46
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
11.9 grains of organic water per gallon. The jail well water is exceedingly good and plea
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sant to drink; the tank water on an average contains about 4.8 grains of organic matter per
gallon. It is very much discoloured by the red soil which is brought down by the rain, and
which always remains suspended in the water unless it is filtered. During the last hot weather
(1.870) guinea-worm was very prevalent in the native town, and as it was supposed to have
been caused by the impurity of the tank water, which had become very scarce, the Collector
had a filter constructed in a small tank as an experiment. This was not finished till far on in
the rains, so that it remains to be seen whether it will do any good or not in the hot weather.
The water is made to pass through four feet of fine sand, charcoal and gravel, into a well of
masonry. The result is so far satisfactory, although the filtered water is not perfectly trans
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parent. The water before entering the filter is very red and dirty, and never seems to clear by
being allowed to stand; after passing through the filter it is very much clearer. As a proof
that the natives appreciate the filtered water, it may be stated that the well into which it passes
is crowded from morning to night with water drawers, and the people of the town are anxious
to have filters placed in all the tanks.
The country around Dharwar may perhaps be best described by describing the view from
the Collector's kutcherry. Looking towards the west, two roads are seen, the one leading in a
south-westerly direction to Hullial, and the other going nearly due west to Timghaut and
thence to the Goa territory. The country between these roads is undulating and in some parts
hilly, and is partly cultivated with rice, jowaree and other crops, and partly covered with
bushes and low jungles; there is also a considerable extent of good grazing, ground. In the
distance west the jungles near the borders of Canara are just visible. To the north and east an
extensive plain stretches as far as the eye can see, sloping gently on the north towards the
Malpurba river and on the east towards the Toongbudra.
Abrupt hills rise up in the plains at intervals, giving variety to the landscape. Among
these may be mentioned the hills of Nowlgoond and Nurgoond on the north-east and the
Dumbul range on the east. The whole of this vast plain, except close to the hills, is a rich
black soil, and is cultivated with jowaree, cotton, bajree, wheat, oil plants, &c.
On the south the country is undulating, and in some parts even hilly and very beautiful
the soil is mostly laterite or red soil.
The stones found in the Dharwar districts are principally iron stones, slate, quartz and a
little free stone. Good building stone is scarce.
Immediately under the black soil large quantities of hunker are found, both in beds and
nodules, which when burned and slaked make very good building lime.
The detachment at Kulladghee, Strength 67. Health good.
Kolapore.—In medical charge of Surgeon R. DICK, Strength 701.
The general health of the Regiment was good throughout the year ; the average dairy
number of sick was 11, and there was no epidemic or unusual prevalence of any disease, except
dysentery, of which a rather large number of cases occurred. The total admissions were 313,
the deaths were 6, and the number of men invalided was 29. The prevailing diseases were
ague, dysentery and contusions.
Thirty-three cases of dysentery were admitted, many of them very severe, and one termi
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nated fatally. Ipecacuanha was the most effectual remedy in this disease, and the proper dose
of the powder seemed to be five grains as often as it could be taken without producing
vomiting. Doses of twenty grains and upwards I found were rarely retained, even when
preceded by large opiates and sinapisms to the epigastrium ; in fact they caused such distress-