106
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
6. The men have been fully employed either at drill or in improving the sanitary condition
of their lines by making drains and raised roads through them.
The returns obtained from the Adjutant's office show the average
number of nights the men have had in bed to be 5 ; but these
figures hardly represent the matter fairly, as there are, at least, 10 men on night duty in the
lines that have not been counted in those returns : so that, if these men be counted, the average
number of nights in bed would not be over 3.
7. Amusement there has been none. Last year, paper-chases, foot-races, and other sports
were enjoyed by the men ; there is a gymnasium with the usual
appliances close to the lines in which the men frequently passed
their leisure time last year. But during the year under report
sports and gymnasium alike remain unpatronized : the men say that they feel so exhausted and
used up from the climate that when their ordinary duties are over they are only too glad to
be down and rest. Some of the men work more or less at trades.
8. The left wing at Agar was relieved during the months of January and February
(by companies) by the right wing, which had been stationed at
Mehidpur since the arrival of the regiment from Mhow in
March 1873. The movement of a detachment to Jawra has already been referred to.
9. The building that was reported upon last year has continued to be used as the regi-
Duties, and their Effect upon
Health.
Exercise, Amusements, and
Occupation.
Marches.
Hospital and its Surroundings. mental hospital, and no attempt has been made to improve it
any way. The want of light and ventilation are serious defects.
As the daily average of sick during the year was 243 , a n d t h e n u m b e r w a s s o m e t i m e s n e a r l y
50, it can well be understood that in a hospital containing only cubic space enough for
20 patients there must of necessity have been over-crowding. A separate isolation ward
has been in course of erection during the year, and is nearly completed, but any building
less calculated for the purpose could hardly be imagined. Quarters for the medical subordi-
Hates and hospital servants have been completed during the year.
But there is no dead-house or bath-room, and it would be well
to have these deficiencies remedied. No change has taken place
in the hospital conservancy during the past year. The water
- s u p p l y t o t h e h o s p i t a l r e m a i n s u n a l t e r e d .
10. The following table contains acomparative statement of sickness, mortality, and
S Sickness, Mortality, and In-
validing,
1874.
1875.
Average strength
...
. . .
. . .
3 6 6
361
Average daily sick
...
...
...
27.7
24.3
Admissions in hospital ...
. . .
. . . 953
858
Deaths...
...
...
...
. . .
. . . 25
invalided
...
...
...
. . . 47
26
Men sent on sick leave ...
...
...
17
21
Percentage of
Treated to strength
. . .
2 6 3 . 1 242. 38
Deaths to do.
. . . ...
6.93
Deaths to treated
...
...
2.86
The above table shows an improvement in every respect upon last year. It is true
there have been 26 deaths, but 24 of these were from cholera and the remaining 2 from
heart-disease. It may also be marked that during the year it was necessary to send 21 away
on sick leave, as against 17 granted similar leave during the preceding year. There can be
little doubt that the comparatively favourable results obtained during the year are owing to
the improved drainage and the indefatigable efforts made in other directions to place the
station in as good a sanitary condition as possible ; yet it cannot be overlooked that the health
of the men has been and is essentially bad, for it must be admitted that a daily average of
24. 3 sick to a strength of 361 is excessively high for Native troops. The proportion of sick
would be much larger if all the men that came to hospital frequently, and took medicine, but
still struggled on at their duty, were shown in the returns as admissions. 26 men were
invalided at the close of the year. 2 recruits were likewise declared unfit for service two
months after joining the regiment—1 on account of defective vision, and the other on
account of deafness ; both these men were discharged, but, as they did not receive any pen-
sion or gratuity, they have not been numbered amongst the " invalided ". 2 men were
discharged by sentence of court-martial and 7 recruits deserted from the ranks.
Accommodation and Defects.
Conservancy.
Hospital Water-supply.
invaliding, &c., between the year under report and that preced-
ing it :—