POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
29
cases of dysentery, mostly of a mild type ; 18 of simple diarrhœa ; and 15 of colic, usually the
effect of imperfect digestion and assimilation, were admitted. 3 cases of fistula in ano
and one of hæmorrhoids were successfully operated on, and the patients discharged cured.
Gonorrhœa and its complications do not figure very largely in the returns. 10 cases
under the head of "ulcer" and 25 under "boil" were admitted ; nearly the whole of the
former were the result of injuries sustained by badly-fitting and ill-made boots. Under
the head of injuries will be found the unusually large number of 341, the great majority
of which were accidental, arising during the construction of the lines. A good many took
place in the quarry by the men getting their legs, feet, and toes crushed under heavy
stones, &c., and a considerable number on the tramway connecting the quarry with the lines.
Latterly there has been a considerable falling off in the number of accidental injuries ; and
as the men become more habituated to their work, the number will, I have little doubt,
be further diminished.
1 2 . O n l y 2 d e a t h s o c c u r r e d i n h o s p i t a l — I f r o m c h o l e r a a n d t h e o t h e r f r o m h e a r t - d i s e a s e
of long standing. 1 death by suicide has already been men
-tioned. Of the 2 fatal cases in hospital, one was a Mahratta,
the other a Hindustani.
13. Cholera in an epidemic form prevailed all over the Poona district during May,
June, and July.
In this regiment 2 cases occurred on the
same day ; both men had been to the native city on the occasion
of a festival, and had there partaken freely of food and drink.
14. Vaccination has been most carefully attended to under my personal supervision,
and inspected eight days after each operation.
Principal Causes of Mortality.
Epidemic.
General Health and Physique of
the Men.
15. The remarks made on ths point in my last annual
report are so far pertinent that I see no reason to modify them
in any way.
16. The principal feature in regard to special treatment during the past year was the
substitution of cinchonidine for quinine in the treatment of
paludal fevers. It may here be noted that no quinine has
been used in the treatment of intermittent fevers for the last
six months ; the experience now gained leaves no room to doubt that the sulphate of
cinchonidine is of undoubted efficacy, and may be thoroughly relied on when given in doses
of double the strength of quinine. I confess, however, to some doubts as to whether there is
not a greater liability to relapse after the cinchonidine treatment. It is to be hoped that
with further experience it will be possible to pronounce a more definitive opinion upon a
subject of such manifest importance. The only other fact I have to bring to notice with
reference to special treatment was the successful application of continuous and induced
currents in the treatment of neuralgia, hemiplegia, sciatica, rheumatic stiffness dependent
on diminished innervation, and, indeed, in every form of neurosis. The currents were obtained
from one of Mayer and Meltzer's combined batteries which contains 20 cells, though it was
seldom necessary to use more than from 12 to 16 at one time. The success of the applica
- t i o n o f f a r a d i c c u r r e n t s i n a l o n g - s t a n d i n g c a s e o f c h o r e a w a s m o s t m a r k e d ; t h e p a t i e n t — a
a delicate lad of 14—making a complete recovery after half-a-dozen applications of the
battery. The antiseptic mode of treatment, described at length in my last annual report, has
been carried out in its integrity during the past year, and with results in every way most
satisfactory. In the treatment of small-pox more specially the application of solutions of
carbolic acid in glycerine and in rectified spirit seems to have a soothing effect, for which
patients invariably express their gratitude ; and, moreover, it would appear that the antiseptic
influence is not less marked on the secondary fever resulting from the absorption of putrid.
matter from the pustules.
17. Clinical instruction and formal lectures on surgical anatomy were given once a
week during the early part of the year.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL G. G. MAITLAND.
There has been a decided falling off in the general health and efficiency of this corps
during the past 12 months, and the medical officer attributes this to the hard work and great
fatigue and exposure to which the men have been subjected in building new lines. These
causes, together with an insufficiency of good food, it is stated, helped to lower the standard
of the general health of the regiment, and been productive of the high ratio of sickness
shown by the returns. To this it may be said that other corps, such as the 1st Grenadiers, the
5th, and very lately the 12th Regiment; have built new lines; and as regards exposure,
B 66—h
Treatment of Disease when
special.