42
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OP BOMBAY,
There is no doubts that a small hospital is necessary, and the subject has been brought to
the notice of the Brigadier-General, by whom, however, it had been previously under considera-
tion.
The 1st company of Native Artillery, occupy lines near Stealer Point, which were in
good order ; the appearance of the men was fairly healthy. The sick are treated in a ward of
the European soldiers' hospital, and are attended to by its establishment under the medical
care of the Assistant Surgeon, British Medical Service, in-charge Steamer Point..
The medical history of the departmental followers at Aden, Ordnance and Commissariat ;
shows that the lines of the former are of the worst description ; and it is advisable that fresh
lines, arranged with reference to ventilation and sanitation in general, should be built. These
lines of huts are erected by the men themselves, and present the appearance more of a tempo-
rary hut-village of wanderers—than the residence of a regularly employed establishment of
a department of the public service.
The situation of these lines, the arsenal and the houses of the warrant and
non-commis-sioned officers, is, perhaps, the hottest in Aden.
Native
Military General Hospital.― The hospital, where the men of these departments
when sick are treated, is called the Native Military General Hospital ; it is near to the Com-.
missariat„ but :a long way from the Ordnance lines : this hospital is like the lines, a wretched
place, utterly unsuitable to the purpose. I understand it. has been already condemned, but
though it has undergone this sentence, it still remains, in its hovel-like appearance, an eyesore
to the camp.
In arranging for a new hospital, it would be advisable to Change the site.
Some of the Europeans of the Ordnance are attended by the medical officer at the
isthmus, belonging to the British Medical Service, who indents for medicines especially for
them.
The European- General Hospital.— This hospital, though having no pretensions to be con-
sidered a military charge, is paid for in the Military Depirtment, consequently, the annual
returns and reports are submitted with military returns ; but I reserve comment on its medical
history for the report of the Civil Medical Department.
The Lod Hospital, when I visited Aden, was located in a part of the civil hospital set a-
side for the purpose ; it was in medical charge of the medical officers of the native infantry
regiment. There were several patients in it when I was there, and the registration and exami-
nation of the prostitutes appeared to be favourably received.
The Brigadier-General informed me that the site of the hospital was to be changed.
During the year there were admitted and remained, for venereal disease 117, discharged
113, the greatest average number registered was 38, and the greatest average number
a p p e a r i n g f o r e x a m i n a t i o n w a s 3 8 ;t
h e a v e r a g e
n u m b e r i n h o s p i t a l w a s 3 3 t h e g r e a t e s t m o n t h l y
average was 9.5.
The chief disease was gonorrhœa and next to this soft chancre.
No fines were realized and the total cost of the hospital is shown to have been
1,954-1-11 including the pay of the medical officers in charge.
Wat er . —The water-supply at Aden is provided from four sources—
Condensed water,
Water from Shaik Othœan,
Water of the wells of the place,
Water from the tanks,
Water is supplied. to the troops and followers for drinking and cooking purposes, at the
following rates :—
Condensed water per soldier at 2 gals. ; sweet water 3 gals.
Condensed water per soldier at 1 gal. ; sweet water 2 gals.
Brackish water for bathing and washing.
Water from Shaik Othman by viaduct is also supplied—it is sweet, potable water, but the
supply is very limited.
Well-water is brackish and quite unsuited for cooking, and it is unfit even for bathing.
Water from the celebrated tank of this place is rain-water, the tanks can only occasion-
ally contain water, and for the last twenty months have been almost dry.
The supply of condensed water and that of Shaik Othman is fully sufficient, and, though
the former is deficient in rapidity, it is excellent drinking-water, and no ill effects are known
to follow its use.