Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
64
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF Daily aver-
age num-
ber
sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Admis-
sions. Deaths. D a i l y a v e r a g e
sick.
Head-quarters at Erinpoorah 1st January . . . 31st Decr. 1875
619
513
6
16.38
82.7
.96
2.6
Detachment at Aboo and 15th March . . . Ditto . . .
80.5
48
. . .
1.90 75.3
. . .
2 . 3
escort to A. G. G. . . . 1st January . . . 30th April 1875
61.6
55
. . .
2.03 139.9
. . .
5.2
Ditto at Joudpore . . . 15th September 31st Decr. 1875
TOTAL . . .
. . .
. . .
717
616
6
19.17
85.9
.83
2.6
No. of deaths in hospital 6; out of hospital 4; total 10; per cent. of total strength . . .
1.14
" invalided . . . 1;
" " . . .
.11
" s e n t o n s i c k l e a v e . . . ; " " . . .
. . .
" of days spent in hospital 6,680; per admission . . . 10.8; per man of total-strength . . .
7.63
" " " on sick leave; per man . . . ; " " . . .
. . .
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . . 7.63
Principal
causes of sick
-ness.
The minimum daily average sick was 13 in April, the maximum 30.49, in November;
the minimum admitted 34 in April, and the maximum 77 in November. The health of the
corps has been satisfactcry in 1875. The admissions per cent. of strength and deaths
will contrast favorably with most regiments in Bengal. Notwithstanding it is capable of
further improvement, proper lines would reduce the percentage and prevent a considerable loss
of service.
Principal causes of sickness .—Paroxysmal disease, as usual, gave the largest number of ad
-missions, 150; conjunctivitis produced 82, contusion 31, blister of the feet 30, colic 22,
diarrhœa 19, dysentery 18, muscular rheumatism 17, pneumonia 16, boils 15, ulcers 15, bro
n-chitis 14, guinea-worm 12, gonorrhœa, 12, primary .syphilis 9, secondary 6, The character
of the fever is generally mild, the cold stage short or absent, and liver and spleen complications
unusual. Bowel diseases were of a mild type generally, could be attributed to errors in diet.
The guinea-worm generally was difficult to extract, and caused considerable loss of service.
The opinion of the natives is, that it is always introduced in drinking water, and explain the
fact of its frequency in the lower extremities by gravity; for myself, though I have seen a
large number of cases, I cannot offer a decided opinion. The few admissions from venereal
disease is remarkable, and may be explained by the number of marriages among the
sepoys.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—Pneumonia caused three deaths in the early part of
the year, which did not come under my observation. Diarrhœa, ague and phthisis, each pro
-duced one death, all in debilitated state.
Epidemics.—No epidemic occurred during the year. The cantonment has almost
always enjoyed complete immunity from cholera. This year it advanced as far as Ajmere, and
the Colonel took measures to be apprized of its further spread along the road, so as to
establish a quarantine if necessary, and take all measures to. prevent its introduction into
Erinpoorah, which, from its situation, would appear a probable place to be infected, if, indeed,
the theory of. the portability of the disease is correct.
Vaccination.
Recommenda
-tions.
XIX. Vaccination .—No sepoys were vaccinated in 1875. Almost every man in the regi
- m e n t i s p r o t e c t e d , h a v i n g s u f f e r e d i n h i s i n f a n c y f r o m s m a l l - p o x , w h i c h i s f r e q u e n t l y o f a v e r y
mild form in the district.
XX. Recommendations .—Few recommendations of importance were made, any that were
necessary—isolating eases of infectious disease in the bazaar, disposal of the dead and dead animals,
some improvements about the hospital, &c.—were promptly submitted by the Adjutant to the
Colonel, and at once received his attention and compliance. The great defect is the lines, of
which the officer commanding is aware, and, I believe, has been represented by him to the
authorities before now.
Special obser-
vations and
remarks.
XXI. Special observations and remarks .—But few cases of special interest were treated
during the time I was in charge. Among the most important was a case of orbital aneurism
from a fall on the head, treated by digital compression of' the cavotid, afterwards by pressure
on the tumor, and injection of ergotine over it as recommended by Langenbeck, with iodide
of potassium, digitalis and acetate of lead internally. Although the circulation in the carotid is
said to have been completely controlled by digital pressure, for instance, the case of Rouge
of Lausanne, in this instance it could not be pushed to that extent and only acted as an auxiliary
to slow the circulation. The treatment was so far effectual that the man was able to return
to duty. A case of snake bite in the finger produced by a cobra, and treated successfully by
ligatures, numerous punctures, and suction with stimulants, is also of interest. Snakes are
very common. A reward offered by the regimental authorities causes the destruction of great
numbers and affords an opportunity of examining them.
A small supply of medicine is allowed for the civil population, by which I was able to
establish a kind of dispensary, at which numbers were relieved; the average daily attendance
being about six, invariably serious cases. Though the people are timid and averse to operative
interference, stilt during my time I had several capital and a considerable number of minor
operations. Amongst themselves serious operations are undertaken in the most primitive way;