22
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Food, Quality, &c.
6. Succulent fruits and all cereals are abundant and
cheap in the Poona bazaars.
7 . T h e p r e s e n t C o m m a n d i n g O f f i c e r i s a t t e m p t i n g , a s f a r a s p r a c t i c a b l e , t o i m p r o v e t h e
dress of the men. Its faults were summed up in my last
report.
8. The general duties of the regiment for the past year have been much the same as
heretofore, except while in Bombay, when they were rendered
more arduous on account of the incessant escort duty required
by the civil authorities Many of the weakly men were thoroughly prostrated by the sultry
suffocating heat that prevailed during the first two weeks of our stay there.
Clothing.
Duties, and their Effect on Health.
9. All these quarters continue comfortable and in good
repair.
Lock-up Rooms and Cells.
10. On the 8th October 1875 the head-quarters with two squadrons left Poona for Bom
-
bay en route for Neemuch. Bombay was reached on the 19th
idem. The regiment remained in Bombay till the 30th of
November following, when, in consequence of the cavalry reliefs for 1875-76 being stopped,
it was ordered back to Poona, where it arrived on the 11th December.
11. No improvements have been made during the year, nor do we consider any altera--
tions necessary, as the building continues to fulfil the requisite
conditions of a good and comfortable hospital for Native
troops.
12. The monthly reports of sick and wounded from this hospital for the past year
represent an annual average strength of 301.6, while the whole
number taken sick was 310. The average number of daily sick
was 8.9. There were no deaths. Six sowars were invalided on surgeon's certificate of
disability for further service, and one sowar was discharged with gratuity. Of the whole
number taken on sick report, 276 were for disease alone, and 34 were wounds, accidents,
and injuries of all kinds. The general sanitary condition of the regiment for the first seven
months of the year was of the most favourable character; the various cases of sickness were
of a mild nature, and devoid of any special feature of interest. Towards the middle of August,
malarial fever, which had up to this time only been met with in a mild form, began gradually
to increase, and, notwithstanding the most energetic mea sures used to confine its limits, it
continued to prevail during the remainder of the wet season
with a frequency and severity quite unparalleled as compared
with former years. The highest rate of sickness from this disease occurred amongst the
regimental followers, who reside in the so-called "syce lines"—a district of camp where the
social, physical, and hygienic conditions are the very worst imaginable. The disease did
not confine itself to the Natives of camp, for it attacked all the European officers then resid--
ing in the cavalry lines with extreme intensity. In order to mitigate the sources of disease
as much as possible, rigid police measures were enforced, and special attention was given to
the use of disinfectants, and the removal of all vegetable matter liable to undergo decom--
position. The administration of prophylactics was commenced with the enlisted men, more
especially with those who were exposed to night air and wet when on duty as orderlies in
various parts of cantonment. An effective surface drainage was reported as necessary, and the
cantonment committee at once proceeded with the work, and by means of large surface
drains placed the camp in a more thorough sanitary condition than it had been in heretofore.
A more perfect system of surface drainage remains to be accomplished by means of perma--
nent stone drains running between the double line of huts so as to carry away the refuse
water from rear of the huts. In the treatment of the fever it was frequently necessary to
administer a mild mercurial with the view of inducing the liver and intestines to resume
their normal functions; afterwards quinine in 10 or 15-grain doses, with a few drops of
chlorodyne in solution, three times a day was usually thoroughly efficient. In those cases
where quinine, whether administered by the mouth or hypodermically, failed to break up the
paroxysms, 2 or 3 considerable doses of calomel, with a few grains of ipecacuanha, was
the treatment which gave the most satisfactory results. Of course the mercurial treatment
was followed up by tonics in the shape of iron, quinine, and mineral acids. Cinchonodine
was used only in those cases where the fever manifestations were not sufficiently severe as to
require their admission into hospital. 4 cases among the followers were treated with
Marches.
Hospital and its Surroundings.
Sickness, Mortality, and Invaliding.
Malarial Fever.