NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
NORTHERN AND MHOW DIVISIONS OF THE ARMY.
67
The treatment of the primary disease was purely local, and a modified mercurial course
was generally prescribed for the secondary manifestations. Owing to the large quantity of
mercurials requisite for treatment by fumigation, I have thought proper to abandon the use
of the mercurial vapour bath, though I consider it by far the best method of exhibiting the
drug, and should unhesitatingly again resort to it for the treatment of an obstinate case.
Gonorrhœa was treated in the old fashional way with copaiba, diluents, and antacids; the
results were satisfactory, there being no cases of persistent gleet.
In the month of September when the hospital was very full, and when there were many
small sores resulting from the use of quinine hypodermically, phagedœna broke out. There
were only two men attacked; the first case occurred in a man who was under treatment for
boil, the other in a man who had been hypodermically treated for fever. On the appearance
of the disease, the hospital was cleared by making the slight cases "lire sick;" disinfectants
were freely used and the usual remedies applied; the two cases soon began to recover and no
fresh ones occurred.
It is as well to explain that 33 cases of contusion of foot were very bad cases of shoe-bite;
the patients were principally Affreedies, who appear only to possess their military boots and
wear them at all times.
Detachment of H. M.'s 14th Regiment N. I., strength 204, stationed at Indore, was
healthy.
h . m . ' s 2 n d R e g i m e n t n . l . c .
Neemuch.—In Medical charge of Assistant Surgeon A. BARRY, Strength 413.
For the first ten months of the year I have little knowledge of the Regiment from per-
sonal experience, as I only joined on the 20th October; but according to the hospital records,
the men have been more healthy this year than last; the total admissions being 354 against
445 of 1869. No squadron proceeded to Nusseerabad this year, but remained at head quarters
till the 18th of October, when they marched on Rajcote. Strength 166:—
Officers
1
Native do
6
D uffedars
10
Naiques
10
Sowars
139
The average strength during the past year has been
413
Daily average number of sick
12.17
Admissions into hospital
354
Percentage of
Treated to strength
87.40
Deaths to do.
0.24
Deaths to treated
0.27
Death
1
The prevailing disease has been ague, of quotidian type and mild character, the admissions
from which have been 189 against 261 of last year; showing a very considerable dimunition of
malarial disease.
There has only been one death during the year, being that of a duffedar aged 45,
who had been suffering for some months with chronic hepatitis and general weakness, and
anœmia with weak heart. The autopsy showed ossification of aortic valve and fatty degenera-
tion of inner surface of left ventricle with hypertrophy of apex; liver considerably enlarged
with fatty degeneration.
78
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
The flooring is of brick; there are six small circular ventilators in the roof, for these it has
been recommended to substitute two or three larger ones in the ridge.
A ground plan of the hospital is given below; it has been recommended also that suitable
buildings should be erected in the hospital compound for the 1st and 2nd class hospital
servants; at present there are none for them, and they have consequently to live in the lines.
Dry earth is used in the hospital latrine.
Ground plan of Hospital.
The lines are situated about 150 yards from the river, Officers' compounds intervening.
They consist of eight lines of huts running north and south, and cover a space of ground
760 feet in length by 440 in breadth, the intervals between the lines being 21 yards across.
The rows of huts are well ventilated, and are kept in good repair, but being built without
plinth in a low situation and on porous soil, some of them become very damp during and after
the rains; to this cause much sickness is doubtless due. The ground between and around the
rows of huts has been raised by laying down gravel, so as to keep them as dry as possible,
but nothing but the building of new lines will entirely remedy this evil.
Latrines.—The new system of trench latrines has been adopted since 1st June last, a
piece of ground close to, but to leeward of the lines having been used for the purpose. But
rarely has any odour been perceptible from them, and surrounded as the ground is by fre-
quented roads, it is at any rate well situated for observation in this respect; none of the
ground used has yet been brought under cultivation.
Water. —There are three wells in use by the inhabitants of the lines, the water of all of
them appears to be of good quality. In two the supply is abundant throughout the year, the
other runs dry in the hot season. The water of the river is much used also, and appears to be
wholesome.
