| Description | 'Prescription Book of a Detachment of H. M. 88th Regt commencing 25 July 1802 and ending 20 Novr at Bombay and…'.
The volume is numbered from pages 1-166. The notes on each case are sometimes very brief but usually provide the name of the patient, their complaint, the medicines prescribed, their progress and if they have been dismissed from hospital. Some of the initial entries also refer to cases in the 61st, 77th and 84th regiments who it is assumed were attached to the 88th at this time. Weekly remarks have been included for the following dates, many of which begin by noting the prevailing weather conditions. They are summarised as follows:
25-31 July (p.9)
Reports on state of health of the 88th, 61st, 77th and 84th regiments. Remarks on the febrile and venereal cases prevalent in the 61st and notes that they have been removed to their own quarters at Culaba [Colabah?]. All of the 77th are convalescing apart from one case.
1-7 August (p.15)
The sick list has decreased; there are now several cases of gonorrhea and this has been treated with some success with Oxymuriated Soda internally and mild injections. Notes second case of Guinea worm to appear this season: 'It seems clearly to be derived from water as no one case appeared in the dry seasons'.
8-14 August (p.18)
There are very few sick in the hospital. Reports one case of yellow fever and notes that the venereal cases are improving under the Oxymuriate.
15-21 August (p.24)
22-28 August (p.28)
Week ending 4 September (p.33)
Week ending 11 September (p.39)
Week ending 18 September (p.45)
'A great degree of sickness has occurred in the detachment. To what cause it can be ascribed is uncertain. It is certain that a considerable difference has taken place in the number of sick since the removal of the detachment to Old Woman's Island, where it is very likely the greater degree of drunkenness allowed among the men _ have contributed in a great measure to increase the sickness: added to which the men have a freer access to [toddy?] which is to be had in great abundance, and the air is often tainted with putrid fish'.
Week ending 25 September (p.52)
11 cases of dysentery, some serious, have occurred; they are all under a 'mercurial treatment'. The use of the Oxymuriate of Soda in the venereal cases has led to bowel complaints in several cases.
Week ending [2 October] (p.59)
Mercury is the remedy used in all the sickness cases…; the venereal cases treated with the Oxymuriate 'are pretty conclusive but there is some reason to suspect its possessing a tendency to act on the bowels'.
Week ending 9 October (p.66)
The sick list has decreased; 'Liquor is permitted to the men in less quantity probably'.
Week ending 16 October (p.77)
There is still a large number of cases of dysentery but none of these are serious. 'The arrival of the detachment from Surat has brought a very considerable addition to the list particularly Febrile cases. Most of them are of the Intermittent type, and a few have such short intervals between the paroxysms as scarcely leaves them free of the fever at all'.
17-23 October (p.89)
One death from fever [contracted at Surat?] has occurred. Comments on old cases, including dysentery and venereal cases. There have been a considerable number of admissions, including cases of intermittent fever, dysentery, hepatitis and gonorrhoea.
Week ending 30 October (p.104)
The mortality rate has been considerable as three patients died. Most of the old cases, including fever and venereal cases, are now doing well and he describes their progress in more detail. Notes that they have had fewer admissions and are in a more favourable state than in previous weeks.
31 October-6 November (p.115)
There has been another death this week, 'a case of fever with not a little of the inflammatory diathins'. Discusses old dysenteric cases. The fever cases are more numerous: mentions treatment of bark and nitric bath; many of the intermittants have been dismissed cured as have all the hepatic cases. Discusses venereal cases. Notes that there have been fewer sick and fewer bad cases than in any of the 4 previous weeks.
7-14 November (p.139)
They have had an increased number of admissions. Reports on old dysenteric cases. There are still many cases of fever; Chambers [of the 75th?] is a severe case of continued fever and is being treated with bark and mercury. The liver cases are doing well and the 4 gonorrhoea cases are doing well with the injections.
14-20 November (p.162)
One case died during the week and the cases of dysentery continue to increase. Discusses fever cases; there are 9 cases of continued fever, most of them very mild. The 'Intermittents all do well under the liberal use of the Bark' and there have been no new cases of ague. The number of venereal cases continues to increase: a 13 day trial of the Oxymuriate of Soda on 3 men led to their mouths becoming affected. Reports on cases of gonorrhoea. Concludes that although a third of the detachment is in hospital, there is no case that can be considered in danger.
At the end of the volume there is a detailed index of cases. |