72
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Principal
causes of
sickness.
Vaccination.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— The greatest number of admissions into hospital
during 1876 was 102 in August, and the fewest in February,26 ; but on comparison with the
corresponding months of 1875, there is an apparent increase of 29 admissions in August and a
decrease of 15 in February. The total number of casualties are shewn as 7, the same as
in 1875. Of the deaths in hospital, 2 were in the Muchee Bhawun Detachment from
cholera, and 2 at Head-quarters from remittent fever.
XVIII. Epidemic. —Cholera raged through the district and city, but cannot be said to
have been epidemic amongst the sepoys; only two cases occurred at Fort Muchee Bhawun,
coming from the same unhealthy locality which has generally contributed such cases in former
years.
XIX. Vaccination. —The Government Vaccinator pays his periodical visits to vaccinate
when required.
Inspection.
Cantonment
Lock Hospital,
Lucknow.
Statistics.
Inspection.—The Deputy Surgeon-General of the Lucknow Circle made his
inspection of the hospital and lines of this regiment on the 26th December 1876.
No special remarks were necessary in respect of the hospital buildings and
lines, as they have been described in former reports, and, on the present occa-
sion, were found to be clean and in good order. Government quarters for the
Hospital Assistants and Medical pupils have not yet been built. The recruits
were inspected, and were considered up to the standard. All the hospital
equipment, including medicines and instruments, was complete and in a good
state of efficiency.
Cantonment Lock Hospital, Lucknow.—On the 20th January 1877,
Mr. Cannon inspected this hospital in company with Mr. Fairland, the Station
Staff Surgeon, and reports that the books show a decided decrease in venereal
both amongst the women and soldiers in cantonments. On the 31st Decem-
ber 1875, there were 101 prostitutes on the register. During the year, 42 new
cases were registered, the average number for each month of the year ranging
from 95 to 104; 45 had their names removed, died, or absconded, leaving 98 as
the number on the 31st December 1876. The following table exhibits the
number admitted into hospital, the mean strength on the register and the rate
per cent. of admissions on mean strength for 1874, 1875 and 1876 :—
1874.
1875.
1876.
Admitted into hospital
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
364
506
424
Mean strength on the register
.
.
.
.
.
.
94
103
99
Admissions per cent. of mean strength .
.
.
.
. 387.2 491.3
428.3
It will be noticed that although the number of registered women was 4 less
than on the rolls in 1875, yet the admissions into hospital per cent. of mean
strength was less by 63 in 1876. Out of the 424 admissions, 15 were for pri-
mary syphilis, 31 for gonorrhœa, 302 for leucorrhœa, and 75 for abrasions. The
average number in hospital for the year 1876 being 13 ; while that for 1875
was 19.
The admissions into hospital from the troops were at the rate per cent. of
1872
18.90 per cent.
1873
15.20
„
1874
25.54
„
1875
34.21
„
1876
25.72
„
strength as marginally shewn. Although the year 1876
contrast very favourably with the amount of venereal
disease in 1875, Mr. Fairland asserts that the decrease
would have been still more marked had it not been for
Lucknow City
Lock Hospital
the unusual number of venereal cases amongst the men of the 85th Regiment
while at musketry practice. "Out of the total admitted (133) in March, the
85th contributed 71, a large proportion for 789 men to send out of a total
strength of 2,398." Amongst the European troops, there were 244 cases of
primary syphilis and 356 of gonorrhœa.
Lucknow City Lock Hospital.— The hospital was in charge of Surgeon-
Major J. C. Wishaw for the first eight months of 1876, when it was abolished
by order of Government for want of funds. The total number of diseased women
treated was 160, and this number includes 71 cases of primary syphilis ; 145
cases were discharged cured, and 15, including 10 of primary syphilis, 1 of
gonorrhœa, 2 of ulceration of the os uteri, and 2 for abrasions, remained under
treatment on the 31st August. Regarding the abolition of this institution
Mr. Cannon thus writes : " I was much surprised and disappointed to find the
Lucknow City Lock Hospital closed for want of funds. I consider the suppres-
sion of this institution in such a city as Lucknow to be a retrograde move, and
which must sooner or later be productive of an increase of venereal disease."