44

REPORT ON THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.

Sickness and
mortality from
pneumonia
during the years
1865-73.

          The cases of pneumonia have been more numerous than in any other year of the series,
Seventeen cases have been treated with 5 deaths, or 294.1 in the thousand. It has accounted
for 47.1 per mile of the deaths to total deaths.

Sickness and
mortality from
sunstroke during
the years 1865-73.

Treatment.

          The past year gave us fifteen cases of insolatio, of which 4 died, or 266.66 per thousand.
The cases were very severe, owing to the unusually great heat of many days in the hot
months; but there is reason for believing that had we not used cold iced baths most freely
to reduce the temperature of the bodies of those suffering from insolatio, the mortality must
have been much greater. Free purgatives by remedies administered by the mouth, strong
purgative enemata, and very cold baths, repeated again and again as necessity arises to keep
the temperature of the body down to normal heat, have been the cardinal means in the treat-
ment of this severe affection. The more I have seen of this disease, the more am I convinced
that all treatment must be directed with a view to unload with all practical expedition the
alimentary canal, and to lower the temperature by the direct application of cold, not only to
the head, but to the body generally, by means of cold or frigid baths repeated at short intervals
whenever the temperature shows signs of rising to an undue degree of elevation. Refrigerant
and cooling medicines by the mouth are also eminently serviceable in facilitating the accomplish-
ment of this object. Large doses of quinine, as recommended by Dr. Waller, are also highly
useful in reducing the temperature and lessening the number of rythmic actions of the heart.

Sickness and
mortality from
"other diseases"
during the years
1865-73.