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SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
on one side of the Indus, and Haidarabad on the other, it would not be long until its presence
would be felt in both these localities, which in fact occurred. It was natural likewise to
suppose that the traffic up the Indus, especially by means of the passenger steamers, would
certainly convey the disease to the several places of contact on its banks. This came to pass
as regards Sakkhar only. This place has a considerable trade, and here steamers generally
remain for a day or more during their passage up and down. Two hundred and thirty cases
of dengue came under treatment here, and many others also were affected with it but were either
too ignorant or too indifferent to seek medical aid. On the other side of the Indus, exactly
opposite Sakkhar, lies the considerable town of Rohri. Hourly intercourse by steam-ferry is kept
up between the two. Finding that not a single case of dengue had been treated at the
dispensary there, I enquired of the authorities with respect to its presence in the town, and
was surprised to learn that the disease was quite unknown in the place. A singular circum-
stance, if correctly stated. Shikarpur, which is 23, and Jacobabad, 49 miles distant from
Sakkhar, each of them forming important links in the chain of communication and traffic to
the northward, entirely escaped. With the exception of the places I have already mentioned,
and three others, not far from the Indus, the disease seems to have passed up the river,
leaving Sind comparatively untouched.
7. Having referred to the general causes which have excercised a baneful influence on
the health of the troops serving in Sind during the past year, and occasioned an increase of
one fourth nearly in the deathrate, I proceed to mention the total average strength; numbers
treated and died; the daily average sick; the percentage of treated to strength, of deaths to
strength, of deaths to treated; of the diseases affecting the men as a body, and the proportion
in which the castes of Hindoos and Mahomedans suffered; then the numbers of each who have
died out of hospital and been invalided; the number of recruits joined during the year; and,
lastly, the history of the several regiments. In the appendices to this report marked, respec-
tively, B, C, D, E, these and other matters are given in full detail, and it will, therefore, be
necessary to only summarise them here very briefly.
8. The average strength of the troops serving in Sind for the year 1872 amounted to
2,844 which is less by 243 than in the previous year. Including those remaining at the close
of 1871, the total number treated has been 5,216. The average daily sick per cent. to average
strength was 4 . 6; while the ratio per cent. to admissions to average strength amounted to
177.2. The deaths in hospital numbered 74 which gives a ratio of 1 .4 deaths to treated, and
a percentage of 2 . 6 to the average strength. The previous year showed a percentage of 1.8,
which contrasts unfavourably with the ratio for the whole native Army, and now for the year
just concluded this will be still more apparent, as the mortality has been nearly one fourth in
excess of what occurred in the preceeding year.
9. In commenting on the diseases affecting the troops as a body, it is natural in a
country like Sind, especially in its upper portion, where not only malaria spreads itself over
a much wider surface and in a more persistent manner than in Lower Sind, but where also the
troops stationed there exceed those at Haidarabad and Kurrachee, in the proportion of 7 to 2,
to look for a larger number of admissions from fever. And such is the case. A total of 2,654
cases of malarious fever have been treated, which divided through the average strength 2,844 is
equal very nearly to every man of the Force having been once affected during the year. In
my last report, 2,378 cases of malarious fevers are noted in a strength of 3,087 with a mortality
of 20, or a percentage of 0 . 6 deaths to strength. For the year under review, while the sick-
ness from this cause has been greater, the mortality has been less, 17 deaths having occurred,
or equal to 0.5 per cent. on the average strength.
10.
Of the remaining diseases classified as " General," under the nomenclature of 1868,
Sec. A, dengue holds an important place—589 cases having come under treatment; but, as
I have already mentioned, being confined exclusively to the two Belooch regiments stationed
at Kurrachee and Hydrabad. The disease ran its course without a casualty. Measles have
been seen, but that is all: no epidemic of this disease has occurred. Four cases only are
noted; three of them at Kurrachee, and one at Jacobabad. Under Sec. B, of this class,
syphilis is the only disease requiring special notice: 50 cases of primary and 44 of the
secondary affections having been met with. Out of these 1 death occurred. It may appear some-
what remarkable that of this total of 94 cases of syphilis debited to the six regiments serving
in Sind, 66 of these are divided between the two Belooch regiments, and that in the case of one
of them, quartered at the station where there is a lock hospital, it should return the largest
number ! The frequency of this disease consequent on the habits of the people is much
greater among Mahomedans than Hindoos, but as the number of this class in the regi-
ments of the Sind Brigade at Jacobabad compared with that in those of the two Belooch
regiments, is as 3 to 2, the comparatively few cases which appear in the records of the Upper
Sind Force would seem to completely upset this opinion. But it is not so, and the reason is
not far off. In my last year's report, when speaking of the smallness of the hospitals belong-