Dysentery.
Abscesses.
Boils.
Ulcers.
Diarrhœa.
Rheumatism
Epidemics.
Vaccination.
78
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Deaths.
Recommend-
tions.
Stockings.
Inpection Soughing
ulcers.
Chest diseases.
They are either ashamed or afraid to acknowledge having venereal, and, unless compelled by the
severity of the disease, prefer either to let it run its own course, or to be treated by somebody
out of hospital. Occasional inspections would most probably raise the syphilis returns of all
native troops.
4. Dysentery afforded 38 admissions ; all were mild cases.
5. Abscesses. There were 35 admissions from this cause. Of these 17, or nearly half,
were admitted within the last two months of the year. The cause of this is not very evident.
The work was not excessive, but sudden increase of exercise might have excited them. Many
of the abscesses were very large. Some men had two on the same leg, and some one on each
leg in symmetrical positions. They generally attacked either the leg or thigh, especially
Scarpa's triangle or its neighbourhood. There was one case of perinea, and one of axillary
abscess.
6. Boils gave 28 admissions.
7. Ulcers. 19 cases were admitted. They were generally the result of injuries caused
by the ammunition boots. Some were large and difficult to heal.
8. Diarrhœa afforded 18 admissions. In two instances the disease became chronic, owing
to which one patient was invalided, and another sent on sick leave.
9. Muscular and chronic rheumatism. There were 30 admissions from these causes ;
nearly all the cases occurred in old sepoys who are unfit for the service. Five men were in-
valided on account of chronic rheumatism.
10. Chest affections afforded 17 admissions, exactly half the number admitted in 1873.
Five men were invalided on account of chronic bronchitis. There were only two cases of
pneumonia against seven of last year.
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— One sepoy died in the small-pox hospital of
hæmorrhagic small-pox. He was a very weakly man, who had been suffering from chronic
dysentery for a year before. He appeared before the annual invaliding committee, but was
declared fit for further service. A second sepoy died on furlough at Almorah. He was a
wretched, weakly man, suffering from chronic ague and rheumatism. He also appeared before
the annual invaliding committee but was declared fit for further service.
XVIII. Epidemics.—None.
XIX- Vaccination.—There were no sepoys vaccinated during the year. Almost all the
men are protected by previous attacks of small-pox. It is intended to vaccinate 13 recruits
who seem unprotected. Their vaccination was postponed for a short time so as not to inter-
rupt their course of instruction.
XX. Recommendations.— No recommendations were necessary except that the men might
be obliged to keep their boots greased. The sanitary condition of the regiment was excellent
throughout the year.
In regard to Surgeon Mulvany's opinion that the sepoys' boots do not fit
well, and consequently cause great inefficiency from foot-sores which might be
lessened by the use of stockings, Colonel Obbard the commandants writes :—
" I differ in opinion as regards the bad fitting boots mentioned in paragraph X. Stockings
would, of course, be an advantage, but the sepoy's pay is not sufficient to enable him to, provide
himself with extras."
Deputy Surgeon-General H. M. Cannon, M. B., paid four inspection visits,
the last on the 18th of January 1875. He remarked the cachectic appearance of
the men, dependent apparently on their long residence in Bengal. The want of
quarters for hospital subordinates and of a dead-house is also commented on.
The commanding officer had taken steps to supply the former by building a
temporary barrack. In the report of his last inspection visit Dr. Cannon
writes :—
I find no fewer than 42 men under treatment in hospital—an unusually large number
for this period of the year—.26 of whom were suffering from the most extensive sloughing
ulcers I have ever seen in a native infantry regiment, and, most of them evidently the effect
of wearing ammunition boots without socks. Had it not been for these ulcer cases, the regi-
ment would be comparatively healthy. From the appearance of many of the patients, I have
reason to think several of these men must underfeed themselves. I recommend that all the
worst cases which show a sloughing tendency should immediately be removed from the hospital
into tents.
Cantonment
Lock hospital.
Dr. Cannon adds :-
20th January.—Visited again this morning ; found 39 sick under treatment, 27 of whom
are still suffering from ulcers and abscess. All the ulcer cases, especially those in the tents,
have much improved since my last visit, and there have been no fresh admissions from this
cause. It is worthy of remark that the majority of the men suffering from these obstinate
ulcers are Dogras, Jats and Goorkhas.
Cantonment Lock Hospital.—In a long and able report of the institution,
Surgeon E. J. Fairland, British Forces, reports that there were 94 .3 prostitutes
on the register in 1874, among whom 304 admissions took place ; 242 of these