54
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
certain petty repairs. On their completion the re-occupation of the building was interdicted
by the Commanding Officer, as the Executive Engineer was unable to warrant its being safe
for those who from illness were incapacitated from moving themselves. Consequently, during
the first quarter of the year the sick were treated under canvas. From the 1st April a
newly-built bungalow was hired, which stands on the northern edge of the parade-ground
close to the sadder bazaar and objectionably near it. As a temporary arrangement, and until
the regiment is provided with a proper hospital, no better accommodation is available in
Satara. The building stands east and west, facing the north; in rear are the parade and drill
grounds, the centre of which is occupied by the lines. The bungalow is tiled, and stands on
a plinth 2 feet high. The house contains 6 rooms in all, or, properly speaking, 5, as the
front middle room is separated from that in rear by an archway; the end rooms are utilised
as office and store-rooms, one being set apart for the reception of particular cases. It is well
known that the hospital for Native troops is now occupied by the sick of H.M.'s 2nd
Queen's. There are under the present regime no quarters for 1st and 2nd class hospital
establishment. The dry-earth system is the one pursued in the hospital latrine. The
hospital water-supply is furnished by the wells in the lines, and is considered good.
12. The amount of sickness during the year has been less than in the previous one. The
average strength of the Rifles at head-quarters during the
year was 352.5 with a daily sick average of 5.6. The percentage
of treated to strength was 8.9 and of deaths to strength 0.2. In the list of general diseases
admissions to hospital were as follows:—Chicken-pox 13, of ague 95 were treated, chronic
rheumatism 45, syphilis—primary—6, and secondary 5, with syphilitic rheumatism 1, were
treated in 12 instances. Admissions on account of scurvy were 5; of these 1 was invalided.
The patient admitted with gangrene died. Under diseases of the nervous system 3 cases
of brow ague were admitted; sciatica and pleurodynia furnish each a case. The man afflicted
with dementia belonged to the 1st Grenadiers; he was remanded to his corps. In diseases
of the eyes 4 cases of conjunctivitis were seen. Maladies of the respiratory system
furnished 12 admissions for bronchitis and 1 with pleurisy. In diseases of the digestive
system the admissions numbered 27. Under the head of poisons there is an admission due
to the irritation of the milk-bush. Injuries furnish 32 admissions. There was 1 death. 13
men were invalided.
13. Ague, as in former reports, was the principal cause of sickness; chronic rheu--
matism comes next. The death which occurred was due to
gangrene of the lower extremity (right); the deceased was a
Hindu.
Sickness.
Principal Cause of Sickness, &c.
ause of Mortality.
Influence of Rainfall.
14. The rainfall does not appear to have influenced the
health of the men.
15. The regiment was unaffected by cholera, which was raging all around from July
to November. A sepoy's wife, however, was attacked and died
A second case occurred to one of the followers, who recovered.
In consequence of the appearance of cholera the lines were immediately white-washed, the
huts disinfected, and gravel was laid down between the pendalls. A tent on a suitable site to
leeward of camp was pitched for the reception and treatment of patients. Happily it was not
required.
16. 13 children were successfully vaccinated, and 22 recruits re-vaccinated: the
lymph was excellent.
17. The general and physique of the men have improved since last report. The
51 recruits who joined were better, physically, than has been
the case of late.
18. In respect to the treatment of disease when special, I may mention the trial of the
therapeutic virtue of cinchonidine. The experiment instituted
in 13 cases of intermittent fever was unsuccessful. In none
did the alkaloid prevent the return of the febrile paroxysm. Its power in mild cases of
ague in well-nourished patients in temperate climates seems established, but its potency over
intermittent fever contracted in the malarious districts of Western India by sepoys who, as a
rule, are underfed, has, in the trial made in this hospital, no existence. Reverting to another
matter, I deem it right to mention that, in cases of neuralgia, Easton's syrup ferri phosphat.
c .quinia et strychnia has afforded many of my patients immediate relief when other reme -
dies failed. Referring to the case of gangrene in which amputation was proposed in consul -
tation with Surgeon-Major Mackenzie as a dernier ressort, the patient refused the operation.
The question arises—would I have been justified in amputating without his consent? In the
British Army the Surgeon in all cases, I believe, operates without deference to the patient's
wishes. In the present instance the case was one of peculiar interest. The gangrene was
Epidemics.
General Health and Physique.
Treatment of Disease when special.