168
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
However doubtless the Jacobabad floods in 1872 have been reported on by higher authori
- t y , I m a y , h o w e v e r , m e n t i o n t h a t o w i n g t o t h e g r e a t q u a n t i t y o f w a t e r a l l r o u n d u s , w h i c h h a s
by no means dried up yet, have caused us to have a longer fever season; and, it appears to me,
of a stronger and worse type than usual. As an instance, I may mention that in November
1871, sixty-four cases of intermittent fever were admitted. In the same month this year the
admissions from the same disease were 104, and in December 1871 twenty-eight cases of remit
-tent fever were admitted, and in the same month this year 65.
Most likely the floods increasing yearly in this part of the country will doubtless draw the
attention of the authorities to the propriety of maintaining troops, year after year, in a station
so notoriously unhealthy, without ever giving them a change which would be as beneficial to
the State as it would be to the health of the regiment. As I presume it is considered neces
-sary to keep up regiments here, doubtless the health and physique of the men are deserving
of consideration.
I have taken the liberty of pointing out before how beneficial and absolutely necessary
it is that regiments should get a change from Jacobabad that I have not much more to add.
Having more experience of the place I have become further strengthened in my opinion,
and, I also may add, that large quantities of jungle springing up all round and increasing floods
are making matters worse. The fever is in my opinion of a worse type, and I should think,
after some time, we shall likely have jungle fever.
European officers suffered very severely from repeated attacks of fever, many being obliged
to go away on leave.
The men are below par in physique, and age very fast, which is owing no doubt to the
climate.
The lines are in an unsatisfactory condition: new ones are I believe about to be built.
Large quantities of trees have been cut down this year which may possibly make the
station a little cooler.
Prevailing winds S.E. and N.E. from May to October: N.W. and E. from November till April.
Considerable shock of an earthquake felt on the night of the 15th December, lasting,
according to opinions, from half a minute to a minute and a half or more.
H. M.'s 2ND REGIMENT SIND HORSE.
JACOBABAD.—In Medical Charge of Surgeon R. BYRAMJEE; Strength 453.
On the 1st January 1872 there remained 38 patients in hospital; 581, were admitted
during the year and 52 remained over at the end. Ague 337 cases were admitted during the
year.
I append a table of admissions during each month of these years 1870, 71, and 72:—
Years.
J a n u a r y .
F e b r u a r y .
M a r c h .
A p r i l .
M a y .
J u n e .
J u l y .
A u g u s t .
S e p t e m b e r .
O c t o b e r .
N o v e m b e r .
D e c e m b e r .
1870 . . . 14
10
10
9
14
11
18
27
64 108
42
44
1871. . . 43
20
14
16
21
4
6
4
24
24
20
15
1872 . . . 14
17
9
8
17
12
16
16
67
69
45
48
From the above table it will be seen that there were many more cases of ague in the
months of August, September, October, November, and December this year than last; this was
owing to the canals being allowed to dry up and refill, to
be
dried up a second time; and also
to the months of November and December being comparatively warm, not a single frost having
occurred in those months this year, whereas in 1871 there was frost on several days in those
months. I am still more confirmed, from the experience of the last year, in the usefulness of
the sulphites in the treatment of ague.
Dysentery.—During the months of October and November more cases (12) of dysentery
were admitted in this year than in any of the preceding years that I personally know of, viz.,
69-70-71. I attribute this unusual prevalence of dysentery to the effects of damp arising from
very extensive inundations which occurred during the months of July, August, and September
of this year.