50 A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
if filtered by the more natural and effectual process of a suitably situated and properly con--
structed percolating well adjoining this tank. The immediate edge of this tank is, however,
apparently objectionable from want of any available percolating medium (cleft or cleavage
in rock not being sufficient), and, moreover, this experiment has been tried many years ago,
and found wanting. The best sites for wells here will, I should say, be found, not on the
margin of the tank, but at some distance for 80 to 100 feet in the adjoining ravine and
com-pounds, the soil in some of which appears considerably below the tank-water level, even
during the hot weather; and though the abundant, gravelly, silicious, and clean soil therein
would be most likely to afford space sufficient for the necessary percolation and filtration
required, and this I have no doubt, if realised, will yield a favourable result. Both trials ( i.e.,
on edge and removed from tank) are now being made, the result of which will be referred
to in due course. It is singular, however, that the only potable shallow well available in
this fort was constructed, years gone by, under a native government,; since this, various at--
tempts have been made, but all have proved, up to the present, most unsuccessful and expen--
sive failures. The water used by the Native troops is still of most questionable quality, being
taken from the tank and but roughly filtered, through shallow holes (jeeras) made by the
men themselves beside the tank. During the ensuing year I shall try and have charcoal
filters introduced in the lines.
4. In the detachment, 4th Rifles, 153 cases came under hospital treatment, the milder
forms being usually treated in the lines; of these 2 remained from the previous year, 149
were discharged to duty, 3 were discharged otherwise, and 1 remained under treatment at
the end of the year. Of the 3 discharged otherwise, 1 was invalided, and the diseases of 2
were changed. In the garrison staff and details 34 cases were admitted; of these 27 were
discharged to duty, 3 were discharged otherwise, and 4 remained at the end of the year. Of
the 3 discharged otherwise, 1 was for diarrhœa and sent on sick leave, and the diseases of the
2 others were changed.
The average daily sick of detachment was
4.0
Do.
do.
of garrison staff and details
1.1
The percentage of treated to strength of detachment
111.7
Do.
do.
do.
of staff and details
32.2
There were no deaths, and only one of the detachment was invalided for scrotal hernia.
One of the staff and details was sent on sick certificate for diarrhœa, as already mentioned
Of the number treated in the detachment of the 4th Rifles, 85 individuals account for the
whole number admitted, and in the staff and details 23, which are, respectively, tabulated as
follows:—
Detachment, H. M.'s 4th Regiment (Rifles) N. I.
46 men once in hospital
46
25 " twice do.
50
7 " thrice
do.
21
3 " 4 times do.
12
2 " 5 times do.
10
2"6 times do.
12
85
151
Garrison Staff and Details.
16 men once in hospital
16
4 " twice
do.
8
2 " thrice do.
6
1 man 4 times do.
4
23
34
5. Considerably the largest number of admissions appears, as usual, for ague; 64 cases
came under treatment, viz., 49 in detachment and 15 in staff and details, giving a percentage
of treated to strength of 35.8 and 14.2 respectively. The prevailing form was quotidian or
tertian, the latter predominating, accompanied with generally slight complications yielding
readily, in most cases, to treatment. There were 3 cases of a rather severe type of remit-
tent fever, viz., 2 in detachment and 1 in the staff and details, the latter rapidly running on
to a continued fever accompanied with protracted delirium, bronchitis, and pulmonary affec-
- t o i n s a n d o f a l o w a d y n a m i c t y p e . T h e 2 c a s e s w h i c h o c c u r r e d i n d e t a c h m e n t , 4 t h R i f l e s ,
w e r e a l s o , s e v e r e a n d p r o t r a c t e d . T h e p e r c e n t a g e o f t r e a t e d t o s t r e n g t h f o r a g u e i n d e t a c h ,
meat was 1.4 and in staff 0.9.