Reports on mountain and marine sanitaria : medical and statistical observations on civil stations and military cantonments., jails - dispensaries - regiments - barracks, &c. within the Presidency of Madras, the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Islands, and British Burmah from January 1858 to January 1862 / by Duncan Macpherson.

  • MacPherson, Duncan, M.D., 1812-1867.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports on mountain and marine sanitaria : medical and statistical observations on civil stations and military cantonments., jails - dispensaries - regiments - barracks, &c. within the Presidency of Madras, the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Islands, and British Burmah from January 1858 to January 1862 / by Duncan Macpherson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    63/458 (page 25)
    NElLfillERHV HlLI.S. 2 The Eurckrs assert a proprietary in the lands wliicli extend hclow (.he plateau of the hills, and inhabit principally the eastern portions. The Coorumbers are wild and uncouth in appearance, and small in sbiture. They are held in superstitious dread by the Burghers, to whose sorcery they ascribe all misfortunes which befall themselves, their cattle or their crops. . tt-h There arc at pi’csent four settlements on the Neilghciry Hills, viz., Ootacaraund, Coonoor, Kotagherry and AYcllington or Jackatalla. Oota- camund is the chief station. On account of its superior elevation it is the coldest; and to an invalid long resident in the plains the immediate change to the penetrating cold of Ootacamund is too great and sudden. In clear nights, the radiation produces excessive cold, and towards morn- ing, the ascending rays of the sun, shining through rarified atmosphere, speedily restore heat to the earth, causing the temperature of the air to rise in proportion, and so it continues until sun-set, when the thermometer again speedily falls. Thus, to all new comers especially, the utmost caution is required in encountering these alternations. Two Medical Officers appointed by Government, afford medical aid to the residents at this settlement. The senior has also charge of the Civil Dispensary. Here fifty-seven average daily sick are treated ; fifteen usually occupying beds in Hospital. The prevailing diseases are fevers, contracted around the base of the hills, catarrh and diarrhoea. The class of natives treated are chiefly those from the low country. The Burghers and others resident on the hills, have an aversion to enter hospital. But generally speaking, all parties resident on these hills for any length of time, enjoy robust health ; showing that the genial effect of the climate and its pure atmosphere has an equally invigorating effect on the native as on the European constitution. The most prevalent disease amongst the aborigines, is small-pox. This .scourge often carries off whole families in a brief space of time. There is no Vaccinator attached to the hills. The introduction of a pro]:)cr Vaccine establishment would be a great blessing to the district, A Vaccinator visited the station from Coimbatore in July last.* The increasing population at Ootacamund, and the many profes- sional calls on the time of the Medical subordinale.s, call for further aid in this department. I am as.«ured that the Assistant Apothecary’s time is almost entirely taken up with work, which an ordinary Writer might perform, and that unavoidable delay in making up prescriptions has been sometimes productive of serious results. • Since the above wa.s written this want has boon supplied. There is now (1802) a Native Vaccinator resident on the Hills. SERIES T. Skctio.v III. Civil Dispen- sary. General Dispen- sary. IJ