly
constructed, and situated on a site which it is impossible to drain during the rains, and are the
cause of much sickness.
Latrines.—The latrine accommodation provided for the regiment is what is known as the
Trench-system, and has been carried out in the station since June 1870. A piece of ground about
two hundred yards to the leeward of the lines is set apart for them ; but during the last rains
the male latrines were removed to a spot further away. This was done, as there was a very
offensive smell from the place, and the ground was ploughed up and sown with gram. I con-
sider the system objectionable on many grounds, but the chief one is, that it is impossible to
compel all the people frequenting the place to use the trench, as many of them, particularly
when it is dark, prefer easing themselves all round. In the rains this state of affairs is aggra-
vated at Mehidpoor, owing to the difficulty of getting to the trenches through wet black soil.
The matter, I believe, has been fully brought to the notice of the military authorities and per-
manent latrines suggested.
General Sanitary Conditions.— The general sanitary condition of the cantonment and its
vicinity is, except during the rains, very fair. The closeness of the native town is, however,
prejudicial to the health of camp, but as the prevailing winds blow from the opposite direction,
not to such an extent as might be supposed. This year all the hedges were cut down in camp,
and also some trees, which has improved the place very much.
State of the Hospital Buildings.— The hospital accommodation was sufficient for the number
of sick during the year, and there are no medical subordinates or hospital servants' quarters,
and, as a consequence, these people have to live in the lines.