55
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
the result of local injury. A shoe-nail wounded the great toe. Rest, fomentations, poultices,
a free use of the knife, carbolic-acid dressings, and constitutional treatment were all tried in
vain. The entire limb was ultimately implicated by the gangrenous inflammation, and be-
came so offensive that the patient was removed to a tent, where he was treated until he died.
Amputation at an early date might have saved life. The case of perineal abscess was under
treatment 60 days. On admission the symptons were obscure. There was intense headache
and a peculiarly weak pulse. In 4 or 5 days he complained of severe pain and tenderness
in the left testicle, in 2 days more the scrotum was greatly swelled, and there was a bulg--
ing in the perineum which was laid open and a large quantity of offensive matter escaped.
The urethra gave way, and a fistulous opening in the scrotum required a free use of the knife
the parts, thereafter brought together by three sutures and supported by strips of adhesive
plaster, are now nearly healed. The perineal communication with the urethra has closed.
Old stricture, of which the patient said nothing—in fact denies—accounts for the exceeding
gravity in this case. After many attempts and no small difficulty I was able to introduce
No.3 catheter. The man has continued well ever since. No operations of magnitude were
performed during the year on any of the sepoys of the regiment. In the clinical instruc-
tion of medical subordinates and medical pupil, when there is one, opportunity is taken, as
often as it occurs, to teach at the bed-side and on the operating table the principles of medi--
cine and surgery.
19. In drawing these remarks to a conclusion, as was stated last year it may not be
out of place to suggest that steps should be taken to improve the sanitation of Satara.
Additional lines, and of a better kind than those in use, should be erected. A hospital on a
good site is urgently needed. The present make-shift is virtually in the bazaar. The
sanitary condition of the bazaar is disgraceful. These and such like themes have been the
burden of reports from Satara for years, and will only cease, it is believed, when civil gives
place to military jurisdiction.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL G. G. MAITLAND.
Surgeon-Major Ross brings to notice in this, as in a former, report the insanitary condition
of this station. If his remarks are intended to apply to the Native lines I think they are
exaggerated, judging from my inspection of them last year. He also dwells very forcibly on
the want of a proper hospital. In this I concur, for I have always thought, and still think, that
the Native regiment should be allowed to occupy their own building. The present bungalow
in which the sick are located, is an improvement on the former one, for it appears quite capable
of holding the average daily number of sick, allowing each patient about 1,600 cubic feet of
space. Quarters for hospital assistants are needed. Epidemic cholera in a serious form was
prevalent in the districts from July to September last.
H. M.'s 14th Regiment N. I.
KOLHA'PUR.—In medical charge of Surgeon D. HUGHES; Strength, 524.
1. Till the end o November the regiment was stationed at Kolhápur. On the 29th of
that month the head-quarters with 307 men marched to Bel--
gaum, at which station they arrived on the 4th December.
The left wing remained at Kolhápur to await relief by the 3rd Regiment N. L. I. During the
whole year a complete company has been on detachment duty at Kaládgi.
2. During last rains an analysis was made of the water from various sources. It will
be observed from the appended tables that the free and albumenoid ammonia have not been
estimated. The reason for this omission is that the apparatus I had constructed in the
bazaar was not sufficiently air-tight, and experiments conducted with it gave most startling
and inconsistent results. In last year's report, through a clerical error on my part, or a
typographical one on that of the printer, I observe that I am made to say that the wells
from which the sepoys draw their water-supply "are fitted with wooden covers so as to
reduce to a minimum the chance of the water being contaminated with dust, &c. &c." The
insertion of the word "not" before fitted, would render this statement correct.
3. The food during the 11 months the regiment was
stationed at Kolhápur was abundant and cheap.
Location and Movement of Corps.
Food.
4. The head-quarters left Kolhápur on the 29th November and marched into the lines
lately occupied by the 5th Regiment N. L. I. on 3rd Decem-
-ber. The march was a short one through a healthy countr
y a n d t h e m e n d i d n o t s u f f e r f r o m t h e e x e r t i o n a n d e x p o s u r e . S m a l l t h o u g h t h e s i c k - l i s t w a s ,
it would have been still smaller, had not some chronic cases been brought on from Kolhápur
in the hopes that they would derive benefit from the change.
Marches.