Vaccination has been regularly practised; during the hot and rainy seasons the results
were very unsatisfactory, but towards the close of the year it was more successful.
There is no vaccination done in the town of Mehidpore.
No case either of small-pox or cholera has been known to occur either in the town or
neighbourhood during the year.
There is no dispensary in the town, and many of the inhabitants seek relief at the Regi-
mental hospital, and this is afforded them as far as its limited means permit.
There have been nothing exceptional in any of these cases calling for remark.
SIND DISTRICT.
Average strength present during the year
2,974
Average daily sick per cent. to the average strength
5.96
Ratio of mortality per cent. to the average strength
2.32
h . m . ' s
2 9 t h o r 2 n d B e l o o c h R e g i m e n t n . i .
In Medical charge of Surgeon E. MORTON, Strength 677.
I am happy to be able to report favourably on the general health of the Regiment
(strength as per margin) during the year 1870, as compared with the
preceding year which was so abnormally unhealthy throughout the
Province of Sind. The admissions for the year under review were 589 against 1,200 (or less
than one-half of the admissions in 1869), which with the 43 remaining at the close of the latter
year, make a total of 629 under treatment from the 1st January to 31st December 1870. Of
the above total, 589 were discharged, cured, or experienced relief from treatment; 2 died, and
38 remained at the end of the year.
The rainfall which in 1869 was so excessive and to which was due the deadly form of
paludal fever (commonly known as "Low Sind fever," which swept off so large a number of
the inhabitants of Upper and Lower Sind), approached nearer to the normal standard in 1870.
Subjoined is the comparative table:—
RAINFALL OF 1869.
RAINFALL OF 1870.
Inches. Cents.
Inches Cents.
January
2
30
January
. . .
. . .
February
0
95
February
. . .
. . .
March
2
7
March
0
25
April
...
...
April
. . .
...
May
...
. . . May
... ...
June
. . .
. . .
June
2
26
July
13
54
July
0
20
August
1
11
August
2
52
September
7
15
September
. . .
. . .
October
. . .
. . .
October
. . .
. . .
November
. . .
. . . .
November
. . .
. . .
December
. . .
. . .
December
...
. . .
Total
27
12
Total
5
23
677.
It will be observed from the foregoing table that the rainfall of 1869 was more than 5
times the quantity gauged in 1870. To this circumstance, and the improved sanitary state
SIND DISTRICT OF THE ARMY.
85
Admissions from pneumonia 12, fatal cases 5. First case in April I did not see; second,
a man of twenty years' service, whose constitution was completely shattered; third, fourth, and
fifth cases proved rapidly fatal—all under a week.
The pneumonia which is so prevalent in Jacobabad during the cold season, is of a pecu-
liarly asthenic form; the disease invariably has run through its early stage before it comes
under your observation. As to treatment, stimulants, and treating symptoms as they appear, is
the only line that affords any hope.
Admissions from dysentery 15, fatal case 1. Patient, a man of about 45 years of age, pre-
vious health bad, suffered an acute form of dysentery for about 2 months, was then recovering;
unfortunately he was then attacked with fever which proved rapidly fatal.
Admissions from hospital 1—1 fatal case; the patient died in about ten minutes after his
return to camp from leave.
Admissions from poisoning 1—1 fatal case; the patient poisoned himself with opium
—stomach pump and usual remedies of no avail.
One death out of hospital; this man was thrown from his horse on parade, and died
shortly after from concussion of the brain, making a total of 11 deaths for the year. Contrasting
the deaths of this with the previous year, (which were also 11,) it is found that 2 were from
fever, 1 from fever and pleuritis, 1 phthisis, 2 bronchitis, 5 from pneumonia.
The daily average of sick for the year 1869 and 1870:—
Daily
Average.
Total number
treated for
the year.
Total to
strength
treated.
Deaths to
strength.
Deaths to
treated.
1869
20.9
748
151.7
2.23
1.47
1870
29.4
1,111
291.6
2.88
0.90
The hot season did not commence until May; up to that time the temperature, though
very high in the day, yet the nights were moderately cool. The heat in June, July, and
August was intense; the first half of September also very hot: since that time the weather has
been cool, but not by any means bracing.
