Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/243

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IN INDIA.
223

Indus, were merely types of scurvy, and treated them as scurvy with the greatest success. In 1849, I had medical charge of the 2nd European Fusiliers at Lahore, and found about one-third of the regiment afflicted with scurvy. In them it was not of an ulcerative character, but marked particularly in the gums with swelled legs, and general anemia; and when diarrhœa set in upon such a constitution,it was of a very intractable and fatal character. My impression was that the general scantiness of vegetable diet so common in the Punjaub and Scinde, was the cause of this scorbutic diathesis. As the best means of improving the tone of health of the regiment, and eradicating the disease, I recommended that half a pound of fresh vegetables should be added to the daily rations of the soldiers, and it was sanctioned by government,and the same concession has since been extended to all European troops in the presidency with the best effects.

Scrofula is a rare disease amongst the natives, as is also phthisis; and it is generally allowed that India is very favourable to Europeans affected with these diseases. Elephantiasis,leprosy, hydrocele, are common; syphilis and gonorrhæa are prevalent every where.

9. MAHAMURRY.—It is very remarkable, that in the Himmalayah mountains, especially in Kumaon, at elevations of from five to seven thou-