(|ui[i[([nt Sfojjitii. FOOT SORES IN SOLDIERS.
This troublesome cause of crippling is one of the serious difficulties which the military medical officer has to combat on active service, The uuhealthiness of such sores is believed by Colonel L. Notter, r.a.m.c., Netley, to be connected with micro-organisms, the warmth and moisture of the foot making the soldier's boot an almost perfect incubator, while the organic substances contained in the perspiration provide a constant supply of nutrient medium for the development of bacteria. Professor Notter in his article on the subject in the Army Medical " Department Report for 1807 states the microwith and offensive perspiring organisms connected feet have received much attention. These, there are reasons for believing, are many and various ; the skin, the stockings, and the boots themselves become so highly charged with micro-organisms that the smallest abrasion soon becomes a sore." He then alludes to the various antiseptics employed for the purpose of destroying this microbus life, which often leads up to the production of sore feet. The best authorities advocate the use of simple formalin, which Gerdeck has used, and says that when it has been applied as a solution to the feet a few times, they do not A few sweat again for two or three weeks. into also the are the fluid of dropped drops boots to disinfect them. Some particulars of an analogous class of sores will be found in another column. The foot-gear of the soldier in India is discussed by Major B. M. Skinner, r a.m.c., in the April number of the Indian United Service
June
FOOT-SORES IN SOLDIERS?PLAGUE PROCESSIONS.
1899.]
Journal, in an interesting article on marching. Major Skinner considers the army
Institution's
boot is a very good boot in itself and that the alternative of chaplis may be disregarded so far as British troops are concerned.
PLAGUE PROCESSIONS.
Although the
declining,
every
plague epidemic in Calcutta is night, for some weeks past,
Mohamedan and Hindu the streets of the Native portion of the town with the object of propitiating the deitj' so as to avert the pestilence. These processions are composed of some 30 to 40 persons, men and boys?in the Hindu trains
might be seen both processions parading
occasionally
woman
a
or
two.
They slovrly
wend their way through all the main thoroughfares surrounding certain large bustees, singing, or intoning certain prayers which are supposed to be efficacious in driving away the plague. The Mohamedans carry banners and flags, the former with talismanic Arabic inscriptions from the Koran worked on them, and numerous lights from handsome shades with candles burning in them to lanterns of all descriptions. No musical instruments accompany their chant. The Hindu trains, composed solely of Calcutta bred and born natives (for the most part Bengalis), move with ceremonious solemnity, singing the while to the accompaniment of tomtoms and like instruments. They carry no of them red and many only pennons, lights, of the the bloody goddess of temple proceed to its and destruction Kali, at
Kalighat,
replenish
offerings. The processions are most orderly, partaking more of the character of a funeral march than anything else. The unchanting of the Mohamedans is by no means ear the on intonation their remaining pleasant, The has the after passed. procession long Hindus call these processions Sankirtan or coffers with their
religious singing.' ? ?
The
object expressed by
pages of "
a
?
of these demonstrations a
Bengali correspondent
1
thus in the
Mighty
Palaces, and
Demon's shadow fell upon the
its inhabitants were firmly conCity vinced that the name of merciful Hari would only be embraced in sincerity ; and so they began to invoke and of
Hari in every creek and Their prayers were at once peremptorily answered, the great shadow of plague melted away in distant horizon, and the restrictions laid were quietly removed. on them by the Government "Ao-ain the unblushing face of the disastrous disease the people under the appeared in the Capital ; and again for the safety of present panic considered it necessary name their lives to chant and praise in chorus the holy As none but of Hari, the destroyer of all demons. immortal Power can bailie the power of mortality, so the immortal name of all pervading Hari is scattered day and throughout the streets and lanes of Calcutta, the evil night, in expectation of again extirpating out precursor from the precincts of this city. extol the name of the of the city. corner
Almighty
imposition
of license or pass on such parties who to devote for such sacred causes
volunteered themselves of
serene effect, is a thing altogether incomprehensible to every person who possesses a least spark of humanity. "And I hope our worthy redeemer the LieutenantGovernor will lend his gracious ears in this prayer and as a benign ruler will exempt the poor Sankirtan parties from such sort of vexatious exactions "
to of
Though
the avowed the Deity
propitiate
object so as
of this
worship
is-
to avert the ravages
plague, those, however, writes the Indian Witness, who see behind the scenes and read between the lines, think that these processions are designed quite as much to revive the dying
embers of Hinduism as to secure the extirpation of plague. An unusually large Sankirtan procession paraded the streets in the Northern section of the town. Two gaily decorated arches had been erected on the way of the procession. Chinese lanterns were hung on the wayside. The thing lasted from live o'clockin the afternoon till two o'clock in the morning. The procession was received ro}7ally by the Marwari residents of Sutapatti. Rose water was sprinkled by gallons upon gallons. The whole route was illuminated, and occasionall}* there were fireworks besides. It was like a Roman saturnalia. It was fun and frolic, a huge tamasha, but scarcely any religion. Certainly, the affair lacked all religious concentration and solemnity. We are told that the expense on the occasion was large, and a fund was raised by subscription by the residents of Sutapatti. We are further told that the expenses of the different Sankirtan parties in Calcutta so far must have amounted to an enormous sum. How much better might the money have beenspent in the performance of the Homa ceremony, in the celebration of the Yagnas, in the recitation of Yedic Mantras, in feeding the hungry, in clothing the naked, in promoting sanitation in the quarters occupied by the poor of Calcutta. We heartily endorse the latter part of this argument, especially the cleansing of the native town.