The thermometer in the hospital verandah, with a southern aspect, showed a maximum
of 114°, minimum 34° during the year.
The rainfall this year was 3 inches and. 97 cents; fell chiefly in June, August, September,
and December.
The Indus water arrived in camp on the 2nd of May; dried up about the middle of Octo-
ber; no inundations near camp this year. Prevailing winds S. E. and N. W. from May to
October, N. W. and N. E. from November until April.
The camp of Jacobabad, from its low-lying position,—irrigation being extensively carried
on in its immediate neighbourhood, this, in conjunction with intense heat, luxurious vegeta-
tion, and consequent decomposition of vegetable matter,—must always of a necessity produce
malaria of a bad type.
The station itself is watered from the Indus, that supply fails in October, owing to
the falling of the river; the canals also then dry up. It being very hot at the time, you have a
fresh source of malaria, Europeans and natives suffering equally from its effects.
The intense heat during six months of the year has a very deleterious effect on the health
of Europeans and natives; then again the cold season, during which ice is often seen in the
22 s
SIND DISTRICT OF THE ARMY.
93
At Jacobabad there has been a decrease in the admissions in the Cavalry Regiments, and
a slight increase in the 30th Regiment N. I. The lines of all the Regiments are in good
order and there is no overcrowding. The camp is intersected by canals which doubtless
contribute towards the cause of fever, and the trees are, if anything too numerous, and
obstruct the breeze a good deal; but they are of great use in the heat of the day, and enable
the men to move about in the shade without suffering from the sun, which compensates in
a great measure for any obstruction they may cause to the breeze.
In the hot months there is almost a perfect stillness of the atmosphere, and Europeans
are obliged to use punkahs night and day.
Cholera I am glad to say has not prevailed in Sind during the past year. In the
previous year, although it raged amongst the civil population at Hydrabad, Kotree and
Kurrachee, there was not a single case amongst the native troops; this I attributed at the
time, to the great care that was taken to prevent all communication.
With the exception of Kurrachee, the supply of water is abundant and good, and this year
I have heard no complaints made regarding the quality of the food obtainable at the different
stations. The Belooch Regiment are meat-eaters, which I consider to be a great advantage, as
I have no doubt a moderate amount of animal food contributes to health, and enables a man to
undergo, when requisite, a greater amount of exposure and fatigue than one subsisting entirely
on a vegetable diet.
A Lock Hospital has been established at Kurrachee, but a sufficient time has not elapsed
to enable me to report on the usefulness of the institution. I consider that a similar institution
should be established at Hydrabad, where venereal disease is at all times unusually prevalent.
I venture to think that it would benefit the community at large, and be the means of curing
many of the unfortunate women who, once diseased, go on from bad to worse, losing their health,
and dying of the worst forms of secondary syphilis.
Annual Return of Sick of Native Troops for 1870:—
S T R E N G T H .
R e ma i n e d .
Ad mi t t e d .
Tot al .
D i s c h a r g e d .
Di ed.
Re ma i n i n g .
Total
PERCENTAGE.
E u r o p e a n s .
Nat i ves.
Ad mi s s i o n s t o S t r e n g t h .
D e a t h s t o S t r e n g t h .
De a t h s t o Tr e a t e d .
1st Regiment Sind
Horse.
5
381 24 1,087 1,111 1,080 12 19 1,111 285.3
4.2
1.0
2nd do. do
4
365 13
695
708
640 10 58
708 190.4
2.7
1.4
3rd do. do
4
306 13
905
918
889
8 21
918 295.7
2.6
0.8
30th Regiment N. I
5
588 21 1,241 1,262 1,155 32 75 1,262 211.0
5.4
2.4
27th do. do
6
657 15
501
516
498
6 12
516 76.0
0.8
1.1
29th do. do
7
677 43
586
629
589
2 38
629 108.8
0.2
0.3
General Hospital, Kur-
rachee.
22
381 10
244
254
233 15
6
254 63.0
3.7
5.9
Do. do. Hydrabad
7 1,109 48
625
673
653
9 11
673 60.3
0.7
1.3
24 s
Wash-house.
