x
months of the year in Cutch, yet only 2 mild cases occurred in the lines of the
11th Regiment N. I. at Bhuj. Nothing could testify in a higher degree to the
care and attention of regimental medical officers in the matter of vaccination
than the almost total absence of small-pox.
40. The number of invalided was 972, which gives 4.26 per cent. on a
strength of 22,819. In last year's report I mentioned
in para. 63 the progressive annual increase in the
number of invalids, and noted that a large proportion were men under 20 years'
service. In the year under report the percentage of invaliding to strength is
somewhat less than in either of the two preceding years; but my remarks, how
-
ever, regarding ages and causes of invaliding hold good equally for the present
year.
41. There was a severe epidemic of cholera, which arose in Násik in March,
and gradually spread over all the districts of this Pre
-
sidency except Sind. The civil population of some
parts suffered severely. It is remarkable that the Native troops suffered sin
-
gularly little from the epidemic, notwithstanding many regiments were stationed
in what must be viewed as "infected localities"; and some regiments, although
surrounded by civil populations struck by cholera, entirely escaped, as, for in
-
stance, the Native troops in Rájkot, Indore, Sholápur, Ahmednagar, Asirgarh,
Satara, and Kolhápur. It would appear that the precautions taken in these
stations are believed by medical officers to have kept the disease from the
lines. I am disposed to agree with them, and I cannot speak too highly of the
efforts of all the regimental medical officers to prevent the disease reaching the
lines, to check it by careful treatment, and to thoroughly cleanse every place
and article which had any connection with cholera. But, while I cheerfully accord
every credit to such deserving efforts, yet I must also record that similar efforts
failed to keep the disease out of the lines of the Native troops in the stations
of Mehidpur, Ahmedabad, Mhow, Poona, Málegaon, Neemuch, and Baroda;
still even in these places the disease was kept in check, and only in H. M.'s
10th and 3rd Regiments N. L. I. at Mehidpur and Ahmedabad did the
deaths reach any considerable number—24 in the former and 11 in the latter.
A wing of H. M.'s 9th Regiment N. I. marched out of Baroda Canton
-
ment, and H. M.'s 22nd from Baroda City, and remained under canvas
until the disease disappeared. In all the regiments in which cholera broke
out the medical officers took every precaution to prevent its spread, and the
huts in which cases occurred were fumigated, whitewashed, &c. &c. The cases were
treated in separate accommodation. The medical officer of the Poona Horse,
Dr. Gordon, gives, at page 38, an interesting account of the progress of the
disease to Sirur. Surgeon-Major Day, H. M.'s 5th Regiment N. L. I. at Bel
-
gaum, is of opinion that round worms in some cases produced symptoms
simulating cholera, and he states that enormous quantities of these parasites were
passed.
42. Scurvy in H. M.'s 12th Regiment was cured by attention to vegetable
diet. This disease makes its appearance in every
Native regiment serving in Aden, and continues for some
time after the men return to India. The siege of Paris conclusively proved this
disease to be entirely due to want of fresh vegetables, and it may now be affirmed
that only a ration of these can prevent scurvy in Aden. Limejuice, though better
than nothing, is far behind potatoes and green vegetables as a preventive and a
curative agent. I am of opinion that an effort, even if a costly one, should be
made to supply the troops with these: it would be a saving in the end to Govern
-
ment, as the men would be less sick, and there would be fewer invalided at an
early age.
Invaliding.
Epidemics.
Scurvy.