84
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
exposure to dust-storms and solar glare. Diseases of the integumentary system furnish a large
number of the causes of admissions. A good many ulcers are due primarily to shoe-bites and
remain for a long time without healing; none of the cases headed violent deaths or diseases
were of sufficient gravity to call for special remark—there was no cholera or other epidemic.
There were 6 deaths—4 from ague, 1 from dysentery, and 1 from bronchitis.
The lines have been clean throughout the year, natural drainage contributing to their re
-
maining so; the other buildings in connection with the lines are clean and in good repair.
The general sanitary condition of the camp is good, no refuse of any sort being allowed
to accumulate.
The hospital is built of unburnt brick and has a cowdunged floor; the latter is very
difficult to keep clean, becoming broken up when there is a large number of patients.
There is no dead-house, nor operating room; servants' quarters bad; no accommodation
for Hospital Apprentices; ventilation of wards good. A photograph of the hospital (kindly
taken by Ensign Connor, of the 1st Belooch Regiment) is herewith attached.
Rainfall 2 inches 57 cents; highest temperature in June 112° in the shade; lowest in
December 64° in the shade.
The water-supply is from four wells built in a tank, situate about half a mile from the
lines; the supply is plentiful, but no more than two and half gallons per head daily for all pur
-
poses are used. It is necessary to guard these wells in the month of June, as they have been
known to become nearly dry in that month from too great demands being made on them
by the people in the cantonment. The prevailing disease is intermittent fever.
The other troops in camp are the C.Battery E. Brigade Royal Horse Artillery, and three
Companies of the 66th Regiment. Recommendations were made for maintaining the clean
-
liness of the lines by preventing the sepoys from throwing refuse water in front of their huts;
for a diminution in the number of parades in the month of November, when fever was very
prevalent; for the prevention of dysentery by supplying benches to the sepoys when on
guard instead of letting them sleep on the ground, and for the erection of a house for the
temporary detention of insane soldiers. Each of the above recommendations were duly
attended to.
Sanitary Improvements. —Demolition of the old Regimental latrines which had been con
-
demned and replaced by new ones of pucca brick in the previous year.
A scheme for a new and extensive water-supply from the Indus for the city and canton
-
ment of Hydrabad is now before Government, and is likely to be carried out.
G . M . ' s 1 s t R e g i m e n t S i n d H o r s e .
Jacobabad.—In Medical charge of Assistant Surgeon S. H. BANKS, Strength 381.
The returns for the past year show an increase of admissions amounting to 353; the
only cause that can be assigned for the increase being, that fever was more prevalent and
commenced earlier this year than usual. Commenced this year in August, usual time being
September or October.
Admissions from fever, 685; deaths from fever, 3.
First case remittent fever, patient died in 8 hours after his return to the station from
leave. Second case continued fever, accompanied with excessive purging and vomiting; died
in four days. Third case of intermittent fever, the patient had just returned from out-post
duty; he had been suffering from fever for about 2 months. On his return to the station
was admitted into hospital; he never rallied; his spleen was extensively diseased, and his
previous health bad. Died seven days after his admission.