Epidemics.
Vaccination.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
S T A T I O N .
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Admis
sions.
Deaths. Daily
average
sick.
From
To
Head-quarters at Goona and
Agar.
1st Jan. 1876 31st Dec. 1876
234.7
91
1
4.83 38.77 .42 2.06
Detachment at Indore . . .
Ditto
24th Oct. 1876
27
13
1
.34 59.07 4.54 1.26
Det. with Agent, Gov-
ernor General at Delhi.
Ditto
9th Mar. 1876
83
8
. . .
.68 24
. . .
.82
15th Oct. 1876 31st Dec. 1876
TOTAL . . .
. . .
. . .
295.2 112
2
4.99 37.94 .67 1.69
Number of deaths in hospital 2 ; out of hospital 2 ; total 4 ; per cent. of total strength . . .
.81
" invalided . . . 13; " . . .
2.63
" sent on sick leave . . . 2; " . . .
.40
"
of days spent in hospital 1,829; per admission . . . 16.3 ; per man of total strength . . .
3.71
"
on sick leave 524; per man . . . 262; ". . . 1.06
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . .
4.77
6 0
Principal
causes of sick
-ness.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Special ob
-servations.
Inspection.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— Quotidian ague, as usual, gives the largest number
for treatment, forming 33.04 per cent. of all cases treated. The next largest number of ad
-missions was for various contusions, forming 15.65 per cent. of the total number of cases
treated; catarrhal ophthalmia comes next, giving 6.08 per cent. of all cases; and guinea-worm
gave 5.30 per cent. One case of compound fracture occurred, necessitating two amputations
secondarily One case of phthisis pulmonalis terminated fatally by hæmoptysis. The ease
of pneumonia was treated at Indore, which also terminated fatally.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— The only case of death in head-quarters' hospital
was from phthisis pulmonalis. From Dr. Caldecott's notes of the case it appears to have been
a typical, though rapid, case, following a history of bronchitis. The immediate cause of death
was sudden, overwhelming hæmoptysis. No post-mortem examination was allowed. The
second case of death in hospital occurred at Indore. From Surgeon-Major Beaumont's
"remarks," at the end of his weekly detachment return, it appears to have been an ordinary acute
case of pneumonia, complicated somewhat with remittent fever. The abnormal fever tempera
-ture seems to have been reduced completely before his death, which occurred very suddenly, and
apparently from asthenia.
X VIII. Epidemics.—There have been none.
XIX. Vaccination.— None of the men have been vaccinated this year, as they are all con
-sidered well protected from the vigour with which it was performed last year. About 30 children
living in the lines have been vaccinated.
XXI. Special observations.— I regret that as I have only been a very short time with the
regiment (since the middle of November) , I am unable to give a résumé of the year's work.
One serious surgical case came under Dr. Caldecott's care during the year, and I have taken
the following few notes from his entries in the case book: Sowar Ibrahim Khan received a
compound fracture of the right tibia on 5th January from a kick from a horse while on parade.
The fracture was transverse, and about 3 inches from the head of the bone. It was hoped that
the limb might have been saved, and so was put upon a Macintyre splint. After a few days,
profuse suppuration set in, and the temperature of the body remained higher than normal.
On the 13th instant, a thin slip of bone, about 3 inches long, was removed from the wound;
but as this presented a very unhealthy aspect, amputation at the middle third of the thigh
was performed on the following day. The tibia was found split longitudinally in its entire
length, involving therefore the knee-joint. Sloughing subsequently occurred in the flaps, and
suppuration again became profuse. As the end of the bone at the seat of amputation seemed
to show no signs of taking on a healthy action, about 3 inches of it was removed on the
15th February; and in the course of its removal a large abscess around the bone was opened.
After this he made a slow recovery, and was discharged about the 30th June to appear before
a special invaliding board. There was a previous history of syphilis in his case.
Inspection.—The regiment was inspected by the Deputy Surgeon-General of
the Agra Circle on the 22nd January 1877. Dr. Thorpe reports that the regimental
huts are built on elevated ground, and the natural drainage throughout the lines
is therefore good. The huts were well ventilated and free from over-crowd
-ing. The drinking water was from wells, of good quality and abundant.
No latrines were in use; the men instead resorted to the jungle for necessary
purposes. The hospital occupies the most elevated spot to the north of the lines.
Dr. Thorpe reports that it is always kept scrupulously clean, and that all the
medical equipment for the comfort and proper treatment of the sick was com
-plete in every respect.