Cook-house.
ADEN DIVISION.
Average strength present during the year
913
Average daily sick per cent. to the average strength
4.93
Ratio of mortality per cent. to the average strength
0.55
h . m . ' s 2 n d C o m p a n y N a t i v e A r t i l l e r y .
In Medical charge of Surgeon R. W. JAMES, Strength 86.
The men of the Company during the past 10 months have been remarkably healthy.
The admissions from ague and scurvy were less by one-half, whilst there were no cases of
enthetic disease.
The daily average number of sick was under 3.
The treated to strength was 8.6; no deaths occurred. I gave over medical charge of the
Company in November.
Report by Assistant Surgeon T. Barnwell while in charge of the above Company.
The sick of No. 2 Company Native Artillery, previous to the 9th November 1870, were
hated at Camp Aden under the charge of Dr. James, Civil Surgeon (vide annexed Report);
this was owing to the want of hospital accommodation at Steamer Point, where the battery is
stationed. During the month of November the number of admissions were 8 :—
Contusion. Scurvy.
Ague.
Rheuma-
tism.
Obtis.
General
Dropsy.
1
1
3
1
1
1
The general character of the diseases were of the ordinary type, none requiring a detailed
account; the average sick for the month 8.73, and the percentage treated to strength 15.02;
the average sick for the month of November was high in comparison to other months.
There were none admitted during the month of December. One case, a man suffering
from general dropsy, was transferred from the Native Artillery Hospital at Steamer Point,
to Native Regimental Hospital at Camp Aden—died 31st December 1870.
December.
Remaining from last month—general dropsy 1; died 1.
Owing to the serious inconvenience and danger in sending sick men from Steamer Point
to camp, a distance of 5 miles, a Native Hospital has been established
at Steamer Point, which was opened for the use of the sick on the 1st
November. It affords ample accommodation for 6 beds; the structure is of matting and reeds;
the floor a raised platform paved with stone; the ventilation is excellent, by doors, roof and
side walls.
Hospital accommoda-
tion.
The wash-house attached is ample in accommodation.
A cook-house has been recently built, well suited and affording
ample accommodation for cooking.
In Medical charge of Assistant Surgeon R. A. ALLEYNE, Strength 638.
The Regiment was stationed at Aden, giving a detachment of fifty men to Perim until the
12th of December, when it was broken up by the left wing, numbering 272 men of all ranks,
embarking for Vingorla en route to Belgaum. The head quarters and right wing remained till
the end of the year.
PLAN
OF THE
PENINSULA OR CAP
E
OF
ADEN
SCALE 200 YARDS TO AN I NCH.
97
ADEN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
Report by the Superintendent Indian Medical Department, Aden.
The few native troops at Aden have been more than ordinarily healthy. Their usual
number was diminished by the relief of the 12th Regiment N. I. by the 5th N. I. at the
close of the year.
After 2 years' service at Aden the 12th Regiment N. I. returned to India, in perhaps better
physique than on arrival, when a large number of the men suffered greatly from dracunculus,
originating at Dharwar. By reason of the saline nature of the water from the Aden wells,
guinea-worm cannot exist.
H. M.'s 5th Regiment N. I. has recently arrived, and is a fine healthy corps with a large
proportion of young soldiers. The Company of Native Artillery has been very healthy, having
only one death during the year.
The Company of Sappers and Miners has also been in excellent health; there has been no
death during the year.
The diseases have been of the ordinary Indian type; the cases of intermittent fever in my
opinion are not endemic, but traceable to India for their origin.
The "febriculæ," it is true, do occur at Aden, but they arise from sudden transitions of
climate and temperature and from exposure, especially from indiscriminate sleeping in the open
air during the terrible nights when dews, almost as intense as in the Mediterranean, suddenly
fall, checking the excretion from the body surface.
The military native followers attached to the several departments are badly housed, and
hospital accommodation for them is also inferior.
Vegetable diet being difficult to obtain in sufficient quantity and of good quality, scurvy
and skin diseases are prevalent.
Fever also and dysentery are more common amongst these followers than among the
better-cared-for sepoys.
