General health
of the regi-
ment.
Decrease of
sickness.
Mortality.
Invaliding.
Fevers.
Guinea-worm.
Ulcers and
abscesses.
Conjunctivitis
Contusions.
Chest diseases
Wounds.
66
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
T The above table shews that the general health of the corps has been remarkably good
(more particularly at head-quarters and in the small detachment at Oodeypore). Kotrah
Outpost, as has always been the case at least for many years, has contributed much the
largest proportion of admissions, and of the general average of sick.
Influences at work in decreasing the sickness.— From the following table showing the admis-
sion into hospital since 1858, it would appear that the cutting, down of the jungles around
Kherwarrah and its outposts has year by year improved their salubrity ; and it is also probable
that a consequent decrease of rainfall may have had its influence in decreasing malarious
diseases, fever, splenitis, &c.
Return of
sickness for
14 years.
Table of diseases to which the Corps has been most subject during 14 years ; and totals of all
diseases for the same period.
YEAR.
F e v e r .
G u i n e a - W a r m .
A b s c e s s .
U l c e r s .
C o n t u s i o n s .
O p h t h a l m i a .
T o t a l .
O t h e r D i s e a s e s .
G R A N D T O T A L .
1858 . . .
342
196
54
228
207
67
1,094
636
1,730
1859 . . .
525
159
35
285
138
52
1,194
469
1,663
1863 . . .
415
96
39
101
75
43
769
223
992
1864 . . .
336
101
48
50
61
38
634
186
820
1865 . . .
286
56
48
39
65
37
531
221
732
1866 . . .
333
76
40
32
22
12
515
141
656
1867 . . .
287
71
34
. 21
17
41
471
145
616
1868 . . .
240
35
50
37
29
3 5
406
147
553
1869 . . .
495
85
8 6 32
22
32
752
292
1,044
1870 . . .
229
53
24
8
40
28
382
111
493
1871 . . .
164
54
14
3
6
23
284
102
386
1872 . . .
406
45
75
30
40
12
608
196
804
1873 . . .
2 8 2
40
63
55
27
59
526
268
794
1874 . . .
155
63
30
44
17
25
334
103
437
Comparison of
several years.
With the exception of 1869, which was the famine and epidemic year throughout Raj-
pootana, the sickness shews a steady decrease from 1858 to 1871 ; 1872, and 1873 shew a con-
siderable increase, though on looking through the sanitary reports for those years, I am unable
to refer that increase to any special cause. The present year, 1874, was the healthiest of all
but one of the fourteen recorded—namely 1871. There are no records for 1860 to 1862 to be
found.
Prevalent
diseases.
The mortality of the year has been 11, about the average loss, and requires no comment.
Invaliding.—There were no men invalided. This was not because there were no fit sub-
jects for a committee, but because the Commandant considers it a hardship upon sickly and
infirm men to be sent, in the fever season, through a most jungly and malarious country to
appear before the nearest committee, Neemuch, distant nearly 150 miles. He applied to head-
quarters for permission to hold regimental annual committees for this purpose, but there was
great delay in settling the question, and up to the end of the year no reply was received, and
pending the arrival of such reply, no steps have been taken.
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—These have been much the same as since the corps
was first raised.
Fevers .—Fevers, as ever, stand the highest, giving 155 admissions, of which 145 were
ague (al, 2. ague (b), and 8 remittent fever.
Guinea-worm —Guinea-worm gives the next highest number, 63. It always contributes
one of the heaviest items, and nine-tenths of the cases occur at Kherwarrah, where it
contributes nearly one-fourth of the total number of days
hospital from all diseases.
I have discussed this subject in reference to the water-supply, and will only note here
that I agree with Surgeon-Major Ewart, late of this corps, in considering that the embryo
worm is taken directly into the stomach, and does not, according to a more recent theory,
make its entrance by the pores of the skin when of a microscopical size.
Ulcers.— Ulcers give 44 admissions, and abscesses 30. These items always stand high on
the list.
Conjunctivitis.—There were 21 cases of conjunctivitis, also one of the usual fertile
sources of admission.
Contusions .—Contusions give 17 a dmissions—less
than the average.
Bronchitis and Pneumonia .—Bronchitis acute, 14 cases ; and Pneumonia, 10. This is some-
what beyond the average ; most of the cases, as also two deaths (besides one out of hospital)
occurred in March and April ; no special cause can be assigned for the increase.
Wounds.-13 cases of wounds were admitted, one of -which afterwards died from Pyæmia.
Boils.
Boils.—Only 4 cases of boil were admitted—much below the usual average.
Besides these I have mentioned, no disease was at all prevalent ; in fact, as I have already
remarked, the health of the corps has been most excellent.