16
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
The present Medical Officer having only been in charge a few months, has not been able
to procure sufficient information regarding the different stations in which the Regiment has
been during the past year, to warrant him in entering into any details regarding the topogra
-phy of the districts or the usual diseases of the inhabitants. A few descriptive notes on
Deesa may be mentioned here. In a large flat sandy plain which extends for many miles on
all sides, unbroken by any thing except the chain of mountains of which Mount Aboo is one,
lies Deesa. This is divided into two small districts near Deesa in one of which is the town of
Deesa, in the other the Camp, the sudder bazaar and several villages near. The latter dis
-trict contains a native population of upwards of 8,000, not including the troops. Between
the town of Deesa and the Camp there is an interval of a few miles. On the west of the
Camp, are the Artillery, Native Infantry, sudder bazaar and Cavalry, extending from north to
south. On the east the European Infantry, and between these are the residences of the
Officers of the Native Troops and station staff. The Camp is very much cut up by "nullahs,"
which discharge water during the rains into a river running to the west of the Camp.
H. M.'s 1st Company Native Artillery.
Malligaum.—In Medical charge of Surgeon A. M. BLOOMFIELD, Strength 123.
The Company left Malligaum on the 16th of July and arrived at Rajcote on the 23rd of
August, when they occupied the lines vacated by the 3rd Company Native Artillery; these are
situated behind the suddur bazaar on the south side of the cantonment, the majority of the
Company living in a building which was formerly the horse hospital of the Cavalry, this has
been partitioned off and each division affords very limited accommodation for two or three
sepoys or a family. The building is of "pucka" brick and tiled, and as far as it goes is
adapted to its purpose, but the space is not half what is required. The drivers occupy a range
of huts of the usual line pattern, built on the verge of the mule lines; they are suitable to
their purpose, but have been scarcely habitable during several months, when great heat pre
- v a i l e d , o n a c c o u n t o f t h e s t e n c h f r o m t r e n c h l a t r i n e s , w h i c h a r e p l a c e d o p p o s i t e o n t h e
parade ground, the only spot available for their construction. The site of the lines is very
constricted in space, and I think it would be advisable that new lines should be built in the
neighbourhood of those which are in course of construction for the Native Infantry, and the
present site devoted to the erection of lines for the squadron of Cavalry. There is only one
well within the lines, this affords a supply of good water, but is inadequate for the whole
Company.
The sick are accommodated together with those of the Cavalry in one hospital of the
usual pattern; there is no dead-house attached to it, and post mortem examinations are con
- d u c t e d i n t h e v e r a n d a h .
The health of the Company has been very good, ague being the prevailing disease. A
lascar attached to the Company was sent to Ahmedabad to appear before the General Inva
- l i d i n g C o m m i t t e e f o r p e r m a n e n t d e a f n e s s , h e w a s a l s o s u f f e r i n g f r o m s c u r v y ; w h i l s t t h e r e h e
died, the immediate cause of death was not ascertained. This is the only death that has
occurred during the year.
There has been no epidemic disease.
Malligaum.—In Medical Charge of Surgeon-Major T. MURRAY, Strength 335.
The troops at this station have been the Head Quarters 10th Regiment and 1 Company
Native Artillery with Khandeish Mountain Train, and have garrisoned the place since June
1868, when they returned from Abyssinia. The 10th Regiment has furnished a wing for duty