is
Calcutta paper:?
Last year the
"Aii
217
BENGALI JOURNAL OF
HEALTH AND SANITATION.
We have much pleasure in tion of our readers in
monthly journal started by Dr. D.
in D.
drawing the attenBengal to that useful Bengali, The Swasthya,
Gupta about a year ago with the view of diffusing a knowledge of the laws of health and sanitation amongst his countrymen. Dr. D. D. Gupta has issued this journal in the vernacular and at the nominal cost of Rs. 2, including postage. It contains notes and articles on the health aspect of native habits, the sanitary measures necessary to stop the epidemic diseases of the land, the management of children in health and diseases and such problems as how to promote longevity, prevent premature decay
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
-218
and other allied subjects in which popular education is still defective and about which there is still a great deal of ignorance requiring removal.
NEW HOSPITAL FOR
[June
1899.
HAZARIBAGH.
This new Charitable Hospital was opened on the 8tli ultimo by the Commissioner of the Division, it forms one of the most striking buildings The practical character of the contents may in the town, and is composed of three main be seen from the following list for Part II:? blocks with terracotta tiled roofs, resembling a Diseases due to impure water. Dirty house and disease. pretty Swiss chalet. There are also houses for Habits. Our food. Tlie quantity of food we ought to take. the doctor Babu, compounder, servants, kitchens, Vegetable food. An incident from life illustrating spread pauper and female wards, &c., and the whole of contagion. Intermittent fevers.^ Plague in Calcutta. How to preserve purity of water in wells. Hot water ground occupied amounts to several acres. The accommodation is for 32 in-patients, and the out.drinking as a remedy. Diseases of children and mothers' duties. Sources of water. Diet in acute fevers. Evil effects patient department is very complete. The land of tobacco-smoking. Milk?typical food and typical diet. The money for the was given by Government. Properties of some indigenous drugs. Rice and barley. was raised 14,000) (Rs. by the sale of and animal diet. Sick buildings Vegetable dietary. Plague treatthe old hospital and site by subscriptions, and by ment. Inoculation as a preventive of plague. Legislative measures to prevent plague. Plague news. Few the proceeds of various entertainments got up .important facts regarding plague. Lessons from plague. in aid of the fund. Then the concerts got up Calcutta?before and after plague. Pasteur Institute in by Dr. Maynard and the other entertainments France. Physical exercise of boys Management of Malaria. infant at breast. Prevention of malaria. ; had brought in several hundreds, and the furClothing. Dwelling-house. National Association for nishing had been further provided for by prevention of consumption in England. Miscellaneous. smaller subscriptions since collected by Babu Quantity of milk an infant to take. Sick child. BreathGirindra Nath Gupta. Sir John Woodburn, ing. Kesults of 60 years' sanitation in England. Conwhen inspecting the hospital at his visit to tagious disease and our national custom. News. Newborn infant. Dust in towns. Evil effects of Hazaribagh in November last, very kindly drinking. ,Saiulow and physical development. The Hindu widow. promised the equivalent of what could be raised locally after his visit. This he was glad to be This journal undoubtedly supplies a distinct was about Rs. 3,500, so there informed, appeared and Civil Surgeons want. Assistant Surgeons to be every chance of there being a balance in the Bengali-speaking districts of the hand. With this Mr. Forbes said lie throughout hoped to see Province would tind their labours for sanitary the at the lower end of the site raised ground to more reform much likely prove fruitful were with a view to having a new Dufferin Hospital in the diffusion to assist of such a they journal built there at some future date, as the advantages We trust that this as this amongst the people. of having this hospital near the main dispensary ?praiseworthy effort of Dr. D.D.Gupta may meet were many aud obvious. ?with the success which it so well deserves. _
COATES' PRIZE
FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH.
