39
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
Talegaon, to which it was most probably conveyed by people assembling to attend the court
or the weekly market. From this it spread in all direction; and as I wish to show how it
reached Sirur, I shall give the result of my own enquiries. On the 11th May some people
travelled from the infected district to Phakta, a village on the Goreh about 16 miles distant
from Sirur, and on the following day 3 people were attacked in that village. At the time
of the outbreak the patel of Old Sirur was at Phakta, and becoming alarmed he at once re-
turned to his home, where he died of cholera on the 18th, thus bringing the disease to within
two miles of the cantonment. Several cases of diarrhœa occurred in the town and lines
previous to the appearance of cholera, and, although every precaution was taken to prevent
communication with the infected village, it was of no avail. The first case of cholera appear-
ed in the lines on the 26th May, and in all there were 1 sowar and 5 followers attacked
; o f t h e l a t t e r 3 d i e d . I n t h e a d i o i n i n g v i l l a g e t h e r e w e r e 2 0 c a s e s , a n d o f t h e s e 1 1 d i e d .
13. Vaccination has been carried on at regular intervals, and I may safely state that
every child residing within cantonment limits is vaccinated
before it is four months old. During 1875 there were 73
children vaccinated, all successfully; and 38 persons were re-
vaccinated, but of these only 5 were successful.
14. The men of the Poona Horse are, generally speaking, very healthy, and although
many of them are apparently thin, they are capable of endur-
ing considerable fatigue. In last report I remarked that the
Hindus, as a class; are much more sickly than the Mussulmans,
and this is perfectly obvious from the returns of the past year. The admissions into hospital
among Hindus were at the rate of 126.3 per cent. to average strength, whereas amongst
Mussulmans the admissions were only at the rate of 79.9 per cent. This clearly proves
that the man who consumes animal food is better fitted for a soldier than a vegetarian.
15. Cinchonidine has been used in the treatment of malarious fever instead of qui-
nine. It apparently answers very well for the type of fever met
with in the Deccan, but in the few severe cases of ague which
have come under my treatment it did not appear to have the
desired effect. I have lately tried the decoction of cinchona combined with small doses of
quinine, and find it to answer very well. In a typical case of cholera I tried the hypodermic
injection of hydrate of chloral during collapse. Whether this method of treatment posses-
ses the great advantages claimed for it by some medical officers, I am not prepared to say,
but I think it is well worth a trial.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL G. G. MAITLAND.
Proper conservancy arrangements appear to be still required in this regiment. Plans
and estimates for a new hospital and its subsidiary buildings have, for some time past,
been before the military authorities. The site I proposed, is to the east of the present
horse lines. The manner in which the epidemic reached Sirur is worthy of note, and only
confirms, if confirmation were necessary, that one of the chief causes of the spread of the
epidemic is intercommunication with infected localities.
Detachment H. M.'S Poona Horse.
DHULIA.—In medical charge of Surgeon G. BAINBRIDGE; Strength, 91.5
1. This detachment marched for Bombay on September 25th.
2 . A l l t o p o g r a p h i c a l a n d s a n i t a r y m a t t e r s h a v i n g b e e n n o t i c e d i n m y l a s t a n n u a l r e p o r t
a s w e l l a s i n s e v e r a l p r e v i o u s o n e s , I n e e d n o t a l l u d e t o t h e m t h i s y e a r , e x c e p t t o e x p r e s s m y
disappointment that the new lines which have been sanctioned will probably not be com
- m e n c e d t h i s d r y s e a s o n , o w i n g t o f u n d s n o t b e i n g a v a i l a b l e .
3 . T h e n u m b e r o f s i c k t r e a t e d d u r i n g t h e n i n e m o n t h s u n d e r n o t i c e w a s 3 3 o f w h o m
31 were admitted during that period. 32 men were discharged from hospital cured, and
1 died. The sickness was mostly of a slight and unimportant nature; 3 men were, however,
attacked with cholera, which broke out severely in the lines
and neighbourhood on the 7th May; they recovered, and,
although the men's families and followers suffered rather badly,
the remaining men of the detachment escaped in a wonderful manner. The following is
a short account of the outbreak as it affected the Poona Horse lines and their vicinity;
I have made full remarks upon the epidemic in Dhulia in my special report upon the
Vaccination and Re-vaccination.
General Health and Physique
of the Men.
Treatment of Disease when
special.
Cholera.