172
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
of view: a copy of this letter and its reply are enclosed. This year, to increase as it were the
stagnation of air caused by the lower branches of trees and undergrowth of sorts, on a large
piece of land within camp limits quantities of jowaree were allowed to be grown. The
m a l a r i - o u s f e v e r c a u s e d a b o u t 1 2 p e r c e n t m o r e a d m i s s i o n s t h i s y e a r t h a n l a s t , n o t o n l y t h a t t h e
numbers were greater this year, but the type was lower and men took longer to recover and
became more debilitated after an attack.
Dysentery.—Fifty-seven cases of dysentery were admitted this year against 29 in 1871, or
n e a r l y d o u b l e ; t h r e e o f t h e s e p r o v e d f a t a l . Th e i n c r e a s e c e n t p e r c e n t n e a r l y i s a t t r i b u t a b l e t o
the great amount of damp this year.
Pneumonia .—As usual many cases and deaths occurred from this disease in the cold
months of the year: sixty-seven were admitted and nineteen proved fatal. Were men in better
health they would not suffer from the adynamic latent form of pneumonia as they do, nor would
so many prove fatal.
Europeans suffered more from malarious fevers this year than in the three previous years
of my stay here, although more went on privilege leave than on former occasions. Of all the
officers that I found here, on my first joining in April 1869, there are now only 4 who have
not had to go to Europe; some out of those that joined after me have also had to go, and some
that were on sick leave at the time of my joining had, after their return to duty, to go again on
sick leave. Six Europeans had to go this year on sick leave, two left on private affairs to
Europe, one of whom could have got sick leave if he wanted it, and there were three more at
least who could easily have got sick leave. All the good that change of air did to officers who
went on privilege leave, was undone by the unhealthy climate to which they had to return.
Were they allowed to accumulate their privilege leave for 2 years, they could go away every
other year for the whole of the unhealthy season, and lessen the necessity of going to England
on sick leave.
Return of Temperature and Rain for the year 1872 at Jacababad.
Months.
January. February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
Temperature. . .
Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min.
70°34°85°34°104°46°108°58°109°74°110°77°R
ain. . .
.10
. . .
.48
.56
. . .
. . .
Months.
July.
August. September. October. November. December.
Total.
Temperature . . .
Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min.
105°82°100°80°97
70 96°60°93°34°76°43°. . .
. . .
Rain . . .
.57
3.71
1.36
. . .
. . .
. . .
6.78
Table of Temperature for the year 1872.
Cold Months.
Hot Months.
January 1872.
Pr e v a i l i n g Wi n d s N. &NW.
April1872.
P r e v a i l i n g W i n d s E . & S E .
February "
Mean Max. 79°F.
May "
Mean Max. 98°F.
March "
June "
"
Med. 66°F.
" Med. 88°F.
October "
July "
"Min. 54°F.
" Min. 80°F.
August "
November "
December "
September "
Lowest Register marked 34°F.
H i g h e s t R e g i s t e r m a r k e d 1 1 0°F . i n s h a d e .