This prize for "Original Research in Medicine," which was instituted in memory of Dr. Coates, late Principal of the Medical College, Calcutta, is now open for competition. The rules for its award are as follows :?
i
The result of the working of the Bertillon system of identifying criminals by anthropometry in the Punjab during the past year shows that 19 per cent, of criminals, whose antecedents were identified as habitual were unknown, offenders with previous convictions, varying from A large percentage one to twenty in number. of those whose identity was not established were reputed to be residents of the Native States in which the system is not in force.
The prize shall be awarded to the best 1. writer of a thesis on Indigenous Drugs to be j notified each year by the President of the Cattle disease has been very prevalent in Faculty of Medicine in the Calcutta Gazette. parts of the Thayetmyo, Henzada, and Maubin 2. The thesis must be written in the English districts during the present dry season. The Language and it must be forwarded to the Presi- losses annually sustained by agriculturists in dent of the Faculty for the time being, not later this province from cattle disease, largely prethan the 30th November each year. ventable when timely measures and segregation 3. The President of the Faculty of Medicine are adopted, must amount to enormous sums. While we spend yearly increasing amounts on may examine the thesis himself or depute it to member of the Faculty, whose some expert education, it would be as well, remarks the decision shall be final. Rangoon Gazette, that some elementary instruc4. The writer of the thesis must be a Gration on the points of protecting their cattle duate in Medicine of the Calcutta University, should be available at every school and every who has been engaged in the practice of his police tliana in Burma. profession for at least five years, so that his "In the Tirah campaign," said Lord Lanslowne, experience may be relied on by the Profession .at large. at the banquet in aid of the London School
June 1899.1
CURRENT
TOPICS?REVIEWS.
" there were 600 deaths and cases of, disease, against, one from, 11,000 thousand wounded and one hundred killed in action."
-of
Tropical Medicine,
The new hospital ship built for the Ceylon Government by the New Harbour Dock Comlast pany of Singapore, arrived at Colombo week, conveyed by the Holt Line Steamer Telemachus. The work of fitting up the necessary machinery and appurtenances will shortly be taken in hand. Suiigeon-General Harvey, Director-General of the Indian Medical Service, has taken three months' leave to Europe, during which he will take the opportunity of visiting the Pasteur Institute, Paris, and also Amsterdam, in connection with sewage questions.
219
This troublesome cause of crippling is one of the serious difficulties which the military medical officer has to combat on active service, The uuhealthiness of such sores is believed by Colonel L. Notter, r.a.m.c., Netley, to be connected with micro-organisms, the warmth and moisture of the foot making the soldier's boot an almost perfect incubator, while the organic substances contained in the perspiration provide a constant supply of nutrient medium for the development of bacteria. Professor Notter in his article on the subject in the Army Medical " Department Report for 1807 states the microwith and offensive perspiring organisms connected feet have received much attention. These, there are reasons for believing, are many and various ; the skin, the stockings, and the boots themselves become so highly charged with micro-organisms that the smallest abrasion soon becomes a sore." He then alludes to the various antiseptics employed for the purpose of destroying this microbus life, which often leads up to the production of sore feet. The best authorities advocate the use of simple formalin, which Gerdeck has used, and says that when it has been applied as a solution to the feet a few times, they do not A few sweat again for two or three weeks. into also the are the fluid of dropped drops boots to disinfect them. Some particulars of an analogous class of sores will be found in another column. The foot-gear of the soldier in India is discussed by Major B. M. Skinner, r a.m.c., in the April number of the Indian United Service
June
FOOT-SORES IN SOLDIERS?PLAGUE PROCESSIONS.
1899.]
Journal, in an interesting article on marching. Major Skinner considers the army
Institution's
boot is a very good boot in itself and that the alternative of chaplis may be disregarded so far as British troops are concerned.
PLAGUE PROCESSIONS.
Although the
declining,
every
plague epidemic in Calcutta is night, for some weeks past,
Mohamedan and Hindu the streets of the Native portion of the town with the object of propitiating the deitj' so as to avert the pestilence. These processions are composed of some 30 to 40 persons, men and boys?in the Hindu trains
might be seen both processions parading
occasionally
woman
a
or
two.
