NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
101
During the rain the water rises in them to within a few feet of the surface in some, but
much less in others, according as they are situated in or near under-ground streams between.
rocky barriers or in the trap tufa itself.
3. There was no side drain on the main road, viz., on the side where it skirts the bazaar,
and the rainfall frequently flowed into the bazaar at the entrance
of the streets. A good open saucer drain, with culverts at the
main streets, has been made, and the bazaar was kept much drier in consequence, it only receiv -
ing thus the direct rainfall. One of the bazaar drains flowed into the western rivulet, sometimes
(in years of draught) used for drinking, above the bund. I was successful in getting a cutting
made which diverted the outflow of this drain to a point considerably below the bund, thus
securing the water stored there from, at least, one source of contamination. The eastern rivulet
is not used for drinking. All the wells in cantonment are surrounded by masonry platforms.
Drains.
Water-supply.
4. The water is drunk solely from 4 wells, sufficiently
protected from pollution, and is considered good. It has been
sent to Bombay for analysis.
5. The number of fever cases is only about half of the number which occurred last year,
viz., 144, instead of 269 ; that local injuries from kicks, fractures, &c., occurring on parade
make up the next largest item ; then follow skin diseases from saddle-friction, &c. &c. There
were 13 cases of lung diseases as is usual in the cold months. A case of aneurism of the aorta
died. Dysentery and diarrhœa were not common ; but in the rest of the cantonment
cholera was very prevalent and severe. This apparent vicariousness of cholera instead of
fever is, at least, remarkable. The rains were less, and began later than last year, which may
in some way account for the lesser quantity and later occurrence of fever. Sudden varia
- t i o n s o f t e m p e r a t u r e a n d m a l a r i a , a l s o a c c i d e n t s f r o m k i c k s o f h o r s e s , f a l l s o n p a r a d e , & c .
The difference between the day and night temperature is very marked and sudden.
6. The rainfall was considerably above the average, viz., 42 inches 66 cents (last year
it was 57 inches, when fever was very prevalent). This year
cholera appeared. The average rainfall is 30 inches. The rain
occurred and lasted a month later than usual. It has not increased the fevers this year,
which have been much less numerous among Natives. Cholera did not occur last year with
a rainfall of 57 inches, but raged this year with a total of about 42 inches. It (the rainfall)
Influence of Rainfall.
Epidemic.
Vaccination.
General Health and Physique
of the Men.
only, therefore, indirectly favoured the epidemic. Cholera rage
d in the Royal Artillery ; no cases in the cavalry. A few cases
in the 10th Foot and 24th N. I.
7. Successful (primary) 30 ; successful (re-vaccination) 22.
8. Very good ; but, since recruiting in Hindustan has
been prohibited (save to a limited extent), the physique has
somewhat deteriorated.
9. With the exception of the unsuccessful treatment of fever by cinchonine there was
nothing in the treatment of this disease worthy of remark. A
sowar was brought into hospital one morning, and soon after
died. He had burst an aneurism of the aorta, as was proved at
the post-mortem examination. He fell from his horse a fortnight previous, but the state of
the sac proved the disease not to have been originated but aggravated by this circumstance.
Dysentery has been successfully treated by ipecacuanha in 15-grain doses, accompanied or
preceded by a small dose of morphia. One case of fever presented, after the first attack of
shivering and burning heat, a state of such complete collapse, with vomiting and purging
(not white) that so closely resembled cholera, that I was for a day in doubt. The same
symptoms, however, continued, viz., a shivering fit, succeeded by great heat and subsequent
collapse for 4 days, with only a slight remission in the morning, so that the nature of the
case, which had been treated from the beginning with quinine and stimulants, soon became
apparent. He continued to have slight accessions of fever for a few days more. Generally
speaking, fever cases have been much complicated with vomiting this year, and although less
numerous have not been of a less severe type, rather the contrary, than last year. Quinine
has been successful in all cases after the vomiting. Headache and pains in limbs had yielded
to a mixture of anodynes and purgatives, with emetics, in cases where they were indicated.
I have found a combination of anodynes and quinine to greatly facilitate the cure of fever.
Among the paupers of the bazaar who were treated in the staff hospital, a large tumour was
extracted from the orbit ; but as its attachments were to the supra-orbital plate and its neigh -
B 66—z
Treatment of Disease when
special.