74
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
Malarial fever in its various forms, as in preceding years, stands foremost among the
causes of sickness, the average number of admissions per month for the past year from this
disease alone, amounting to seventy-four (24.4). The number of admissions from this affection
was 186 less than in the preceding year, the whole number being two hundred and ninety
-three (293), or 45.22 per cent. of the total sickness from all causes. The admissions in each
month of the year arranged in numerical order were as follows :—
November . . . 40
August . . . 21
July . . . 37
January . . .
20
May . . . 30
February . . . 19
April . . . 29
June . . . 17
December . . . 27
October . . . 10
September . . . 27
March . . . 10
From this table it will be seen that the highest rate of sickness from this cause occurred
in November, July, and May, the lowest in June, October, and March. In 1872 the highest
rate occurred in May, June, and November, the lowest in January, February, and March.
Malarial diseases were observed to increase in frequency in hot weather following heavy
rains. The quotidian intermittent is the most prevailing type, tertian being very much rarer,
and quartian only observed in a few cases. The cold stage is generally absent, or only observed
during the first attacks ; the fever high and occasionally very protracted, but without very
much tendency to assume the remittent type. Several of these protracted cases were observed
in the month of May, their duration varied from ten days to three weeks and longer, and many
of them manifested a strong tendency to relapse. The cause of this disease is as obscure here
as it is generally. Perhaps the defective ventilation of the lines, and the cultivation of the
soil immediately surrounding the cavalry reservation, may appear as the true cause to the
adherents of two of the many theories.
In the treatment of the fever, I have endeavoured to be guided by common sense and
general principles.
In the mild variety of malarial disease there is not much treatment required, for with rest,
warm clothing, and a moderate dose of a mecurial combined with podophylin and a cathartic,
such cases will soon recover ; when, however, the fever tends to protract its course, these arti
- c l e s w i l l b e o f l i t t l e u s e , u n l e s s f o l l o w e d b y q u i n i n e t i l l c i n c h o n i s m i s p r o d u c e d . I n a f e w o f t h e
cases quinine failed to break up the recurrent paroxysms ; in these arsenic was substituted for
quinine with good results. Enlargement of the spleen was but seldom met with, and when
met with, could always be traced to intermittent fever. It yielded very easily to a combination
of quinine and iodide of iron, aided by muriate of ammonia.
Dengue furnished three cases.
Enthetic diseases .—The number of admissions reported under this head amounted to
thirty-nine (39), a decrease from the previous years of nine (9), of which eight (8) were primary
syphilis, nineteen (19) secondary syphilis, eight (8) gonorrhœa, one (1) phimosis, and three (3)
epididymitis.
The prostitutes in and about the village of Ghorpuri are of the most debased and filthy
kind. The disease contracted from them is in the majority of cases very virulent, and in the
end renders the native soldier utterly useless for service.
Diseases of the Respiratory Organs furnished three (3) cases, of which (2) were asthma
and one (1) pneumonia.
Diseases of the Digestive System.—The number of admissions under this head amounted
to eighty-six (86), of which fifty-seven (57) were dysentery, eleven (11) diarrhœa, four (4) colic,
five (5) congestion of spleen, one (1) jaundice, two (2) dyspepsia, and (1) gum-boil, one (1)
ulcerated sorethroat, two (2) tonsillitis, and two (2) inflammation of salivary glands. In July,
dysentery assumed an epidemic form among the sowars, and prevailed actively until the
middle of August. I may mention here, that cholera prevailed at the same time amongst the
regimental followers. The two diseases were doubtless connected by some peculiar link.
Diseases of the Cutaneous System furnished ninety-one ,(91) cases, of which thirty (30)
were boils, nineteen (19) ulcers, three (3) whitloe, two (2) erythema, one (1) urticaria, one (1)
herpes, one (1) eczema, five (5) scabies, one (1) fissure, six (6) guinea-worm, and two (2)
vesication produced by blistering fly.
Diseases of the Eye.—Fifteen (15) cases, of which twelve (12) were conjunctivites, one (1)
pinguecula, one (1) abscess of meibomian gland, and one (1) pteryguim.
Diseases of the Organs of Locomotion .—Five (5) cases, of which two (2) were inflamma
-tion of muscles, two (2) inflammation of tendon, and one (1) neuralgia of knee joint.