59
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
in orders to march on the 15th of October; at that time of year, unless there are camping
grounds (which I did not see) other than those used by us, great difficulty would have been
experienced. I believe that in many of the places the ground has not yet been taken up by
Government for camps, so that the crops are still cultivated. I did not see much to object
to in the sites chosen, except as far as concerns the question of crops. The ground at
Karád is, perhaps, objectionable, as it is situated on an old burial-ground, and there is a tank
of foul water quite close to the camp: a bheestie was caught bringing this water for the use
of the hospital. I need not say that means were taken to prevent its happening again.
Karád is of importance, being a halting place: so that, if possible, a better site should be
chosen.
6 . A b a t h - r o o m w a s b u i l t i n t h e v e r a n d a h ; t h i s i s t h e o n l y c h a n g e . N o o v e r - c r o w d i n g .
The latrines have been kept clean; the system has not been
changed. In the hospital water-supply there is no change;
water plentiful.
7. There has been no marked increase or decrease this year, the daily average being
1 4 . 4 , w h e r e a s l a s t y e a r i t w a s 1 3 . 7 . F o r a g u e t h e r e h a v e b e e n
145 admissions and 2 deaths; other cases, not severe, were
treated with cinchonidine. The admissions for rheumatism, chronic, were 10; last year they
were 16. The scorbutic taint acquired at Aden is gradually leaving the regiment. There
have been 3 cases of primary syphilis, but not severe. There have been 14 admissions for
scondary syphilis, but of these 4 were re-admissions. 1 short-service man had to be
invalided from this cause; 4 old-service men were pensioned, syphilis being the more or
less remote cause. 5 admissions from scurvy this year against 24 last year, showing the
good effect of climate after leaving Aden. Of lumbago 24 cases. The old and worn-out
men who come into hospital with the view to pension, are classed under this name. No pen
-
sion rules could be better devised, in my opinion, to encourage scheming and embarrass the
surgeon in his diagnosis than the present ones. Under paralysis agitans 1 man was in
-
valided. 8 conjunctivitis, not severe. 12 cases of bronchitis caused by exposure to wet
on guard. Asthma, 4 cases invalided out of 8 admissions; do not call for any remark.
Dysentery, 12 cases, no deaths; this is seldom a formidable
disease in Belgaum. There has been a large number of cases
of worms, and taking those among women and children into consideration, 300. From
what I witnessed myself I have a very strong belief that very many of the so-called cases
of cholera occurring in the districts were nothing more than cases of worms. Before
leaving Belgaum I was in hopes of obtaining some statistics concerning one taluka,
which I think would have shown that a very large proportion of the deaths reported
as cholera occurred among children and women. Now, according to Dr. Aitken, in an
epidemic the mortality should be least among children, and in the epidemic of 1832
in Paris males died at the rate of 4 to 1 in proportion to females. Unfortunately
I
am not in a position to speak positively, but from what I could learn in conversation
many more women and children died than male adults during the epidemic which prevailed
last year (1875) in the Southern Mahratta Country. 2 men were brought into hospital.
who might easily have been thought to be suffering from cholera, that disease at the
time being reported all round Belgaum. They, both of them, were in a complete state of
collapse; purging and vomiting, cramps of the extremities, and suppression of urine existed
in both cases. Thinking at first I had to deal with a cholera case, I injected chloral
hydrate subcutaneously, and with considerable relief to the spasm. Having, however, a firm
conviction that many cases of so-called cholera were cases of worms, I administered san
-
tonine in these cases, and the cause of the severe symptoms very soon became apparent, and
large numbers of round worms were passed, and both patients recovered. One child, who
was treated in the hospital, vomited worms which measured over 1 foot in length. I am
of opinion that the severity of the symptoms had a good deal to do with the food supply in
both cases above related; the sepoys had been receiving a very insufficient diet. Other cases
occurred after a fast—i.e., the symptoms became severe then; children would be attacked after
eating freely of sweetmeats after fasting. I am of opinion that at first there were some true
cases of cholera in the Belgaum districts, but that subsequently the people were affected with
round worms; and anybody who sees the enormous masses of worms which are passed from
the Natives of this country will easily believe that most violent neurosis can be caused by
them. At the time that 2 men came into hospital with worms as above related, a man
came in with much the same symptoms, namely, collapse, purging, and vomiting, and muscular
cramps of the extremities. I found that he had been trying the experiment of living on 1
anna a day. This man's food had been left standing in a copper dish for hours, and I have
no doubt that, being in a feeble and an emaciated state from semi-starvation, the copper killed
him. I found traces of copper in his vomit.
Hospital.
Sickness and Mortality.
Bronchitis.