They slovrly
wend their way through all the main thoroughfares surrounding certain large bustees, singing, or intoning certain prayers which are supposed to be efficacious in driving away the plague. The Mohamedans carry banners and flags, the former with talismanic Arabic inscriptions from the Koran worked on them, and numerous lights from handsome shades with candles burning in them to lanterns of all descriptions. No musical instruments accompany their chant. The Hindu trains, composed solely of Calcutta bred and born natives (for the most part Bengalis), move with ceremonious solemnity, singing the while to the accompaniment of tomtoms and like instruments. They carry no of them red and many only pennons, lights, of the the bloody goddess of temple proceed to its and destruction Kali, at
Kalighat,
replenish
offerings. The processions are most orderly, partaking more of the character of a funeral march than anything else. The unchanting of the Mohamedans is by no means ear the on intonation their remaining pleasant, The has the after passed. procession long Hindus call these processions Sankirtan or coffers with their
religious singing.' ? ?
The
object expressed by
pages of "
a
?
of these demonstrations a
Bengali correspondent
1
thus in the
Mighty
Palaces, and
Demon's shadow fell upon the
its inhabitants were firmly conCity vinced that the name of merciful Hari would only be embraced in sincerity ; and so they began to invoke and of
Hari in every creek and Their prayers were at once peremptorily answered, the great shadow of plague melted away in distant horizon, and the restrictions laid were quietly removed. on them by the Government "Ao-ain the unblushing face of the disastrous disease the people under the appeared in the Capital ; and again for the safety of present panic considered it necessary name their lives to chant and praise in chorus the holy As none but of Hari, the destroyer of all demons. immortal Power can bailie the power of mortality, so the immortal name of all pervading Hari is scattered day and throughout the streets and lanes of Calcutta, the evil night, in expectation of again extirpating out precursor from the precincts of this city. extol the name of the of the city. corner
Almighty
imposition
of license or pass on such parties who to devote for such sacred causes
volunteered themselves of
serene effect, is a thing altogether incomprehensible to every person who possesses a least spark of humanity. "And I hope our worthy redeemer the LieutenantGovernor will lend his gracious ears in this prayer and as a benign ruler will exempt the poor Sankirtan parties from such sort of vexatious exactions "
to of
Though
the avowed the Deity
propitiate
object so as
of this
worship
is-
to avert the ravages
plague, those, however, writes the Indian Witness, who see behind the scenes and read between the lines, think that these processions are designed quite as much to revive the dying
embers of Hinduism as to secure the extirpation of plague. An unusually large Sankirtan procession paraded the streets in the Northern section of the town. Two gaily decorated arches had been erected on the way of the procession. Chinese lanterns were hung on the wayside. The thing lasted from live o'clockin the afternoon till two o'clock in the morning. The procession was received ro}7ally by the Marwari residents of Sutapatti. Rose water was sprinkled by gallons upon gallons. The whole route was illuminated, and occasionall}* there were fireworks besides. It was like a Roman saturnalia. It was fun and frolic, a huge tamasha, but scarcely any religion. Certainly, the affair lacked all religious concentration and solemnity. We are told that the expense on the occasion was large, and a fund was raised by subscription by the residents of Sutapatti. We are further told that the expenses of the different Sankirtan parties in Calcutta so far must have amounted to an enormous sum. How much better might the money have beenspent in the performance of the Homa ceremony, in the celebration of the Yagnas, in the recitation of Yedic Mantras, in feeding the hungry, in clothing the naked, in promoting sanitation in the quarters occupied by the poor of Calcutta. We heartily endorse the latter part of this argument, especially the cleansing of the native town.
is
Calcutta paper:?
Last year the
"Aii
217
BENGALI JOURNAL OF
HEALTH AND SANITATION.
We have much pleasure in tion of our readers in
monthly journal started by Dr. D.
in D.
drawing the attenBengal to that useful Bengali, The Swasthya,
Gupta about a year ago with the view of diffusing a knowledge of the laws of health and sanitation amongst his countrymen. Dr. D. D. Gupta has issued this journal in the vernacular and at the nominal cost of Rs. 2, including postage. It contains notes and articles on the health aspect of native habits, the sanitary measures necessary to stop the epidemic diseases of the land, the management of children in health and diseases and such problems as how to promote longevity, prevent premature decay
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
-218
and other allied subjects in which popular education is still defective and about which there is still a great deal of ignorance requiring removal.
NEW HOSPITAL FOR
[June
1899.
HAZARIBAGH.
