Sketch of the medical history of the native army of Bombay, for the year 1873. : Extracted from the annual returns, from the reports of regimental medical officers and from the inspection reports of deputy surgeons general. Compiled in the office of the surgeon general, Indian Medical Department, Bombay.

Bombay (Presidency). Military Department.

Date:: 1874

Credit: Sketch of the medical history of the native army of Bombay, for the year 1873. : Extracted from the annual returns, from the reports of regimental medical officers and from the inspection reports of deputy surgeons general. Compiled in the office of the surgeon general, Indian Medical Department, Bombay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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A SKETCH OP THP MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY FOE THB 1873. [The Regiments are placed as they stood in the Army List on the 1st July 1873.] PRESIDENCY DIVISION, ADEN, AND BOMBAY MARINE. Average strength present during the year. Infantry 3,358 Average daily sick per cent, to the average strength 416 Ratio of mortahty per cent, to the average strength 0‘83 H. M.’s 21st Regiment M. I. Bombay.—In Medical Charge—Surgeon-Major J. Mills ; Strength 588. The amount of sickness in the regiment has been somewhat less than in 1872, the num- ber treated having been 473 from an average strength of 588 General Hea t . cent.) against 502 from a strength of 563 (or 89 1 per cent.), but the daily average has been rather higher, being 20'66 against 19. 2. The deaths from disease have been only 2 or 0’34 per cent, of strength and 0'42 of the treated; but one other death occurred, a gun-shot wound in the chest (suicidal), which raises the percentage to 0‘51 and 0'63 respectively. In 1872 they were 0-53 and 0'60. 3. Of the 473 treated, 15 were remaining in hospital on 31st December 1872, and 458 were admitted. 422 were discharged to duty, 27 were sent on sick certificate or other- wise discharged, 3 died, and 21 remained under treatment. 4. The prevailing Prevailing Diseases. diseases have been—ague 172 admissions, rheumatism 22, bronchitis 21, dysentery 19, diarrhoea 12, scurvy 8, contusions and sprains 35, boils 20. 5. Of this disease, 172 cases have been a'dmitted, or 37'5 per cent, of the whole, a larger proportion than in 1872, when they were 30 4 per cent, but less Ague. than in 1871, when they were 42-5. The disease has been for the most part of a mild character, without complications, and speedily yielding to treatment; occasionally more obstinate cases have occurred, defying for a time all modes of treatment, and apparently at length yielding to time rather than to me- dicine. Subcutaneous injections of quinine have been used much more frequently than in 1872, and subsequent ulceration at the seat of puncture has but seldom occurred,— a fact which is, perhaps, to be attributed to the use of acetic acid as a solvent for the quinine instead of sulphuric acid. I mention this, because in my report for the last year I supported the opinion of Surgeon-Major Gilbert, expressed in his report on the regiment for 1871, that this ten- dency to the production of ulcers was a decided objection to the use of injections, and it would be unfortunate that any needless prejudice should be felt against a mode of treatment which is undoubtedly most useful in many cases. Beberine has not been used, as I have but little faith in its anti-periodic qualities. Quinine, both in large and small doses, the former given both before the paroxysm and in the sweating stage, has of course been the chief medicine used. Liquor potassm ai’senitis has occasionally been useful, whether from any true anti- periodic powers or simply from its alterative action seems doubtful; besides these medicines

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