POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
51
Admissions for Ague in Detachment, 4th Rifles N. I.
36 men once in hospital
36
4 " twice
do.
8
1 man 4 times
do.
4
41 men
48
1 man remaining from last return
1
Total 49
Admissions for Ague in Garrison Staff and Details.
8 men once in hospital
8
2 " twice do.
4
1 man 3 times do.
3
1 1
Total 15
45 cases of chronic rheumatism were treated in detachment 4th Rifles and 4 in staff
and details. The contrast, as last year, with regard to both charges, is striking. Many of the
cases occurring in detachment were due, no doubt, to former climatic causes and constant
attacks of ague and dengue contracted during their protracted stay of 3 years at Baroda.
It does appear remarkably suggestive, however, that most of those presenting themselves for
treatment (and chiefly from January to September) were not the older and apparently more
debilitated sepoys, but rather the comparatively younger and more robust men between
the ages of 33 and 36, whose service of 15 years or more would entitle them, if invalided, to
a pension; and there appears to be no doubt that the prospect of getting this, appeared upper--
most with many who seemed to make the most of and to exaggerate their ailments. All were
duly discharged to duty and none invalided. The percentage of treated to strength was 32.8
in the detachment and 3.7 in staff and details. Syphilitic bubo.—2 cases were treated. As
there is no lock hospital at this station, it is suggested that a special ward might
be added to the dispensary where the 2nd class hospital assistant could attend to those cases
occurring in the bazaar, and which occasionally become a direct source of infection to the
troops in garrison. 5 cases of dysentery occurred in the detachment, due to exposure to
cold; all were mild with one exception, and readily yielding to treatment. A weakly and
aged-looking warrant officer of the Commissariat Department died after a short illness of
hemiplegia produced apparently by pressure on the brain from extravasation or clot of
blood. This warrant officer had been up to a late hour on that afternoon at his work, when
suddenly he became speechless, and sent for me at 7 P. M. Symptoms of hemi1egia rapidly
set in, and he died, after every possible care, within 3 days from the commencement of the
attack. 17 European women and children of the staff and 21 of the details came under
treatment for complaints of a more or less mild form, and not requiring further special
notice.
6. The chief causes of sickness were malaria, generated more especially after the
rains, and producing ague and remittent fever, and thus pre-
disposing, together with cold damp or under over-exposure, to
attacks of rheumatism. These complaints were in like manner to some extent attributable
to the more or less debilitated conditions caused by frequent attacks of ague and dengue
to the men, generally, of the detachment who had come from Baroda, and who by a con--
tinued stay of 2 years here had gradually recovered stamina, and eliminated to some extent
the "materies morbi" of the paroxysmal and other fevers they previously had suffered from.
7. On this raised, isolated, and naturally well-drained hill fort the influence of rain-
fall is especially marked after the rains by the presence of
heavy mists, fog, and considerable humidity of the atmosphere,
and which under the influence of a hot tropical sun and much vegetation becomes a fertile
source of malaria emanating from the underlying jungles, and engendering agues and
paroxysmal fevers, which decrease in frequency and severity towards the end of the cold and
approach of the hot weather.
8. Vaccination was assiduously carried out; 117 children were operated on. The 14
infant children remaining unprotected, were too young.
10. The general health of the detachment as compared with the previous year con-
trasts most favourably in almost every respect; that is, there
was less sickness, less number of deaths, and fewer invalided.
This in some measure was due to the fact of the detachment
Principal Causes of Sickness.
Influence of Rainfall.
General Health and Physique of
the Men.