PRESIDENCY DIVISION, ADEN, AND BOMBAY MARINE.
17
10. Scurvy gave 29 admissions; of these 6 were sent to India on sick leave, 6 were
invalided from this cause, and a good many, shown under the
heading of general debility, were also complicated with scurvy,
which has been an indirect cause of a great many more admissions than are shown under
its heading. Besides, a large number of men who were fit for duty were found at the period
-ical inspections to be affected to some extent with a chronic form of scurvy. From the 31st
July till the time of leaving Aden there were 111 cases treated in the lines by marching
them every morning, when off duty, to the hospital, and serving out lime-juice. On an
analysis of this number I find that of family men there were 23 cases; of single men, or whose
families were in India, 88 cases. Classified according to caste there were—Hindus 102,
Mahrattas 53, Purwarrees 25, Mochees 3, Purdasees 21, Mussulmans 6, Jews 2, Christians
11; total 111 out of a strength of 553, giving a percentage of 20·07. Out of 439 single
men there were 88 cases, or 20·05; and 114 men with families, 23 cases, or 20·02. According
to caste —
Hindus
244 Mahrattas
53 or 21·72
107 Purwarrees
25
23·36
90 Pardasees
21
23·33
26 Mochees
3
11·54
56 Mussulmans
6
10·71
9 N a t i v e C h r i s t i a n s 1
11·11
21 Jews
2
9·52
It will thus appear that married have suffered equally with single men, or those whose
families were away. It cannot, therefore, be said that the presence of women and children
caused an increased number of scurvy cases. Among married men, on the other hand, they
show a much smaller percentage among the Sappers and Miners than single men. Judging
according to caste, the Parwarees have suffered most (23·36 per cent.), the Purdasees next
(23·33), then Mahrattas (21·72). Amongst Mochees, Mussulmans, and Native Christians
the percentage has been just about one-half (between 10 and 11 per cent), whilst among Jews
it is only 9·52 per cent, Again, those whose pay is good and can live comfortably have
never suffered from scurvy. It will thus appear that those who feed themselves well,
whether Hindus, Mussulmans, or others, never get scurvy, but those who are underpaid or
starve themselves have suffered most. The necessity of supplementing their diet with
vegetables possessing antiscorbutic properties, such as potatoes, tamarind, and limes, has
already been pointed out. In most cases the supplies of lime-juice from Born bay were reported
bad, and fresh lime juice was squeezed out for issue instead. This helped in a great measure
to combat more readily the progress of the disease amongst these who were under treat
-ment. Ague and remittent fevers were the cause of 51 admissions, while there were 155
last year, being less than one-third. The largest and worst forms of these complaints are
met with when the hot land wind prevails, several cases occurring simultaneously. Although
malaria is not so rife in Aden as it is in India, still I cannot agree with others that it is
altogether absent. The decomposing sea-weed left on the beach, where there is clay instead
of sand, when the water has subsided at low tide is a source of malaria, and I have heard of
two instances amongst officers in the European regiment having had to leave Aden owing
to a severe attack of remittent fever, their houses being situated close to the sea-beach.
Diseases of the lungs come next in the order of frequency owing to the sudden setting in of
the cold breeze at night after a hot and sultry day. They have been the cause of 27 admis
-sions. There were 9 cases of valvular desease of the heart and palpitation and 21 cases of
dysentery, 7 of diarrhœa, and 1 of dyspepsia. The small number of diarrhœa and dyspeptic
cases shows the advantage of using condensed water. Dysentery shows an increase of 10
cases over last year, and presents another instance of malarious influence working in Aden,
where the cases originated. Diseases of the liver.—9 cases produced by malaria and exposure
to cold and damp. Diseases of the spleen, 3 cases of enlargement, treated with biniodide of
mercury ointment and quinine injections (hypodermic) with varied success. Skin diseases
were the causes of 7 admissions; of these there were 9 ulcers. In one or two instances the
ulcers were of a specific nature (known as Aden ulcers), where the skin dies and forms a
circular slough. It appears especially in men who have been debilitated from climatic causes
and want of nutritive food. The treatment consisted in destroying the slough and unhealthy
portions of the ulcer with nitric acid, and poultices applied till the slough separates, and
subsequent dressings of carbolic oil, with an occasional touch of sulphate of copper or nitrate
of silver. The limb requires to be bandaged well in order to give support to the muscles and
to moderate the circulation. Internally, iron and cod liver oil or bark and ammonia are in
-dicated. Under the head of injuries there was a case of compound fracture of the tibia, the
man having been run over by a fire-engine. He was a young man, and under ordinary
circumstances would have soon recovered, but in consequence of long confinement scurvy
appeared; the callus was re-absorbed, and effusion of blood set in its place. Under proper
rest with splints and nourishment he sufficiently recovered to enable him to proceed to Bombay
B 6 6 — e
Principai Causes of Sickness.