POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
27
I trust I am justified in saying that as far as the experiment has been tried it has been very
successful. I hope the Medical Stores will be enabled to supply another instrument soon,
and so enable me to resume the practice, and I would venture to submit for the consideration
of the Inspector General, whether an extended trial of the plan should not be made and
reports sent in after six or twelve months.
Of course I am aware that the cost of the instruments must be considered as a drawback
to the cheapness of the plan, but with a better model or a stronger kind of instrument, and
greater care in handling it, even this I think would be counterbalanced.
With regard to the use of chloride of ammonium in hepatic disorders, as directed to be
tried in Circular No. 2096 of 29th July 1870, I am unable to report much as I have only had
one opportunity of trying it in my hospital, and in that case the result was good.
Out of hospital I have administered it to a young child of four years of age for jaundice,
with a very marked and rapidly beneficial effect.
I have great satisfaction in recording that not a single case of cholera has occurred
amongst either men or followers, in fact the station has been entirely free from that scourge
during the whole year ; the one solitary case that happened was that of an old woman who
was passing through the bazaar, and who no doubt brought the disease with her from some
village.
In summing up the chief points of the foregoing Report, I would draw particular atten--
tion to the improvements absolutely necessary in my opinion ; and to other changes which,
though not so vital, are still of much importance.
In the former class would be new lines for the men properly constructed on a better site.
Quarters for the apothecary.
A wall or fence round the hospitals.
Huts for the 2nd class hospital servants.
Among the improvements desirable, but not perhaps absolutely necessary, are :—
1stly. Removal of the camp cesspit to a less objectionable site.
2ndly.
Avoiding the letting out of the river in the autumn.
3rdly. Removal of the camp slaughter-house to a further distance from the hospital.
4thly. Substitution of native sandals for the present ammunition. boots.
Last year I was compelled to speak of the very unsatisfactory arrangement for the
attendance of the Europeans, their wives and families. In this no change has been made, but
the strength of Europeans has been so small and the number of sick consequently so few,
that the evils complained of have been much less felt. I am happy to add also that from a
change in the Brigades of Royal Artillery at the station, a much more harmonious system
of working together of the two services and the two arms appears to have been inaugurated.
I regret I am unable to report that the teaching of English in the Regimental school
which the native medical pupils attend, is any better than it was last year ; and as it appears
to me that the imperfect knowledge of English, so universal among the native subordinates, is
one of their greatest defects, I would gladly see some better means established for teaching them.
Seroor.—In Medical charge of Assistant Surgeon D. SIMPSON, Strength 285.
Seroor district includes an area of about 40 miles in length, by about 24 miles in breadth,
and is bounded on the one side by the river Bheema and the other by the river Goor. The
district is well watered by these rivers and their tributary streams. The country is undula-
-tory, and presents a pleasing variety of campaign and hills, conical mounds dotting the plains;