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.