210
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Malarial
diseases.
Goitre.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
The diseases contained in the first group were caused by malarial poisoning.
Those in the second group, though not the result of, were materially affected by, the same
cause. Injuries of a trivial description, which in other stations would have caused.little or,
trouble, here brought on nasty ulcers; which, took a long time to get well The bite or sting
of the pipsa is poisonous, but not to such an extent as to account for the ulcers, which often
followed. Blisters of the feet, although caused in the first instance by wearing unsuitable boots,
gave more trouble, and unfitted the men for a longer period for their duty than they would
have done elsewhere. The third group is the result of local causes. Goitre is endemic among
the residents. The Bhooteas suffer severely from it. The cases of scurvy were not of a severe
nature, and they yielded rapidly to treatment, but men who were admitted for other complaints
were sometimes found slightly affected by the disease, and it doubtless had its effect on some of
the cases in the first and second groups. The cases in the fourth group require no particular
remarks. Fifty-one of the respiratory affections were coryza, and 14 were pleurisy. There
were no cases of pneumonia.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Four deaths took place in hospital, viz., 1 from
ague,1 anæmia,1 diarrhœa, and 1 general debility. Seventeen deaths occurred out of hospital,
viz., 1 from ague, 1 dysentery, 4 diarrhœa, 2 phthisis, 2 general debility, 1 fracture of the skull,
and 6 in which the immediate cause of death was not known. Fourteen were on sick leave,
and 2 were on furlough when they died, and one was murdered in the neighbourhood of. Buxa.
X VIII. Epidemics.— None .
Vaccination.
Remarks by
the Com
-manding
Officer.
XIX. Vaccination.— In February last, all the native officers, non-commissioned officers
and men present with the regiment were examined. Most of them Were well protected by
previous small-pox or inoculation, but several were found who were unprotected, and others
whose protection was doubtful (71 in all). Thirty-five were then successfully, and seven unsuc-
cessfully vaccinated. Forty Children, 23 of whom belonged to the regiment, were also ,success
-
fully vaccinated. Before more could be done, the weather got warm, and the lymph began
to deteriorate. Lately, when filling up the medical history sheets of recruits and others, 40
men were found who were either unprotected, or whose protection was doubtful. Vaccination
was recommenced with the children on the 7th December. At first the vesicles were not good,
but as the season advanced, they improved greatly; and now, in January, vaccination is being
satisfactorily carried on with both recruits and children. Operations are also being carried
on among the Bhootea children in the neighbouring village, of Buxa.
The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel W. Winson, appends the
following observations:—
"Considering the place, I think the men have a fair share of amusements Regimental
games took place at the beginning of the year; foot-ball was played a good deal during the spring;
our rifle matches have been numerous, and almost all the men have taken part in them. Each
company have their quoits, and the men, particularly the Goorkhas, play a good deal during
the rains. Expeditions into the surrounding hills, and shooting trips below with some of the
officers, afford a little variety for a few of the men; and some of them, fortunate enough
to borrow a gun, go out shooting on their own account. Two hundred pairs of the
Palliser's boots referred to were ordered from England as an experiment, and it is presumed they
were chiefly taken by men who had not supplied themselves with English-made boots at Agra.
They seem to have been appreciated, as four hundred more pairs have been applied for
and ordered. As Government now allows Rs. 30 to a recruit on enlistment, and an annual
grant of Rs. 4 to the old soldier, I think he should be able to afford to supply himself with this
description of boot.