6 SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Re-vaccinated 397, successful 150, unsuccessful 247.
The only new building in the lines has been a blacksmith's shop in those of the 21st, and
no change has been made in the drainage. At the end of December 1871, in consequence of
the filthy stench experienced in the lines of the 19th Regiment N. I., from the close vicinity
of the public latrines and other nuisances, the regiment was moved into tents, near the Esplan--
ade pendalls, where they remained until 11th March 1872. During this time the huts and
lines were thoroughly cleaned. Nothing can be added to the statement made in the Sanitary
report for 1871 and previous years, as to the unfitness of these lines for the occupation of
troops.
The house drainage of the lines of the 21st Regiment has been under review during the
year. In September, Surgeon Seward sent in a very long and elaborate report, and in Novem-
ber, a committee composed of the Commandants of the 21st and 19th Regiments, the Deputy
Inspector General, Indian Medical Department, the Executive Engineer, Presidency, and the
Medical Officer of the 21st Regiment, sat and reported on the subject. It is undoubtedly very
defective and likely to increase in some degree the unhealthiness of the lines.
The lines of the detachment of the 11th Regiment were found so unhealthy from their
very damp condition, and the close proximity of the latrines and sweepers' lines, that it was
deemed necessary to remove the men to the Esplanade pendalls in July, where they have
remained ever since.
The water-supply is good, that for drinking being from the Vehar lake, that for washing
is obtained from wells in the lines of both regiments.
The principal diseases have been fever, chiefly ague, rheumatism, diarrhœa, dysentry, and
scurvy.
It is not easy to trace with certainty any causes of local malaria, as regards the lines of
the 21st Regiment, unless it be from the beforementioned house drainage. Situated as they
are on deep sandy soil, surface water never lies stagnant for any time, but rapidly filters away
to a depth of 10 or 12 feet, where no doubt a large quantity is always stored up during the
rainy season. There is, however, no evidence that in the dry weather it is again drawn to the
surface by capillary action, in such a manner as to lead to malarious exhalations; there is
one local influence constantly at work, which must act prejudicially on the health of those ex
posed to it. I allude to the offensive stench given off from the sewage carried by the Sonapoor
drain. This was so forcibly noticed by Surgeon-Major Gilbert in his report for 1871, that I
should have simply mentioned it as a probable cause of ill-health to the neighbourhood, but
unfortunately his anticipations, that the nuisance would be abated by action taken under
Government Resolutions of July 6th and December 11th, 1871, have not been realised, and it
has continued in an aggravated form during the year under review. It has formed the subject
of frequent reports from the Esplanade Board of Health ; and at the end of November it be-
came for some days so intolerable that the Brigadier-General Commanding the District ap-
pointed a special medical committee to enquire into and report on the subject. There seems
to be no hope of its being remedied as long as the Sonapoor drain empties its sewage into the
comparatively still waters of Back Bay.
The subsoil of the lines of the 19th Regiment is not of the same sandy porous quality as
t h at of the 21st Regiment, and surface water is much more likely to stand and become stag-
- n a n t , a n d a s o u r c e o f m a l a r i a ; b u t t h i s w o u l d b e , b u t a s m a l l f a c t o r i n p r o d u c i n g d i s e a s e , a s
compared with the many other nuisances surrounding them, which have been so well described
by Surgeon-Major Gilbert in his report of 1871, that I can add nothing to the picture which
he has drawn, but simply endorse all that he has said as to their absolute unfitness.
N o a l t e r a t i o n h a s b e e n m a d e i n t h e h o s p i t a l o f H . M . ' s 1 9 t h
Regiment. In that of the
21st Regiment, the separate ward mentioned in the last report has been constructed, and a
bathroom formed by enclosing a portion of the north verandah, and a covered way from the
hospital to the latrines are being erected, and will be completed in a few days.
I have taken the strength and averages for 1871 from the Sanitary report for that year ;
but I have reason to suppose that their correctness is invalidated by the fact of a detachment
of 200 men of the 2nd Regiment N. I., who were only in Bombay until 20th January, being
taken into the average strength in their full number, whereas they being here only till relieved
by the detachment of the 11th Regiment only, the one detachment should have been taken
into the strength which was really as follows :—19th Regiment 646, 21st Regiment 575, 11th
Regiment, 177, total 1,398 ; and the percentages will then appear as follows :—Treated to
strength 106.9. Deaths to strength 0.71. Death to admissions 0.68, and thus the comparative
health of the troops in 1872 will not appear so unfavourable as represented in paragraph I.