Venereal
diseases,
Chest com-
plaints.
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccine.
Recommenda-
tions.
Special
observations.
Treatment of
pneumonia by
cold applica
t i o n s .
Medical
officer.
Location and
movements.
Detachment.
124
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Unseasonble
ontbreak of
intermittent
fever.
Inspection.
months of February, March and April; were of a severe type, and yielded an exceptionally
high rate of mortality. The disease bore an exceedingly close resemblance to relapsing fever;
and reminded me greatly of an epidemic of the latter which I met at Ferozepore 1864.
The two deaths from it occurred in young men of healthy and robust constitution. There
was also a remarkable prevalence of ordinary intermittent fever during May, June and July,
a season in which ordinarily the sick-rate from paroxysmal fevers is minimised in this district.
Two conditions may be remarked as being with some probability causually connected with it,
viz., the rainfall of 2.33 inches in April, which was not only heavy, but most unusual for that
month, and the great diurnal ranges of , temperature which prevailed through the first part
of the hot season. The men of the regiment, from having suffered so severely from fever in 1876,
w ere probably also much more susceptible to changes of temperature and the malarial influence
than other bodies of Men who came into the station in 1877. There were only five admissions
for venereal affections, and of these, three were for gonorrhœa, the smallest amount of sickness
from this source that I remember to have seen in a native corps. Pulmonary diseases are
always an important item in the health statistics of native regiments in Mooltan; for, though
the cases are not very numerous, they are extremely severe, and are the principal source of
mortality. There were four cases of pleuro-pneumonia remaining from 1876, and 16 new ad-
missions during the year.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.—Six deaths have occurred during the year; five in
the regimental hospital at Mooltan, and one out of hospital at his home on medical certificate.
The last-mentioned was a young man admitted with fever which was returned as remittent,
but in reality depended upon the presence of acute febrile phthisis, the pulmonary disease being
wholly latent in character, and revealed only on physical examination of the chest. He was
sent to his home as the only possible chance of prolonging his life. There were two deaths
from remittent fever in the early part of the year in strong young men. In one case the
fatal issue was determined by the onset of acute congestion of the lungs after the crisis of
the fever had been safely passed. Three deaths resulted from acute pleuro-pneumonia. Two
of the men were well advanced in middle life and of broken constitutions.
XVIII.
Epidemics.—None.
XIX. Vaccine.—Vaccine operations were carried out on a small scale and proved successful.
XX. Recommendations.—All recommendations made by me, and detailed in monthly sa
nitary reports were promptly carried out by the commanding officer.
XXI. Special observalions.— During the year I have treated several cases of pleuro-
pneumonia upon a plan strongly recommended by the late Professor Nimeyer, viz ., by the
continuous applications of cold over the affected lung, in the form of ice poultices and large
pieces of spongio-piline dipped in water and renewed after intervals of a few minutes.
The results were most gratifying in reducing temperature, controlling delirium, and circum-
scribing and limiting the pneumonic process. In fact, in every case in which cold was well
tolerated by the patient, the pneumonia, though severe, was regarded without any anxiety as
respects its favorable issue. The. treatment was found to be too severe in December and
January, the continuous application of cold to the surface of the thorax being followed by
rigors, and no inconsiderable depression of vital powers. I had previously made this experi-
ment at Tallagang in the treatment of pleuro-pneumonia occurring in the autumn and
commencement of the cold season; and had found it very succesful.
Inspection.—The corps was inspected by Deputy Surgeon-General G. H.
Ray, M.D., on the 23rd February 1878. The sanitary state of the lines was
satisfactory. The hospital and its equipment were in admirable order. The
glazing of some of the doors would improve the lighting and comfort of the
place. Quarters for hospital assistants, a segregation ward and dead-house are
much needed. The regiment had been healthy during the preceding season,
but cases of pneumonia had been common, due, in the opinion of the medical
officer in charge, to the want of sufficiently warm clothing on night duties.
clothing
30th (Punjab) Regiment, Infantry—Acro cpore.
Medi cal Offi cer. The regi ment has been i n medi cal charge of Surgeon
D. N. Martin during the
year.'
II . Location and movements.—
The regiment marched from Pesh-
awar (where it had been quartered
from the 2nd March 1874) en
route towards Ferozepore on the
6th January 1877, and arrived at
Ferozepore on the 12th Febru-
ary 1877. A detachment had
been at Ferozepore under the
medical charge of Surgeon-Major
A. K. Reed. The medical charge
of this detachment was made over
to Surgeon Martin on the 12th
February.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
.
Nowshera, Nov. 1871 .
138.8
. 7
4.6
1873
Ditto •
.
116.7
1.
2.9
1874
. Peshawar March 1874 .
249.8
1.
3.8
1875
.
Ditto
. 225.35
2.44
6.29
1876
.
Ditto
.
207.97
4.63
5.26
Average
.
.
187.72
1.95
4.57
1877
. Ferozepore
. .
119.32
1.87
2.80