13
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
diseases of the alimentary canal. One man attempted to commit suicide by cutting his
throat, who was subsequently admitted into the Lunatic Asylum, Colaba.
On the 1st of February 1870, 15 remained in hospital and 41 were admitted during the
month; these were almost entirely fevers, bowel-complaints and boils. On the 1st of March
16 remained under treatment, and 48 were admitted during the month, these were
chiefly fevers and contusions of the feet; two cases of diarrhœa and two of diseases of
the liver were also admitted. During the month the Regiment marched to Bombay and
back to Poona. This may account for the large number of contusions from shoe-bites included
in the admissions, otherwise the Regiment was exceedingly healthy during the march. On
the 1st of April, 17 remained under treatment and thirty-three were admitted, twelve of these
were fevers, the rest included one case of small-pox in a man previously inoculated—he re
- c o v e r e d — a n d c h i c k e n - p o x , d i s e a s e s o f l u n g s a n d b o w e l s , & c .
On the 1st of May, 18 remained under treatment, and 26 were admitted, these were
again chiefly fevers and bowel-complaints. A change of Medical Officers occurred during this
month; one was in medical charge up to the 28th of this month, when he handed over the
charge to the present Medical Officer. The notes on the remaining months of the year are
by the present Medical Officer.
On the 1st of June, 15 remained under treatment and 29 were admitted; the prevailing
complaints were fever and lung diseases, the latter had their origin chiefly in the change
of climate at the commencement of the monsoon. One case of death occurred from acute
atrophy of the liver.
On the 1st of July, 16 remained under treatment and 34 were admitted. The weather
was extremely variable during this mouth, at one time exceedingly hot, at another cold.
The sudden fluctuations in temperature at the beginning of the month probably caused a
revolution of malaria, and a large number of cases were admitted suffering from fever. One
patient was admitted suffering from idiopathic abscess of both testicles; sloughing of
scrotum occurred, followed by the gradual disappearance of both testicles by suppuration,
and cure. A few bowel-complaints were also under treatment.
On the 1st of August, 12 remained under treatment and 44 were admitted during the
month. The temperature and other climatic elements were very even for three weeks of the
month, but the rains ceased suddenly at that time temporarily. A few days of great heat
occurred followed by a considerable depression of temperature; immediately on the depres
- s i o n h a p p e n i n g , a l a r g e n u m b e r o f m a l a r i a l f e v e r c a s e s w e r e a d m i t t e d . T h e a d m i s s i o n s a l m o s t
ceased in a few days after the temperature rose to its usual level, a few cases of bowel-com
- p l a i n t s w e r e a d m i t t e d , a n d o n e o f m a n i a , w h i c h w a s a f t e r w a r d s t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e C o l a b a
Lunatic Asylum. One case of death occurred from simple enlargement of the liver of short
standing; no post mortem examination was permitted.
On the 1st of September, 17 remained under treatment and 43 were admitted during
the month; as usual these were chiefly fevers and bowel-complaints, one man died during the
month from fever complicated with diarrhœa and bronchitis.
On the 1st October, 22 remained and 75 were admitted during the month. Several things
occurred to increase the sick list during this month. At first a large number of chronic
invalids were admitted to hospital with the view of having them under observation, in the pre
-paration of their cases for the Annual Invaliding Committee, and there occurred also a march
of the Regiment from Poona to Deesa. The chronic invalids and others who were to appear
before the Committee were left in Poona.
4s