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SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
H. M.'s 1ST GRENADIER REGIMENT N.I.
POONA.—In Medical Charge of Surgeon T. MILLER ; Strength 677.
During the past year the health of the regiment has not been nearly so good as it appears
from the hospital records for some years back to have been. There has been a much larger
number of admissions into hospital than formerly, and this chiefly on account of an epidemic
of dengue fever having gone through the regiment which at one time, during the months of
July and August, was very much crippled from this complaint. During these two months 520
cases of dengue were treated, and the average daily sick was in July 78.4, and in August 58.6;
the greatest number of sick under treatment at one time was 122 on the 21st July.
There has also been an increase in the number of cases of intermittent fever, as compar-
ed with the last year or two; the number of cases treated having been 343 in 1872, against
146 in 1871.
On account of the increase in the number of cases of ague, and the epidemic of dengue,
the total number treated is three times greater than during the previous year—that for
1872 being 1,225, against 426 for 1871.
Of general diseases, there remained in hospital on 1st January 1872, eleven cases, and there
were admitted during the year 949, making a total of 960. Of these 948 were discharged, 3
died, and 9 remained under treatment.
Of local diseases there remained 5 ; there were admitted 201. Total 206. Of these 196
were discharged, 3 died, and 7 remained under treatment. The most prevalent of these were
diseases of the digestive system-112 of other diseases not coming under the above heads—and
of injuries, general and local, there were 59, all of which were discharged.
The most prevalent were fevers. Chronic rheumatism 67 cases, and 65 were discharged.
Contusions 50, all discharged. Dysentery 39—38 discharged. Abscess 36—34 discharged.
Diarrhœa 19—18 discharged.
Syphilitic affections have not been numerous—4 cases of primary and 6 of secondary having
been under treatment. Of eye diseases there were 6, and of gonorrhœa 1 case.
Two cases of cholera occurred amongst the sepoys, one of which was fatal, and 3 amongst
the followers of the regiment, of which also one was fatal. These cases were admitted into
hospital for treatment, after having been ill for 8 or 12 hours from premonitary symptoms, and
were in the stage of collapse, and generally pulseless. The treatment was the giving of stimu-
- l a n t m i x t u r e w i t h a m m o n i a , s m a l l d o s e s o f a r r a c k , a n d s o m e t i m e s o n a d m i s s i o n a p i l l o f
calomel and opium. A solution of bicarbonate of soda was given for thirst, and as much cold
water as the patient desired. Mustard poultices and liniments were also employed.
Of small-pox 6 cases occurred amongst the sepoys—4 recovered and 2 died ; and amongst
the followers, 1 male, 6 females, and 4 children had the disease, all of whom recovered.
Although the dengue fever was more or less prevalent in the station during the hot
months, it did not break out in the regiment until the beginning of July and after the rains
had set in. The sepoys' huts being roofed with flat tiles, the rain easily penetrated through
them, and, of course, the inside of the huts are damp and uncomfortable ; and, on account of
the damp and cold, the men are more likely to be affected with fevers, more especially as they
do not use charpoys but sleep on the mud floor. Whether this had much to do with the out-
break of the dengue, I cannot say, but at all events it was not in its favour, when once it got
amongst the sepoys. The complaint commenced first with fever, sometimes severe, sometimes
mild, and lasting usually for two or three days, and with pains in some of the smaller joints ;
sometimes pains of the limbs were complained of from the first, and in others, they came on
after the fever had almost gone. Many cases did not report themselves sick for the first day
or so, and were admitted after the fever had almost left, and the pains of limbs and weakness
were then the most marked symptoms. There was very little eruption to be noticed on the
body at any period of the disease ; it was absent almost in every case on admission. The
treatment consisted usually of a purgative at first, and then diaphoretic medicines—nitrate of
potass, &c., sometimes combined with vinum colchici. Opiates were also given, and extract
of belladonna, and liniments of turpentine, opium, and aconite. The treatment with belladonna
did not seem to be more beneficial than the other. Afterward quinine and iron with strych-
nine were given as tonics. The cases usually got better after a week or so, and no bad
symptoms remained, except stiffness of the joints, which was relieved by the use of liniments.
None of the cases were fatal.
The dysenteric cases were treated with small doses of ipecacuanha, blue-pill, and opium, with
extract of gentian. Large doses of ipecacuanha did not seem to be required. Quinine and other
tonics were given after acute symptoms abated. One case of extravasation of urine remained
u n d e r t r e a t me n t . I t wa s a d mi t t e d a t f i r s t a s a c a s e o f a c u t e u r e t h r i t i s . T h e r e wa s n o h i s t o r y o f