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
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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 sepoy would be much more at his ease were he clad in loose pyjamas, or, in the Hindu, some substitute for these, with loose coat, cut somewhat after the Native fashion, and the useful native head-dress, such as I remember worn in the Beluch regiments, and might, I believe, be made to look as soldier-like, if not more so, than he does in the present style of uniform. 28. The number of cases admitted into hospital from so-called “ shoe-bites” point to the necessity of substituting the Native sandal ^ for the hard and always ill-fitting boot of the English fashion. This has been strongly brought to notice by Dr. Sexton, in medical charge of the 8 th Regiment. Might not this change be carried out, not only with advantage to the sepoy and in regard to his greater efficiency, but also with a saving to the State? The Medical Officer of the 1st Beluch Regiment calls attention to the number of men admitted with abrasions caused by wearing gaiters. If these render men unfit for duty, how much more must the hard and ill-made boot do so ? Medical Officers with N Resriments. 29. To any Medical Officer fond of his profession there must almost always be a want of sufficient work in the hospital of a Native regiment to interest him, and to enable him to keep up his professional knowledge. The establishment of sta- Station Hospital. Ron hospitals is very desirable. I believe the work in one hospital of this kind could be done with equal efficiency and greater economy than under the present system, which allows a separate hospital for each regiment; and as, in stations where two corps are located, one Medical Officer would be able to accomplish the hospital work, the other might be usefully employed in attend- ing to sanitation, the analysis of water, and any other subject connected therewith. Sanitation. 30. Sepoys should be encouraged to bring their women and children to Female Nurse hospital when sick, and with this view I would recom- mend that a Native female nurse be attached to each These might be instructed by the Medical Officers in the art of nursing and attending the sick, in which they could be made very useful. In time possibly some knowledge of midwifery might also be imparted to them. 31. These have been carefully attended to, and carried out with success. Vaccination and Eevaccina- Medical Officers are specially enjoined at all times to tion. Water-supply. bestow great attention to the subject. 32. Generally of good quality and sufficient in quantity, but a scarcity is apprehended at Mhow from deficient rain-fall. 33. I am glad to be able to report the past year has been free from these. Epidemics Some few cases of small-pox have occurred in regiments (as set forth in para. 12 ante). The cases amongst the camp followers have been all of a mild character, and chiefly confined to children. At Nasirabad there was a rather serious outbreak in the bazaar ; but as dispen- saries are about to be, if they have not been, established there both by Govern ment and the Mission, it is to be hoped this will pi-ove the last of the kind. 34. Generally the trench has been adopted and with success, but no Latrines system Can be adapted to every locality, and at all seasons, as is evinced by the report from Mhow. Medical Officers, with the concurrence of their Commanding Officers, should