This new Charitable Hospital was opened on the 8tli ultimo by the Commissioner of the Division, it forms one of the most striking buildings The practical character of the contents may in the town, and is composed of three main be seen from the following list for Part II:? blocks with terracotta tiled roofs, resembling a Diseases due to impure water. Dirty house and disease. pretty Swiss chalet. There are also houses for Habits. Our food. Tlie quantity of food we ought to take. the doctor Babu, compounder, servants, kitchens, Vegetable food. An incident from life illustrating spread pauper and female wards, &c., and the whole of contagion. Intermittent fevers.^ Plague in Calcutta. How to preserve purity of water in wells. Hot water ground occupied amounts to several acres. The accommodation is for 32 in-patients, and the out.drinking as a remedy. Diseases of children and mothers' duties. Sources of water. Diet in acute fevers. Evil effects patient department is very complete. The land of tobacco-smoking. Milk?typical food and typical diet. The money for the was given by Government. Properties of some indigenous drugs. Rice and barley. was raised 14,000) (Rs. by the sale of and animal diet. Sick buildings Vegetable dietary. Plague treatthe old hospital and site by subscriptions, and by ment. Inoculation as a preventive of plague. Legislative measures to prevent plague. Plague news. Few the proceeds of various entertainments got up .important facts regarding plague. Lessons from plague. in aid of the fund. Then the concerts got up Calcutta?before and after plague. Pasteur Institute in by Dr. Maynard and the other entertainments France. Physical exercise of boys Management of Malaria. infant at breast. Prevention of malaria. ; had brought in several hundreds, and the furClothing. Dwelling-house. National Association for nishing had been further provided for by prevention of consumption in England. Miscellaneous. smaller subscriptions since collected by Babu Quantity of milk an infant to take. Sick child. BreathGirindra Nath Gupta. Sir John Woodburn, ing. Kesults of 60 years' sanitation in England. Conwhen inspecting the hospital at his visit to tagious disease and our national custom. News. Newborn infant. Dust in towns. Evil effects of Hazaribagh in November last, very kindly drinking. ,Saiulow and physical development. The Hindu widow. promised the equivalent of what could be raised locally after his visit. This he was glad to be This journal undoubtedly supplies a distinct was about Rs. 3,500, so there informed, appeared and Civil Surgeons want. Assistant Surgeons to be every chance of there being a balance in the Bengali-speaking districts of the hand. With this Mr. Forbes said lie throughout hoped to see Province would tind their labours for sanitary the at the lower end of the site raised ground to more reform much likely prove fruitful were with a view to having a new Dufferin Hospital in the diffusion to assist of such a they journal built there at some future date, as the advantages We trust that this as this amongst the people. of having this hospital near the main dispensary ?praiseworthy effort of Dr. D.D.Gupta may meet were many aud obvious. ?with the success which it so well deserves. _
COATES' PRIZE
FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH.
This prize for "Original Research in Medicine," which was instituted in memory of Dr. Coates, late Principal of the Medical College, Calcutta, is now open for competition. The rules for its award are as follows :?
i
The result of the working of the Bertillon system of identifying criminals by anthropometry in the Punjab during the past year shows that 19 per cent, of criminals, whose antecedents were identified as habitual were unknown, offenders with previous convictions, varying from A large percentage one to twenty in number. of those whose identity was not established were reputed to be residents of the Native States in which the system is not in force.
The prize shall be awarded to the best 1. writer of a thesis on Indigenous Drugs to be j notified each year by the President of the Cattle disease has been very prevalent in Faculty of Medicine in the Calcutta Gazette. parts of the Thayetmyo, Henzada, and Maubin 2. The thesis must be written in the English districts during the present dry season. The Language and it must be forwarded to the Presi- losses annually sustained by agriculturists in dent of the Faculty for the time being, not later this province from cattle disease, largely prethan the 30th November each year. ventable when timely measures and segregation 3. The President of the Faculty of Medicine are adopted, must amount to enormous sums. While we spend yearly increasing amounts on may examine the thesis himself or depute it to member of the Faculty, whose some expert education, it would be as well, remarks the decision shall be final. Rangoon Gazette, that some elementary instruc4. The writer of the thesis must be a Gration on the points of protecting their cattle duate in Medicine of the Calcutta University, should be available at every school and every who has been engaged in the practice of his police tliana in Burma. profession for at least five years, so that his "In the Tirah campaign," said Lord Lanslowne, experience may be relied on by the Profession .at large. at the banquet in aid of the London School
June 1899.1
CURRENT
TOPICS?REVIEWS.
" there were 600 deaths and cases of, disease, against, one from, 11,000 thousand wounded and one hundred killed in action."
-of
Tropical Medicine,
The new hospital ship built for the Ceylon Government by the New Harbour Dock Comlast pany of Singapore, arrived at Colombo week, conveyed by the Holt Line Steamer Telemachus. The work of fitting up the necessary machinery and appurtenances will shortly be taken in hand. Suiigeon-General Harvey, Director-General of the Indian Medical Service, has taken three months' leave to Europe, during which he will take the opportunity of visiting the Pasteur Institute, Paris, and also Amsterdam, in connection with sewage questions.
219
