2
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Chronic Rheumatism. —Mostly the old men ; show 39.
Syphilis.—Ten of primary and two of secondary, were treated.
Leprosy.—One case—this man was re-admitted for treatment three times, and was at last
invalided.
Scurvy.—Thirty-three cases were admitted, but many more were treated as out-patients.
It has been more or less prevalent throughout the year, but during December it was much
more general. There are many causes as to which this complaint may reasonably be attributed ;
the chief are the impure state of the atmosphere surrounding the lines, and the indifferent food
taken : the men are mostly those of Purwaree caste, and are the principal sufferers ; they are
chiefly married with large families.
Conjunctivitis.— Eighteen admissions treated in a separate ward ; bronchitis
—13
were
admitted ; 2 of pneumonia—one cured, and the other left on sick certificate.
Three of phthisis, one died on sick certificate, one returned, but obtained furlough.
There are twenty-two cases of dysentery treated. One case proved fatal, of Bhat caste, he
was under treatment for one month, but gradually sunk from exhaustion, as he could not be
prevailed on to change his diet. The treatment has mostly consisted of large doses of
ipeca-cuanba.
Diarrhoea.—Twenty-three cases were treated. During July it was more prevalent and
severe, and was very similar to cholera and would have no doubt lapsed into this, had care not
been taken to keep remedies in the lines, with stringent orders for a report at once on those
attacked. The lines were visited by the Hospital Assistant and myself daily. The treatment
consisted of salines, of effervescing medicines with ammonia, and when the vomiting and
purging had been controlled, small doses of castor oil with tincture opii administered.
Peritonitis.—Only one admission and this proved fatal. He was under treatment for
only a few hours, and no direct cause could be traced of its origin.
Gonorrhœa has furnished 17 cases, chiefly confined to the Punjab and Sind recruits :
all were soon cured.
Abscess.—Twenty-nine cases were treated confined to the extremities, and none of a
serious character.
Guinea-worm .—Eight cases—only four suffered as they were all re-admitted : all residents
of the Koncan, and had lately joined the regiment.
Contusions.—Sixty-six were under treatment, caused by bad fitting shoes and bruises
from the rough and irregular state of the roads in the lines—large stones protruding—and it is
wonderful that so few men are hurt, considering they walk about in the dark without protec-
tion, it being quite impossible to see the stones alluded to.
The health of the regiment during the past year has certainly improved.
H. M.'s 21ST REGIMENT NATIVE INFANTRY.
BOMBAY.—In Medical charge of Surgeon Major J. MILLS ; Strength 563.
The sickness in the regiment has been somewhat in excess of that in 1871, the treated
having been 502 from a strength of 563 or 89.1 per cent, against 465, from 575 or 80.8 per
cent. ; but the average duration of each case has been less, the daily average for 1872, being 19
against 20 in 1871, while the deaths have been only 3 or 0.5 to strength, 0.6 to treated against
1.4 and 1.7, respectively, in 1871.
Of the 502 treated, 28 remained in hospital on the 1st January and 474 were admitted ; of
these 409 were discharged to duty, 3 died, 37 were sent on sick certificate, 38 were invalided,
and otherwise discharged, and 15 remained in hospital on the 31st December.
Prevailing diseases have been ague 153, rheumatism 35, scurvy 17, bronchitis 24, diar-
rhœa 21, boil 36,c o n t u s i o n 3 3 .
Ague.—One hundred and forty-four cases have been admitted or 30.4 per cent. of the
whole, a much smaller number than in 1871 when they constituted 42.5 per cent. of the
admissions, while, in the greater number of cases, the disease has been of the ordinary mild
forrn ; in some it has been most obstinate, and its complication with scorbutic diathesis appears
to aggravate it and render it most difficult for the patient to recover strength, leaving him
liable to frequent recurrences. In several cases every means has been tried in vain. Quinine,
is large and small doses, alone, combined with antiscorbutics, given by the mouth, and subcu-
taneously, beberine, arsenic, iron, all have failed, and as a last resource these men were sent to
their native country—13 have gone on sick certificate. Subcutaneous injection of quinine has