38
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
6 . T h e d u t i e s o f t h e r e g i m e n t w h i l e s t a t i o n e d a t S i r u r a r e v e r y l i g h t i n d e e d , c o n s i s t i n g
of the ordinary parades and light guard duty. On the march to
and from Bombay the men enjoyed excellent health, and so
also during the stay of the regiment their, although the escort
duty was hard and trying. Only one case of venereal was admitted into hospital during the
absence of the regiment from Sirur; it was contracted on the march from Dhulia.
7. The insufficiency and unsuitability of the lock-up and guard room has been repre
-
sented to the military authorities through the Commanding
Officer, and the subject has been alluded to in medical reports
for some years past.
8. Plans and estimates for a new hospital and subsidiary buildings have been drawn
up, and are now before Government. The whole regiment is at
present stationed at Sirur, and the want of hospital accom-
modation is obvious, as patients with trivial complaints and con
-
valescents have to be treated in the lines to prevent overcrowding.
9 . G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g t h e m e n o f t h e r e g i m e n t h a v e e n j o y e d v e r y f a i r h e a l t h , t h e r e
having been 292 admissions in an average strength of 308. Of
these, 61 were re-admissions, caused chiefly by fever and rheu
-
matism. The ratio per cent. of admissions to average strength
was 94.7 as compared with 60 for 1874. There were 2 deaths in the head-quarters hospital,
a n d 1 o c c u r r e d a m o n g t h e m e n l e f t a t S i r u r w h e n t h e r e g i m e n t w e n t t o B o m b a y . F o r t h i s
detachment separate returns were submitted by the medical officer left in charge. 6 men
were granted sick leave for periods varying from 2 months up to a year. There were
1 5 m e n p a s s e d b y t h e a n n u a l i n v a l i d i n g c o m m i t t e e o u t o f 2 0 s e n t u p .
10. Ague gave 65 admissions, all of a comparatively mild type, except 3 which were
admitted on our return from Bombay, and are still in hospital.
Chronic rheumatism gave 14 admissions,—some of them,no doubt,
real cases of sickness, but I do not hesitate to say that others
were exaggerated, if not feigned. Only 1 case of syphilis was admitted into
h o s p i t a l ;
his is no criterion of the actual number of cases which occurred. The men of this regiment
suffering from syphilis in its primary stage have a great objection to go to hospital, as they
don't wish it should be known. The consequence is, that they put themselves under the care
of some ignorant hakeem, who directs the whole of his attention to the local affection. Months
after, the patient presents himself to the medical officer with marked symptoms of secondary
syphi l i s, but , as a rul e, suffi ci ent l y wel l t o do hi s dut y : so he i s not admi t t ed i nt o hospi t al . One
man was admitted twice for epilepsy, of which he died during the absence of the regiment in
Bombay. Conjunctivitis gave 14 admissions, all of them simple cases, and yielding readily
to treatment. Diseases of the respiratory system gave 9 admissions, of which 5 were for
bronchitis. 10 cases of dysentery were admitted, all of them treated with ipecacuanha
preceded by a full dose of opium. From colic there were 8 admissions, diseases of the cellular
tissue gave 16 admissions, 7 from abscess, and 9 from dracunculus. Diseases of the cutaneous
system gave 30 admissions, of which 17 were from boils and 4 from scabies. From injuries
there were no fewer than 67 admissions, all of them the result of accidents on parade. There
were 3 cases of concussion of the brain of which 1 died, 4 cases of fracture, and 1 of dis
-
location. The other death was from diffuse periostitis, the result of a previous injury. The
European officers have enjoyed very good health. On the march from Bombay I sustained
a wound of the arm which prevented my doing duty for nearly a month.
11. The effects of the unusally scanty rainfall during 1874 was very apparent last hot
season. By the 1st of May several of the wells in the officers'
compounds were almost dry, and in the large well close to the
lines, which is over 40 feet deep, there was not a drop of water.
The river, however, continued to flow, and I don't think that scarcity of rain, which would appear
to have been local, had any influence on the health of the population. The rainfall during
the past year was upwards of 20 inches.
12. In January measles broke out in the lines, and before the epidemic abated almost
every child in the cantonment was attacked. The disease was
of a very mild type, and no deaths occurred. The epidemic of
cholera, which spread over the Deccan last year, was not
severely felt at Sirur, although the villages on both sides and within a mile or so suffered
considerably. Cholera made its first appearance in the taluka at Talegaon, the seat of the
Subordinate Judge's Court. From Násik the epidemic had been gradually spreading
along the high road towards Poona, and one of the first villages in the district affected, was
Duties, and their Effect on
Health.
Lock-up Rooms and Cells.
Hospital and its Sorroundings.
Sickness. Mortality, and Invalid
.
Principal Causes of Sickness.
Influence of Rainfall.
Epidemics.