POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
43
fall, the mannèr in which the rain fell—that is to say, in heavy showers—with considerable. in
-tervals of fine weather, so that the ground did not get saturated with moisture ; and the greater
equability of the climate, especially towards the close of the year, when, owing to the late
rainfall, there was not the sudden change from a warm, moist, to a cold, bracing atmosphere
as was the case in 1874. In other respects the men were placed in exactly the same cir
-cumstances in the two years, having been equally well housed, clothed, and fed in both.
The reduction in the number of cases cannot be accounted for by the absence of upwards of
half the regiment in Poona during the months of November and December, as it was equally
marked in the detachment which remained behind at Sholápur. Of the total number of 345
cases of intermittent fevers treated during the year, 335 were discharged to duty, 6 were dis-
charged otherwise (some went on sick leave, and others were found to be suffering from some
other disease, for which they were re-admitted), and 4 remained under treatment at the close of
the year. 2 cases of mild remittent fever and 1 of chicken-pox were treated, 2 of acute, and 21 of
chronic rheumatism, 15 of primary and 11 of secondary syphilis, 1 of diabetes mellitus, 1 of
scurvy, 1 of muscular rheumatism, and 22 of lumbago. There was, therefore, as compared
with the previous year, a decrease in the number of cases of rheumatism and scurvy (of the
latter disease only 1 case coming under observation), but an increase in syphilis (most
marked in the secondary cases) and lumbago. The increase in cases of secondary syphilis
is due, I think, to the men concealing the presence of the primary sores until no longer able
to perform their duty, of which several cases have recently occurred. As to the cases of
lumbago, the majority of them occurred within the few weeks previous to the annual inva-
liding committee, and were, I believe, more due to anxiety for pension than to any other
cause. The case of diabetes was a well-marked one, and the man was sent away on sick
leave, having considerably improved under treatment. The urine, which when first examined
measured 232 ozs. in the 24 hours, with a specific gravity of 1,034, was reduced, before he
went on leave, to 48 ozs. He was sent away in April, and has not yet rejoined : so I presume
there has been an exacerbation of the symptoms, and that he will require to be invalideds
He had also commencing cataract in one eye. Of diseases of the nervous system only.
Diseases of Nervous System.
7 cases have been treated, 1 of sun-stroke, and 2 each of brow
ague, sciatica, pleurodynia. Diseases of the eye show 21 cases
of conjunctivitis, 1 of soft cataract, 1 of sequelæ of iritis, 1 of chemosis, and 1 of impaired
vision. The cases of conjunctivitis were chiefly of the catarrhal variety, and quickly yielded
to simple treatment. The case of cataract was invalided. The case included as "sequelæ
of iritis" presented some features of interest. The patient had suffered from constitutional
syphilis, including iritis in the year 1874, and was again admitted for a similar affection in
the year under review. The iritis in the right eye yielded in great measure to the usual
treatment, but the man complained of total loss of sight in the left eye. An examination
showed that there was deep-seated disease of the globe, accompanied by considerable tension.
I sent the man to Bombay in order that he might consult the Ophthalmic Surgeon. I sub
- s e q u e n t l y h e a r d f r o m D r . M a c o n a c h i e t h a t h e h a d e x a m i n e d t h e e y e , a n d f o u n d a t u m o u r ,
which he believed to be malignant, pressing the lens forward, and that he proposed to
enucleate the eyeball, promising to inform me afterwards what was the nature of the tumour.
I h e a r d n o t h i n g m o r e a b o u t t h e m a n u n t i l a f e w d a y s a g o , w h e n h e r e j o i n e d t h e r e g i m e n t
in just the same condition as when he left as regarded the left eye, but with an improved
state of the right eye. He will, of course, require to be discharged as unfit for further ser-
vice. The case returned as impaired vision was admitted during my absence in Poona, and
the man was said, on my arrival here, to be suffering from diplopia, but I strongly suspect
he is shamming; I can find no symptom of paralysis of any of the muscles of the eyeball.
There were 31 cases of diseases of the respiratory system, 5 of bronchitis, 4 of pneumonia, 6 of
chronic pneumonic phthisis, 4 of pleurisy, and 12 of bronchial catarrh ; of the 6 cases of
phthisis, 3 were discharged to duty, 2 were sent on sick leave, and 1 died. One of the 2
sent on leave also died at his home. 1 case of double pneumonia, occurring in an old non
- c o m m i s s i o n e d o f f i c e r o f 3 6 y e a r s ' s e r v i c e , w a s a v e r y s e v e r e o n e , a n d t h e p a t i e n t w a s f o r a l o n g
time in a very precarious state, with symptoms of gangrene of the lung (the breath and sputa
being horribly fœtid), butunder the administration of stimulants in considerable quantities, with
inhalations of the vapour of water holding Condy's fluid, or carbolic acid in solution, even
- t u a l l y r a l l i e d , a n d a f t e r a t e d i o u s c o n v a l e s c e n c e r e t u r n e d t o d u t y . O f d i s e a s e s o f t h e f a u c e s
and palate 6 cases were treated, 1 of ulcerated sore throat, 3 of quinsy, 1 of tonsillitis, and
1 of enlarged tonsils. One of the cases of quinsy terminated fatally, with symptoms of blood
- p o i s o n i n g . T h e m a n s u f f e r e d , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e l o c a l i n f l a m m a t i o n , w h i c h w a s o f a l o w ,
phlegmonous type, from very severe hæmaturia and a certain amount of melœna. These
yielded to gallic acid in full doses, but left the patient extremely weak, and he died from
exhaustion consequent upon a severe attack of epistaxis. The cases of dysentery and
d i a r r h œ a w e r e m u c h f e w e r t h a n i n 1 8 7 4 , a n d t h e y w e r e o f a m i l d t y p e , y i e l d i n g r e a d i l y t o
treatment. One of the dysentery cases was sent away for change of air. Large doses of
ipecacuanha, guarded by opium, was the treatment usually adopted for this disease. Four
cases of jaundice were treated. One case of enlarged spleen was invalided.