85
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
NORTHERN DIVISION.
Average strength present during the year . . .
8,054
Average daily sick per cent. to the average strength . . .
5.30
Ratio of mortality per cent, to the average strength . . .
0.84
HEAD QUARTERS H.M.'s 3RD REGIMENT N.L.I.
BOMBAY.—In Medical Charge of Surgeon C. JOHNSON; Strength 609.
1. The average strength of the regiment during 1872 has been 609. The health of
the regiment doesnot compare favourably with the year before; this may
be accounted for by the change of station and the very fatiguing
march the regiment had from Mhow to Ahmedabad. The number of admissions from all
causes amounted to 1,494, being an increase of 778; this increase is accounted for by the
fact, that nearly every man in the regiment was under treatment, in hospital, during the
epidemic of dengue in Ahmadabad, to which our men were liable, owing to their having only
very lately arrived in camp, from their heavy march, when the epidemic broke out. I am
happy to say that we escaped with the loss of one man only from this fever.
2. Dengue has been the disease having the greater number of admissions while it lasted.
The more constantly prevailing diseases have been intermittent fever,
remittent fever, bronchitis, scurvy, rheumatisn, dysentery, &c. Many
of the cases of fever have been complicated with chest symptoms, dysentery, rheumatism, &c.
Very shortly after our arrival from Mhow, the regiment suffered from intermittent fever
and bronchitis; immediately following we had dengue, and during the rains, and subsequently
intermittent fever, as usual in Guzerat, was very prevalent.
Treated to strength . . .
248.7
Deaths to do. . . .
0.8
Deaths to treated . . .
0.3
Average daily sick . . .
27.4
3. The treatment in the fevers has been in the administration of quinine, arsenic, car
-
bolic acid, and subsequently nourishing diet, with iron, strichnia, and
other tonics,stimulants, and alteratives. In dysentery, ipecacuanha and
opium was found most useful, followed by tonics and strict attention to diet. In bronchitis,
rubefacients, leeches, stimulating embrocations, expectorants, diaphoreties, &c., and subsequently
tonics.
In dengue, a diaphoretic mixture, during the early stage of the fever, with quinine,
iodide of potassium, and carbonate of soda with infusion of creat, seemed to answer very well.
And many of the cases were discharged after having been four and five (days under treatment.
Many had relapses—once or twice recurring—and were much longer under treatment:
i n
every case great attention was paid to the state of the bowels and secretions.
Average Strength.
Prevailing diseases.
Treatment.
Admissions.
4. The number of admissions during the year was—
Fever . . .
543
Dengue . . .
526
Rheumatism . . .
19
Bronchitis . . .
81
Conjunctivitis . . .
40
Dysentery . . .
44
Diarrhœa . . .
14
Venereal diseases . . .
2 2
Contusion . . .
53
Boil . . .
27
5 . D e n g u e f e v e r w a s t h e o n l y e p i d e m i c o c c u r r i n g d u r i n g t h e y e a r , a n d , w h i l e i t l a s t e d ,
nearly crippled the regiment. In the course of three months it
entirely disappeared, however, and was fatal in one case only.
6. Five deaths occurred during the year—one from dengue, two from bronchitis, two
from phthisis pulmonalis, and one from heat apoplexy in a European
officer. Excluding the two cases of phthisis pulmonalis, who had been
gradually sinking for years and that of heat apoplexy, which was fatal in a few minutes, the
death rate I am inclined to think rather small, considering the number of men under treatment
during the year.
Epidemic.
Deaths.
2 2 s