NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
107
localities if men have been for a long time exposed to malarious influences, every slight febrile
affection, caused by damp, chill, or exposure, has a tendency to assume an intermittent type ;
and would be. very properly classed under the heading of intermittent fever, although, strictly
speaking, it is more a revival of a dormant materies morbi than a fresh attack.
While on this subject, I may remark that the cases of ague among the men working in
the gheer, which has a deadly reputation among the natives of the province, were in every
way clear, well-marked types ; generally, of the tertian and quartian kinds, and of most per-
sistent and intractable character : whereas the men attacked in camp seldom suffered for more
than a day or two, the disease being nearly always the quotidian form, and rapidly yielding to
mild and ordinary treatment.
SQUADRON H. M. 'S 2ND REGIMENT L. C.
RAJKOT.—In Medical Charge of Surgeon E. SEXTON ; Strength 118.
The total strength of the 1st Squadron 2nd Light Cavalry is 118 officers, non-commission-
ed officers, and privates. The men are located partly in new lines recently completed, and
partly in the old cavalry lines.
There is a plentiful supply of water near the Government garden, but a good many fami-
lies have recourse to the well situated close to the hospital, which contains a good supply of
water. During the past year a detachment of 51 men went on field service with the Political
Agent, and was absent about two months ; another detachment of 30 men has been kept at
Drappa, where it remains pending further instructions.
The total number of admissions to hospital during the whole year amounted to 96 ; of
these 51, or rather more than one-half, were cases of intermittent fever—a good many of the
worst and most intractable cases having been sent in from the Drappa detachment. There were
five cases of conjunctivitis :one of which—a very severe case—occurred on field service. There
was little disease of either the respiratory or digestive systems, but there were five cases of
affection of the urinary organs. Fourteen cases of contusion were admitted during the year, some
of rather a serious nature and nearly all occasioned by falls or kicks from horses.
No death took place during the year, nor was there á single case of discharge or invalid.-
ing : one man went on sick leave.
H. M.'s 2ND COMPANY N.A.
R A J K O T . - I n M e d i c a l C h a r g e o f S u r g e o n E .S
E X T O N ;
S t r e n g t h 1 2 2 .
The average strength of the 2nd Company N.A., including 50 muleteers, amounts
to 122 native officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates. The gunners and mule--
teers occupy separate lines, the former occupying two sections—one with tiled roofs, the
other chuppere—and the latter one section near the mule lines which is' also tiled. Water is
obtained from two wells, situated in close contiguity to the lines—one of which contains excel-
lent drinking-water ; the water in the other being somewhat brackish. No detachments were
sent anywhere during the year, the men having arrived from Aden towards the end of March.
During the year 1872 there were 111 admissions to hospital out of a total strength of 122.
Of the whole number of cases admitted, 54, or nearly one-half, were suffering from febrile
affections, the vast majority being of the intermittent type. Seven cases of acute and chronic
rheumatism and two cases of lumbago were also admitted. There was very little ophthalmic
disease among the men of this company, only. one case having occurred during the year.
Diseases of the ear too were rare, as were also affections of the respiratory system, only one
case of pneumonia and one of bronchitis having been admitted in 1872. Diseases of the
gastro-enteric system were more frequent, no less than ten figuring in the returns, five of
were cases of simple diarrhoea. There were seventeen cases of local injuries, most of which
were occasioned by accident : one death of a muleteer from general paralysis, the result of an
accidental injury, took place during the year.
On the whole the men of the company have had a good average of health, during the year
1872.
On arrival from Aden, there was a decided scorbutic taint to be detected in many of the
older men ; but the general health of the company has steadily improved ever since its arrival
here, and may now be considered in a highly satisfactory condition.