2 5 s
Statement showing the SICKNESS and MORTALITY among the NATIVE
N.B.—The Regiments are placed as
REGIMENT.
Station.
Movements in the year.
A v e r a g e S t r e n g t h f o r t h e
year .
N u m b e r o f A d m i s s i o n s .
N u m b e r o f D e a t h s i n
Ho s p i t a l .
A v e r a g e D a i l y S i c k p e r c e n t .
t o a v e r a g e S t r e n g t h .
R a t i o p e r c e n t . o f A d m i s -
s i o n s t o a v e r a g e S t r e n g t h .
PRESIDENCY DIVISION
21st Regiment N. I. ... Bombay
...
None.
633 396
5
2.3
62.5
Details
do.
... Do.
...
Do.
57
33
2 3.5
57.9
22nd Regiment N. I. ... Do.
... The Regiment left Bom-
bay for Neemuch in
December 1870.
622 306
5
2.5
49.2
Detachment 2nd Grena-
dier Regiment N. I.
Do.
...
None.
202 123
0
2.9
60.9
Right Wing 10th Regi-Tanna
ment N. I.
... Right Wing left Tanna
in October 1870 to
join Head Quarters
at Malligaum, and Left
Wing arrived from
Malligaum in October
1870.
285 388
1
4.2
136.1
13th Regiment N. I. ... Surat
...
None.
647 817
5
3.5
126.2
3rd Regiment Native
Light Cavalry.
Poona
... Marched from Poona
to Neemuch in No-
vember 1870.
433 584
0
4.6
POONA
134.9
9th Regiment N. I. ... Do.
...
None.
664 613
2
2.7
92.3
23rd
do.
... Do.
...
Do.
627 835
5
3.7
133.2
24th
do.
... Do.
... Marched to Deesa in
October 1870.
653 498
4
2.1
76.2
1st Company Native Ar-
tillery.
Malligaum
... Marched from Malli-
gaum to Rajkote at the
end of June 1870.
123 158
0
6.8
128.5
Head Quarters 10th Re-
giment N. I.
Do.
... Left Wing proceeded to
and Right Wing
arrived from Tanna in
October 1870.
335 587
6
4.2
175.2
25th Regiment N. I. .. Dhoolia
...
None.
457 490
2
6.1
107.2
Detachment Poona Horse Do...
D o . 151 102
0
3.0
67.5
Sappers and Miners . ... Kirkee.. ...
D o . 466 387
0
3.0
83.0
Poona Horse ...
... Seroor
...
Do.
285 198
2
5.5
69.4
16th Regiment N. I. ... Ahmednuggur
Do.
711 560
3 1.9
78.8
STATEMENT SHOWING THE SICKNESS AND MORTALITY DURING THE YEAR 1870.
99
TROOPS serving in the BOMBAY PRESIDENCY during the year 1870.
they stood on the 1st July 1870.
RATIO OF DEATHS
PER CENT.
INVALIDED.
HINDOOS.
MUSSULMAN.
S t r e n g t h o f R e g i m e n t o n
3 1 s t D e c e m b e r 1 8 7 0 .
Regiment.
A v e r a g e n u m b e r o f c o n s e -
c u t i v e n i g h t s i n b e d .
REMARKS.
T o T r e a t e d
T o A v e r a g e
S t r e n g t h .
F o r D i s c h a r g e t h e
S e r v i c e .
F o r C h a n g e o f
C l i m a t e .
S t r e n g t h .
D i e d p e r c e n t . t o
S t r e n g t h , i n a n d o u t
o f H o s p i t a l a n d o nl
e a v e .
S t r e n g t h .
D i e d p e r c e n t . t o
S t r e n g t h , i n a n d o u t
o f H o s p i t a l a n d o n
l e a v e .
OF THE ARMY.
1.2 0.8
25
25 456
2.4 107
2.0 544 21st Regt. N. I.
4½
5.7 3.5
4
2 105
1.5
25
0.0 130 Details do.
0
1.5 0.8
27
0 528
1.5
75
0.0 598 22nd Regt. N. I.
