Epidemics.
Cases of
cholera.
Recommend.
ations.
Observations,
'1.2
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE: NATIVE ARMY OP BENGAL.
Epidemics.—There were four eases of cholera. The following notes are taken
from the cholera register :—
•
(1),Naick Mokoondah, H Co., age about years, was brought to theregimental hospital
at Barrackpore, at 8-30 A.M., on the 16th April 1877, for symptoms of cholera.:.' He had been
on duty at Kossipore, Dum-Dum, the previous day, where he first fell ill about 2 P.m., and
.from,that time until his arrival at hospital he complained of diarrhea. He died on the 22nd
April. On the 19th April two cases of cholera were reported by the Cantonment Magistrate,
.Barrackpore, as having occurred in the neighbourhood.
(2), Naick Ragonath Singh, a Chutree, age 39, service 19 years, first fell ill about 11 A.M.
on the 5th September 1877, at Fultah Magazine, which is situated on the left bank of the
river, to the north-west of the station, close to the cantonment boundary and on the main
road leading to Ishapore. He did not complain of being unwell until the afternoon of that
day. When brought to hospital about 6 P.M. on the 5th September, he was in a state of
• collapse, no pulse, temperature 96°F. He died between 8 and 9 o'clock the same evening.
Fultah is about a mile and a half by road from the regimental hospital.
.
(3), Sepoy Jubur Singh, a Goorkha, age 22, service 11/12 y e a r , w h o h a d b e e n a d m i t t e d
to the regimental hospital on the 29th August for blisters of the feet, was suddenly attacked
With cholera in the hospital ward between 3 and 4 A.M. on the 13th September. He died at
12-30 P.M. the same day. This man is said to have partaken very freely of cucumber on the
previous day.
. (4), Sepoy Kulloo Singh, a Jat, age 36, service 14 years, had been admitted to the regi-
mental hospital on the 5th September for hypertrophy of the spleen, and at the time of attack
was under treatment for that affection. He was seized with cholera in the regimental hospital at
4.30 A .M. on the 14th, and died between 12 and 1 o'clock the same day.
Circum-
stances of the
outbreak.
Measures
adopted.
Vaccination.
Several cases of cholera were reported in the vicinity a short time before the outbreak.
Diarrhea did not prevail to any marked extent before or during the outbreak. There was
nothing peculiar in the meteorology of the period. The sanitary state of the station
was generally good. At Fultah Magazine, where the first case occurred, the sanitary
arrangements were found defective, and it was brought to the notice of the authorities that
the ventilation of the guard-room, as well as the superficial space, were quite inadequate
for the number of men, namely, 19. It was also pointed out that the manner of supplying
drinking-water was objectionable, as it appeared to be taken from the river close to the
banks, to which point noxious matter from the bazar above the ghat might be carried
down by the stream. It was recommended that a boat should be supplied, and the water
taken from the centre of the river, and not from the edge. The guard of Fultah is
about 150 yards below the bazar, and about a mile above Nawabgunge, in both of
which places cholera existed at the time. After the fourth case appeared on the 14th September,
the hospital was vacated, and all the sick moved into camp on the 15th, near the race-stand
inside cantonments. No case occurred in camp. The cause of the first case at Kossipore
cannot be ascertained, nor is any reference made to it in describing the second, third and
fourth cases. The second case was probably due to importation, as the men on duty there
were frequently in the bazar. The two cases that occurred in the regimental hospital cannot be
accounted for. Sulphur fumigations were tried in the first case, but without effect. None of
the hospital establishment were attacked. The sick returned from camp on the 26th September.
XIX. Vaccination.—One hundred and six recruits were vaccinated, 62 successfully ; most
of them were previously vaccinated, or had marks of small-pox or of inoculation.
Remarks by
the Command.
ing Officer.
Inspection.
XX. Recommendations.--All the recommendations were of minor importance, but were
fully carried out by the regimental authorities.
.
X X I . o b s e r v a t i o n s .
T h e r ew
a s o n e o p e r a t i o n ,
t a p p i n g t h e
a b d o m i n a l c a v i t y t o r d r o p s y ,t
h e
result of enlarged spleen and chronic peritonitis ; more than one gallon of fluid (a little more
than l0lbs.) was drawn of: a month afterwards the man was sufficiently recovered to proceed on
sick leave to his home.
The Commanding Officer, Colonel G. A. Brown, appends to this report a
memorandum in which he fully endorses the account given by the medical
off icer of the unhealthy condition of the corps. He remarks :—
" It is unfortunately not only among the older Men that this excessive sickness prevails ; for,
out of a total of 329 men who were on the roll on the 1st January and brought on during
the year as recruits, i. e., fine young men, all passed twice by medical officers as in good health
and free from organic disease, no less than 75 or 23 per cent. either died during the twelve
months or were discharged as physically unfit, utterly broken down in a few months. Owing
to this constant sickness among the recruits, of whom there is so large a number, and therefore
a proportionately small number of men for duty, the frequent absence it causes from instruc-
tion, and the want of vital energy (the result of impaired health) among them while being
instructed, it is most difficult, indeed almost impossible, to push on their instruction and fit them
for duty in the ranks and so ease off the heavy pressure of duty on the other men.''
Colonel Brown entertains no hope of improvement as long as the regiment
remains in Bengal.
The regiment was inspected by the Deputy Surgeon-General, Presidency
Circle, on the 3rd of December 1877. The result of his examination of the
men is recorded in surgeon Courtney's report.