169
SIND DISTRICT OF THE ARMY.
Admissions from, and treatment of, the remaining diseases shown in the return, was much
the same as in previous years. I quote below remarks made in my monthly reports.
January 1872. As usual annually many men died during the cold season—this January
has proved unusually fatal to debilitated men. The ague poison has lasted longer, owing to a
second filling of the big canals during the month of December and the slow drying of them.
February 72.—Nine cases of pneumonia were under treatment during the month, of which
one died, one is still in danger, two are discharged well, and the remaining are doing well.
March 72.— There was comparatively speaking little sickness during the month of March,
Out of the seven cases of pneumonia five were discharged cured, and two are convalescent.
April 72.—No case of any consequence admitted in April, with the exception of a severe
compound fracture of the bones of the leg just above the malleoli.
August 1872.—The ague cases have not increased in this month. Jacobabad is surround-
ed by inundation water on all sides—good deal of rain fell during the month.
September 1872.—The ague cases have increased from 16 in August to 72 in September ;
in the corresponding month in 1871 there were only 24 cases, and in September 1870, 64 were
treated. In 1870 the water in the canals had fallen rapidly, giving off malaria fast towards the
latter end of September ; in September 1871 the canals were full of water with a rapid scour ; in
1872 the canals were allowed to dry and were refilled again, and were beginning to dry again in
the latter part of the month. The explanation I gave last year in my remarks (monthly
return for September) holds good again.
October 1872.—More cases of ague were treated during this month compared to the last.
The smaller canals have been slowly drying during the present month : more fever cases might
be expected during November. A case of pneumonia was admitted : he is doing well : he was
treated with stimulants, expectorants, and blisters ; nothing in the form antiphlogistic
remedies were given. An unusual large number (6) of cases of dysentery were treated during
the month—chiefly among the Seiks.
November 1872.—On the 3rd November at 6 P.M. this regiment left for Sakkhar—a dis-
tance by the circuitous road taken on account of the remains of the flood water of 60 miles—and
arrived there at 10 A.M. on the morning of the 4th ultimo, or in the space of 16 hours, including
two halts of about 20 minutes and one of 40 minutes. The regiment did not seem to suffer
by it—either men or horses—it returned to camp on the morning of the 11th November.
Ague has been less this month but pneumonia cases have begun to come in. Of the 4
treated, one is discharged well, two are doing well, and one is still in danger. The weather is
becoming colder, there have been northerly winds which will lessen ague cases, arising from
direct influence of malaria, which becomes lesser in quantity ; but the pneumonia and other
inflammatory diseases are likly to increase in number.
December 1872.—Forty-eight cases of ague were admitted during the month of December
this year against only 14 cases in the corresponding month of the year 1871. I account for
it and the great prevalence of ague in the last month also to the slower evaporation of the
canals : this year they were allowed to remain in communication with water in the main canals
much later than last year ; also it was owing to the lesser amount of cold ; last year there were
several frosts during the months of November and December. Of the six cases of pneumonia
one was discharged to duty, the remaining are doing well.
Vaccination. —Thirty-six only were vaccinated during the year. There is an insurmount-
able amount of prejudice against vaccination, and it was with the greatest difficulty and trouble
that so many even were got. I have to thank my hospital assistant, Abdool Rymon, General
No. 312, and also the hospital orderly duffedar, Mahomed Khan, for their trouble in getting
the children. I spoke often to several native officers on the subject but without any good.
H. M. 'S 3RD SIND HORSE.
JACOBABAD.—In Medical Charge of Assistant Surgeon J. S. CARSWELL, M.B. ; Strength 338.
The medical history of H. M.'s 3rd Regiment, Sind Horse, for the year 1872, compared
with that of the preceding one, affords little to comment on ; as the regiment, being always
confined to the same station, is consequently exposed, from year to year, to the same climatic
i n f l u e n c e s ; a n d a s t h e d i s e a s e s mo s t p r e v a l e n t a r e t h o s e g e n e r a l l y a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e b a n e f u l
influence of climate, they vary but little in their nature, type, or prevalence.
However, the admissions from this cause appear to have been fewer this year than in
the preceding one, although the year has been generally regarded by long residents as an un-
usually unhealthy one, owing partly to the inundations being much higher than usual, and
partly to the longer continuance of the hot weather, which was probably due to the lateness of
the setting in of the north-east monsoon, which is always looked anxiously for towards the
latter end of the year.
43 s