7
0.0 0.0
5
3 173
0.0
23
0.0 196 Detachment 2nd
Grenadier Regt.
N. I.
4½
0.2 0.3
18
9 241
1.2
30
0.0 271 Right Wing 10th
Regiment N. I.
3½
0.6 0.8
20
10 547
0.7
90
1.1 652 13th Regt. N. I.
5
DIVISION.
0.0 0.0
19
1 251
0.0 177 0.0 450 3rd Regt. Native
Light Cavalry.
4
0.3 0.3
31
11 626
0.6
70
0.1 705 9th Regiment N. I. 3
0.6 0.8
27
13 503
0.6 124
1.6 661 23rd
do.
3
0.4 0.6
33
11 466
1.5 107
0.9 573 24th
do.
6¼
0.0 0.0
40
0 117
0.8
24
0.0 141 1st Company Na-
tive Artillery.
4
1.0 1.7
12
2 289
2.4
57
0.0 351 Head Quarters
10th Regt. N. I.
4½
0.4 0.5
26
39 576
1.0 109
0.0 553 25th Regt. N. I.
3
0.0 0.0
0
3
20
0.0 130 0.0 151 Detachment Poona
Horse.
2
0.0 0.0
11
2 408 0.0
49
0.0 457 Sappers & Miners. 4
1.0 0. 7
14
8
23
0.0 167
2.3 190 Poona Horse.
3
0.5 0.0
0
8 616
0.5
85
0.0 730 16th Regt. N. I. 4 ½
100
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Statement showing the SICKNESS and MORTALITY among the NATIVE
REGIMENT.
Station.
Movements in the year.
A v e r a g e S t r e n g t h f o r t h e
y e a r .
N u m b e r o f A d m i s s i o n s . N u m b e r o f D e a t h s i n
H o s p i t a l .
A v e r a g e D a i l y S i c k p e r
c e n t . t o a v e r a g e S t r e n g t h .
R a t i o p e r c e n t . o f A d m i s -
s i o n s t o a v e r a g e S t r e n g t h .
POONA
4th Regiment N. I. ... Sholapoor
... Proceeded from Shola-
poor to Baroda in
October 1870.
663 644
1
1.8
97.1
2nd Grenadier Regiment
N. I.
Sattara
... Proceeded from Sattara
to Poona in November
1870.
279 495
1
4.6
177.4
Detachment 2nd Grena-
dier Regiment N. I.
Asseerghur
...
None.
143 200
0
3.6
139.9
1st Grenadier Regiment
N. I.
Belgaum
...
Do.
680 647
3
3.1
95.2
5th Regiment N. I. ... Do.
... Marched to Aden in
November 1870.
647 348
3
1.9
53.8
7th
do.
... Dharwar
...
None.
527 475
3
4.5
90.1
Detachment 7th Regiment,
N. I.
Kulladghee
.. The Detachment joined
the Head Quarters at
Dharwarin May 1870
and was replaced by
another Detachment.
67
37
1
1.5
55.2
17th Regiment N. I. ... Kolapoor
...
None.
701 313
6
1.6
44.3
NORTHERN
6th Regiment N. I. ... Ahmedabad
...
None.
562 809
6
4.9
143.9
8th
do.
Do.
...
Do.
601 1,174
1
7.9
195.3
1st Squadron 1st Regt.
Native Light Cavalry.
Rajcote
... Marched to Poona in
December 1870.
105 157
1
1.7
149.5
18th Regiment N. I. ... Do.
None.
619 766
7
1.9
123.7
1st Regiment Native
Light Cavalry.
Deesa-...
D o . 298 581
1
5.5
194.9
20th Regiment N. I. ... Do.
... Marched to Bhooj in
November 1870.
630 971
2
6.9
154.1
19th
do.
... Bhooj
... Marched to Bombay in
November 1870.
605 907
4
3.3
149.9
20th
do.
... Baroda
... Marched to Nusserabad
in October 1870.
638 1,223
7
5.0
191.7
Detachment 25th Regi-
ment N. I.
Burda Chowkey... Marched to Dhoolia in
December 1870.
84 276
0
10.5
328.5