10
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
was generally of the quotidian type and of a mild form; however some of the cases were of a
more severe character, and 2 of them proved fatal. he treatment usually pursued, was
the administration of quinine and liquor arsenicalis, or the hypodermic injection of quinine.
The latter operation was frequently performed, and the results were generally satisfactory.
It was very exceptional for the patients to complain of pain or irritation of the parts after
the operation, and the site of the injection was seldom followed by inflammatory symptoms,
and never by sloughing. The treatment by cinchonidine was also tried on a number of
patients, and it appeared to act well in cases of a mild nature; but in those of a chronic
character, or more severe type, it was generally less certain in its action as an antiperiodic
than quinine. 116 cases were admitted with contusion; these were generally the result of
badly-fitting shoes, and were 47 in excess of those of the previous year. Bronchitis was
prevalent during the greater part of the year; 87 cases were admitted as compared with 23 in
the preceding year. The disease in some instances was of a severe nature, and required a long
course of treatment before the patients were able to resume their duties. One patient, who was
much debilitated, was sent on sick certificate for six months. This disease, besides, formed
a troublesome complication in some of the cases of ague. The rheumatic affections were
chiefly of a chronic character, and generally occurred in old men. Syphilis was much less
prevalent during the year in Surat than in 1874; however, during the time the regiment
was in Bombay the admissions from this disease rapidly increased. There were 9
cases of primary syphilis during the year; but as 5 of these occurred in Bombay in the
month of November and 3 shortly after the departure of the regiment on 2nd Decem
- b e r , c o n s e q u e n t l y o n l y 1 o c c u r r e d i n S u r a t a s c o m p a r e d w i t h 1 3 i n t h e p r e c e d i n g y e a r .
The disease contracted in Bombay was of a severe type, and when the regiment was
leaving 3 cases of primary syphilis and 2 of bubo were left, behind for treatment, and
have not yet rejoined. 16 patients were admitted with secondary syphilis; the disease
in some instances was of long standing and required lengthened treatment. The admissions
from dysentery were 13 more than in 1874; the disease in a few of the cases was of a severe
character. A patient that had been under treatment for nearly two months, and who was in
a weak and debilitated condition, was sent on sick certificate for eight months. A second
case, which had been in hospital for 11 days, proved fatal. The cases of splenitis were chiefly
of a chronic character and generally associated with ague. During the year there were 16
admissions from pneumonia as compared with 5 in the preceding: In the month of January
chiefly owing to a cold north-eastern wind which prevailed, 6 cases were admitted, 2 of
which proved fatal. In August a third death occurred the patient had formerly been subject
to scurvy, and his general health was much impaired in consequence. The three remaining
deaths from this disease occurred in December: the first had been under treatment for cho
- l e r a i n B o m b a y , a n d w a s p r o g r e s s i n g f a v o u r a b l y u n t i l h e w a s a t t a c k e d w i t h p n e u m o n i a , w h i c h
rapidly proved fatal, as the patient had been much reduced in strength from the previous
disease. The second case occurred in the detachment at Surat, where the patient had been
in hospital with ague for six days before this disease became associated with pneumonia.
The last case was that of a Native officer who had for some time been suffering from impaired
health; and though he marched with the regiment from Bombay, yet on several occasions he
received treatment though not actually on the sick list. 3 cases, who were much reduced
in strength and who required a change of climate for their recovery, were sent on sick cer
-tificate, respectively, for six, four; and three months. The admissions from scabies, pleuritis,
brow ague, and guineaworm were all of a mild character. There were 11 admissions from
hepatitis; they were generally of a chronic character, and 2 of them, who had been under
treatment for a considerable time without any well-marked improvement, were sent on sick
certificate.
3. On the 26th June the first case of cholera occurred in the cantonment; the patient
was a domestic servant, and died the day after attack. From
this date until the 26th July 5 other cases occurred: 2 of
these were sepoys, who recovered from the immediate effects of the disease, but one of
the patients continued in a very weak and emaciated condition for a considerable time,
and consequently was sent on sick certificate. The 3 remaining cases were camp
- f o l l o w e r s , 1 o f w h o m d i e d . C h o l e r a w a s m o r e o r l e s s p r e v a l e n t i n t h e c i t y a n d s u r r o u n d i n g
villages for some time before the camp was attacked; this in a measure may be ascribed
to the precautions which were taken to prevent the sepoys and their families having
communication with affected parts. The measures taken to segregate the patients and to
purify and disinfect the latrines and houses in which cases of this disease occurred, were
much the same as those referred to in my report for 1872 A case of cholera occurred
in the regiment on the 17th November when stationed at Bombay; the patient was progress
- i n g f a v o u r a b l y , u n t i l t h e d i s e a s e b e c a m e c o m p l i c a t e d w i t h p n e u m o n i a , w h e n i t r a p i d l y
proved fatal. Hydrate of chloral in 10 to 15-grain doses was usually administered every
three or four hours during the collapsed stage, and the results were for the most part satis
- f a c t o r y .
Epidemics.