Medical Sketches of the Expedition to Egypt, from India — John Shaqi
Medical Sketches of the Expedition to Egypt, from IndiaMcGrigor, James, Sir
History
Medical Sketches of the Expedition to Egypt, from India
McGrigor, James, Sir
Great Britain. Army -- Sanitary affairs; Medicine, Military
I had likewise the satisfaction to receive accounts from the medical
gentlemen employed in the expedition, after their arrival at Calcutta,
Madras, and Ceylon: their accounts were so late as November. In none of
the corps did any death occur from the time of embarkation at Suez. The
deaths which appear in the annexed table, in the 80th regiment, were men
lost in the wreck of one of the transports.
END OF PART I.
PART II.
From my own observation, from accurate reports made to me, as well as
from an extensive correspondence with the medical gentlemen of the Indian
army in Egypt, I have presented a faithful, and I believe an accurate,
narrative of the medical occurrences of the late campaign.
Perhaps it may be thought that I have descended to a great degree of
minuteness: however, I conceive, that, from the facts stated, important
and useful deductions may be made. I think it a matter of regret that
such journals are not more frequently kept; with a little industry on
the part of the profession they might always be so. Had such records
been always faithfully kept, many practical points would not, as they
now are, be involved in doubt and uncertainty. We should not now be so
ignorant of some diseases, of the countries where we have so often made
campaigns, or of which we have so long been in the possession.
Humble as the labours may seem, and confined as the abilities of an
individual may be, were he only faithfully to relate observations made
with care, to compare them with those of his contemporaries, and by these
to correct the opinions of his predecessors, he would perform no mean
service to his art.
I shall, in this part, advert to what appeared to be the principal causes
of the diseases which prevailed. Previously to this it will be necessary
to take notice of the state of the different corps, composing the army,
as they landed at Kossier.
With the exception of the Sepoys from Bombay, every corps disembarked at
Kossier in the most healthy state. Rarely, indeed, have troops on any
expedition been landed in the degree of health in which the Indian army
landed in Egypt.
There is little doubt that their situation on ship-board was the cause
of the sickness which prevailed among the troops from Bombay. The Sepoys
were but a short time encamped at Kossier when they began to recover;
yet the situation there was by no means what we would recommend, or make
choice of, for the recovery of health.
The army under General Baird was composed, as already observed, very
nearly of one half Europeans, and of one half natives of India. We shall
begin with the Europeans.
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