122
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
troops is concerned, that would follow were annual marches more regularly carried out;
indeed, I think that it should be a standing order that regiments stationed in Jacobabad
should be compelled to march out of camp every year.
8. The building is seldom full during 6 months in the year; but when fever cases
prevail to a great extent, as it does for about 4 months, and
these are supplemented by chest-affections and ulcers peculiar
to this locality, the hospital accommodation is found to be very inadequate, and a hut has
to be utilized as a temporary ward. The number of cases admitted into hospital with ulcers
is considerable. As most of these occur in the lower extremity, the absence of a cook-room is
not only a great source of inconvenience to the patients, but also in a great measure defeats
the object of treatment, by compelling them to walk to their lines for their meals. The
hospital latrine has been improved by better ventilation, and the dry-earth system of conser
-vancy is carried out here.
9. The average daily strength present at head-quarters was 287, the total number of
cases treated was 343, and the actual number of individuals
treated was 241. As usual malarious fever furnished the largest
number of admissions: under this head there were 127 treated.
The fever season began in September, arrived at its maximum in November, and gradually
decreased towards December; while in the months between March and August, (both inclusive,)
only 9 admissions occurred, while in the other months there were 118. Next comes ulcers,
abscesses, boils, and contusions, which in a great measure supervened upon injuries caused by
horses. These accidents, which in healthy individuals would be unattended with any bad
results, are in the inhabitants of this climate invariably followed by ulcers characterized
by extreme feebleness of healing action. There were only 5 cases of pneumonia, of which
2 proved fatal on the third day after admission, which sufficiently indicates the severity
of the disease and the rapid tendency to a fatal termination. 18 cases of venereal affec
- t i o n s w e r e t r e a t e d , i n c l u d i n g p r i m a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y s y p h i l i s a n d g o n o r r h œ a . W i t h
reference to this, it is a matter of regret that, in a large military station like this, venereal
affections are permitted to be propagated with impunity amongst the men, who in this
climate are especially prone to disease, and in whom constitutional diseases appear in an
exaggerated form. There should be a lock-hospital in the station, and the Contagious
Diseases Act enforced. 1 case of diarrhœa and 4 of dysentery were treated; one of the
latter remains in hospital. This man was originally admitted for intermittent fever of a
very severe type; this was followed by dysentery, which ultimately lapsed into diarrhœa.
One death occurred from phthisis in a weak and sickly patient in the month of March;
1 from pneumonia in the case of a pay-duffedar who had
recently returned from out-post duty. He stated on admission
that he was suffering from fever for 4 days, and very imprudently kept in his hut without
coming into hospital for treatment; when admitted he was in a hopeless condition, and his
case proved fatal on the third day. Another fatal case from pneumonia occurred in November
after 2 days' illness in hospital. The total number of deaths in hospital was 3, and out of
hospital 2: in one the cause is unknown, and the other committed suicide at an out-post.
The mortality this year compares very favourably with that of last year: 18 were invalided,
10 old age and debility, 4 chronic rheumatism, 2 enlargement of spleen, 1 fibrous union of frac--
tured patella.
10. The chief cause of the unhealthiness of Jacobabad may be traced to the annual
inundations around camp. This fact would be apparent to any
-body who has experienced a 12 months' residence here, and
has been confirmed by some of the old inhabitants, who assert that Jacobabad was more
healthy at a time when inundations were unknown, although the water-supply was extremely
defective. If engineering skill could prevent the rush of water, which annually deluges the
country around camp, by the overflowing of the Indus, one prime cause of disease would be
removed; unless this is accomplished, the camp of Jacobabad will for ever remain a hot-bed
of malaria.
Hospital.
Sickness, Mortality, and Inva--
liding.
Mortality.
Principal Causes of Sickness.
Principal Causes of Mortality.
Mortality according to Race.
11. Pulmonary affections and the effects of malaria.
12. Hindu 1, Mussalmans 2.
13. The amount of rainfall, during the year has been registered as 3 inches and 17
cents. This fell during the months of February, May, July,
September, November, and December.
Influence of Rainfall.