22

SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.

various circumstances, such as distance to be travelled and expense, both to Government and
the men, have to be taken into consideration. Certainly, however, to send severe scorbutic
cases off at once would be the kindest way to the patients, and, possibly, not the least economical
to Government, as the services of the men are lost, whether they go or remain; but when
away, there is, of course, a considerable saving in the matter of rations, batta, and hospital
extras.

Invalids.

      Of the invalids, 48 in number, only two were short service men, one being discharged on
the recommendation of a special medical board on account of imbeci-
lity, and the other, suffering from permanent debility, was disposed of
by the Annual Invaliding Committee; the former had served 8, and the latter 6 years. The
following table shows the average age, service, and cause of disability of those who were inva-
lided on pension.

      A large number of sepoys invalided shortly after becoming entitled to a pension, is ac-
counted for by men of very inferior physique having been enlisted about 1857, as previously
mentioned, and by the habit of allowing men, more or less incapacitated for active service, to
hang on, until they have earned their pension. The present system of granting pension ap-
pears to be radically wrong, and leads to a great deal of scheming and occasional malingering.

      The causes of death, and the ages and length of service of those who died were as
follows:—

Feigned disease.

      During 1871, one man was convicted of malingering, but court-martialed and punished;
and in 1872 also another man was convicted of the same offence, and
sentenced to punishment in jail, followed by discharge from the
service.

Diet.

      The Government rations as in previous years, viz., for fighting men, dhall 4 ozs., flour 1 lb.,
ghee 2 ozs., rice 12 ozs., salt 2/3 oz., firewood 3 lbs., kokum ½ oz.,
currystuff ½ oz., vegetable (pumkins, raddish, brinjalls, bendees and
bagee) 7 ozs., condensed water 2 gals., and sweet well-water 3 gals. That few men added to
the above may be taken for granted, and that many of them converted part of their rations,
and even their allowanced water into capital, is more than probable.