| Administrative History | McGrigor was made superintendent of the medical department of the Indian army at Alexandria in September 1801 where he had to contend with an outbreak of the plague among the troops. |
| Description | Record of cases when McGrigor was superintendent of the medical department of the Indian army and stationed in Alexandria.
Arranged in table format, the records include the name of the patient, the company they belonged to, the disease or illness they were suffering from, the medicines they were prescribed and a note of their diet. It also records the number of days the patient was in hospital and the date they were admitted or dismissed.
Weekly remarks have been entered for the following dates:
9-16 January (page 17): notes weather conditions; there have been no fatalities in the regiment for many days apart from one case; there are 12 cases of dysentery only one of which is serious; mercury 'in every form' has been tried in one case but has had no 'sensible effect'; notes that mercury is still sparingly used with nitric acid and _ _ which it is hoped will prove successful; the liver cases are now almost better; the op[h]thalmias have improved very well; of eighteen cases only two are now considered serious; bark lotions are administered with good success…
16-23 January (pages 34-35): the number of sick has decreased greatly since last weeks remarks: 39 were dismissed and there are now 74 cases in hospital, all of whom are in a state of convalescence; a medical board was convened on the 21st which invalided 12 of the worst cases of ophthalmias; notes weather conditions which he describes as being 'salubrious'; discusses cases of dysentery and hepatitis, none of which are dangerous; the ophthalmias 'continue to gain light'; a fatality occurred on the 22nd when a man on guard died suddenly from a suffocation _ _ ; notes a case of concussion and laceration of the lower limb…
23-31 January (page 49): there have been no further fatalities; 'the weather has been unusually cold and affected several of the ophthalmic cases by producing much inflammation and pain, which from its severity and [repeated?] attacks is much feared will add to our invalid list'; the other cases are responding well to medicine; the number dismissed lately has significantly reduced the sick list; only two of the ophthalmias who were discharged have returned; although the number dismissed has been considerable fifteen of the ophthalmic cases have relapsed from cold; discusses dysentery and liver cases and cases of contusion, worms and a fractured arm. |