SIND DISTRICT OF THE ARMY.
83
of the Regimental lines, may be attributed the marked improvement in the general health.
In July 1869 a rainfall of 13 inches 54 cents rendered the pendalls, sanitarily speaking,
uninhabitable, or in other words, foci for the generation of malarial poison, a condition which
rendered their evacuation for repair and reconstruction temporarily necessary in the month of
November, when more than one-third of the Regiment was prostrated from paroxysmal fever.
The floors were dug up and removed to the depth of 6 inches, the walls were carefully scraped,
lime-washed and colour-washed. Due attention was paid to lateral ventilation, which had
been extremely defective, and roof ventilators of improved construction were substituted for
the imperfect ventilators then in use.
The following were the prevailing diseases throughout the year, and the admissions are
noted comparatively with the prevalence of the same diseases in 1869, as below:—
Admissions in 1869.
Admissions in 1870.
Ague
810 Ague
226
Syphilis
35
Syphilis
42
Rheumatism
20
Rheumatism
28
Disease of the eye
30 Disease of the eye
32
Do. of the respiratory system
20
Do. of the respiratory system
31
Gonorrhœa and its complications
28
Gonorrhœa and its complications
31
Disease of the cutaneous system
25
Disease of the cutaneous system
74
The above statement demonstrates that the great reduction in the proportion of admis-
sions into hospital throughout the year under review, arose from the comparative immunity
which the men enjoyed from attacks of paroxysmal fevers.
Diseases of the cutaneous system were greatly in excess of the number in 1869; ulcers
alone contributed 55 admissions. A syphilitic taint in the system was the latent cause of most
of the ulcers which required treatment accordingly. There were 2 deaths, one from chronic
rheumatism and general debility, the other, recorded as the result of diarrhœa, was a case of
irritant poisoning—a preparation of mercury which the deceased had procured in the bazaar.
The total vaccine operations during the year were 72; every precaution is taken cal-
culated to ward off the appearance of small-pox in the lines.
The water in general use in Kurrachee is of very inferior quality, laden with saline and
organic impurities. It is obtained from wells and tanks, and is often so brackish owing to
the percolation of sea-water as to be non-potable.
h. m.'s 27th or 1st Belooch Regiment n. i.
In Medical charge of Assistant Surgeon W. NOLAN, Strength 657.
The number of admissions from all causes amounted to 501, as compared with 667, 749,
and 495 in the last three preceding years.
From this it will appear that the year has been a comparatively healthy one.
Zymotic diseases as usual furnished the largest number of admissions; of this class, ague,
venereal affections, bronchitis, dysentery, and ophthalmia were the most prevalent.
The first of these would seem to be due in a great measure to the proximity of
t h e c a m p t o t h e I n d u s , t h e a m o u n t o f f e v e ra
n d d y s e n t e r y
b e a r i n g a c l o s e r e l a t i o n t o t h e r i s e a n d
fall of its waters. Venereal disease is due in a great measure to the absence of a system of
supervision of prostitutes; bronchitis to severe weather at the close of the year ; ophthalmia to