Jan. 1905. SERVICE NOTES FROM THE GREAT WAR.

of Wellesley, despatched a force via the Red Sea 2Utirlre. to Egj^pt, to co-operate with the English army (Original there. But the Indian contingent, commanded b}' Sir David Baird, arrived too late to take any part in the fighting. Colonel Wellesle\7, after- SERVICE NOTES FROM THE GREAT WAR, wards the Duke of Wellington, was to have gone 1793?1815. with this Expedition as second in command, but By D. G. CRAWFORD, m.b., fell ill at Bombay, in March 1801, and was unable to The illness was for the in LIEUT.-COLONEL, go. fortunate, ship which he had intended to sail was lost, with all Civil Surgeon, Huglili. on board, between Bombay and Egypt. James' Naval History (J) gives an account of On 8th February 1793 began the long strug- eveiy action fought at sea, between French and gle with France, which lasted for twenty-two English ships, throughout the war, including not years, till it came to an end on 18th June 1815, only battles between fleets and squadrons, but at Waterloo. During this period France and actions between single ships, cutting out ex- England were almost continually at war, the only peditions, etc. In nearly every case full lists of break being for a period of about one year, after the killed and wounded are given, including the the peace of Amiens, signed on 27th March 1802. names of all commissioned and warrant officers. At sea the struggle went on in both hemispheres. Only one Naval Medical officer appears actually

The chief naval actions were in the to have fallen in action the 7- fought throughouto war, Mediterranean, in the Atlantic, and among the Assistant-Surgeon James Larans, of the frigate West Indian islands ; but many French men-of- Horatio, who died of wounds received in a boat war, as well as some of the smartest privateers expedition, when the frigate's boats cut out a France could build and equip, sought the Far Danish armed schooner and cutter on the coast of East, and leaped a rich harvest among the Com- Norway on 1st August 1812. Many, of course, pany's Indiamen. The latter, as a rule, "took perished in shipwrecks, and other naval disas- its fighting," and sometimes were successful in ters. When the Queen Charlotte, 100-gun line beating off their assailants. But they were sel- of battle-ship, the flagship of Admiral Lord dom a match for a man-of-war, or even for a Keith, was burned off Leghorn on 17th March well-found privateer, which, if of less size and 1800, the whole medical staff, one Surgeon and tonnage, was built for speed, and carried heavier three Surgeon's mates, were among those who cf metal and a much crew of out a of weightC5 larger? perished of complement 840, only 167 fighting men. The French men-of-war and were saved, while 673, including almost all privateers found a safe refuge in the harbour of the officers, were lost. Port Louis, the chief town of Mauritius, where A century ago Surgeons were rated very low the}r could refit when damaged in action, and in the matter of rank. An Admiralty Order replenish their exhausted stores. In no part of of 28th September 1808 (quoted in the supple- the world did French sailors meet with more ment to the Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. II, success than in Eastern seas, where they carried 1808) confers upon Masters in the Navy the their depredations to the very mouth of the Hughli. rank of Lieutenant; to take rank in their ships In 1810 the Governor-General, Lord Minto, sent next after the junior Lieutenant, and have an expedition from India which conquered precedence of Surgeons in the Navy. At this the French islands, and, with the seizure of time, and for half a century longer, few medical their harbour of refuge, the interference b}' the officers in the I.M .S. could attain to a rank higher French ships with the Company's commerce than that of Captain. The Members of the came to an end. Medical Board ranked as Lieutenant-Colonels; At the same time the war went on steadily Superintending Surgeons, corresponding to the on land. England despatched the ill-fated Wal- modern Deputy Surgeon-Generals and Colonels, cheren expedition to the Low Countries, and ranked as Majors; Surgeons as Captains; Assis- maintained the in the as Lieutenants. But not one man- lonrjn doggedoc? struggleoo tant-Surgeons Peninsula. In the East the French power had in ten rose to be a Superintending Surgeon, and long vanished from India, but the Nizam main- the rank was seldom if ever attained with less tained a large sepoy force of 23 battalions, than thirty years' service. officered and disciplined by Frenchmen, and com- Among other items of interest mentioned in manded by Raymond, till Lord Mornington, in James' work the following may be quoted. 1798, insisted on its disbandment. Tipu Sultan The crew of the 38-gun frigate Hermione, Cap-, of Mysore proclaimed an offensive and defensive tain Hugh Pigot, mutinied off Porto Rico on alliance with the French Republic, but never 22nd September 1797. The captain and almost got any help, other than empty words, from his allies. And with the fall of Serin- European (') "The Naval History of Great Britain, from the gapatam and death of Tipu, in May 1799, Declaration of War by France in February 1793, to the IV in Jan 1820." William James. came under the In accession of George nary By Mysore English suzerainty. A new edition (the second) in six volumes. London : printed March 1801 the Governor-General, now Marquis for Harding, Lepard & Co. ; Pall Mall, East, 1826. THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE. [Jan. 1905.

all were them the other officers killed, among Surgeon on 11th September 1799 ; he became the surgeon, whose name is not given. The Surgeon on 1st January 1813, and died on 19th Hermione was handed over by the mutineers to July 1818. Sherwood was in the Madras service, the Spaniards. She was retaken just a month his first commission is dated 29th April 1799; on 21st cut out from under later, October, being he was dangerously wounded, and had to be the of Porto the boats of the guns Gabello by left ou board the captured Kent, as a prisoner, 28-gun frigate Surprise, Captain Edward but recovered; lie became Surgeon on 24th Hamilton. One of the boats was commanded September 1805, and retired on 5th January by the Surgeon of the Surprise, John McMullen. 1822. The difference in rapidity of promotion 'On Gth May 1801 the British 14-gun sloop is worthy of note, it took Gibson over thirteen took the xebec Gavio off Speedy Spanish years to attain the rank of Surgeon, which Barcelona. The a crew of 280 Gamo had men, Sherwood got in six years and a half. Neither with 32 while had 54 guns, the Speech) only men, was specially fortunate or specially unfortunate all on was told, board. But she commanded by in his promotion ; it is only that promotion, at Lord a hand Cochrane. All the fifty-four took the time, was running much more quickly in in the fight, the Surgeon of the Speedy, James Madras than in Bengal. Guthrie, steering her into action. On 19th On 21st June 1806 a new East Indiaman, 1801 the took a February British frigate, Phaibe, making her first voyage, the Warren Hastings, famous French off Centa. frigate, L'Africaine, was taken in the Indian Ocean, after a stiff fight, On board the Africaine three French Surgeons by the French frigate lJiemontaise. Among the were killed by an unfortunate shot while dress- wounded on the Indiaman were both the Sur- the wounded in ing the cockpit. geon, John Barnes (severely), and the Surgeon's While only a few of the officers of the Indian Mate, James Greville. The Piemontaise herself Armies were ever to the on opposed French land, was captured off Cape Comorin, nearly two years man soldier or any going home from India, later, on 3rd March 1808, by the British frigate civilian, might find himself, at a moment's notice, San Tioremo. John Barnes, the wounded Sur- to for his with no was required fight ship, usually geon, appointed an Assistant-Surgeon on great hope of success. The Calcutta Gazette ot the Bengal Establishment on 13th March 1808. S)th on 14th August 180-t relates the capture, He resigned, while on furlough in England, on Indiaman August 180o, off Ferroh, of the East 17th October 1815, but was reinstated on 25th Lord Nelson by the French privateer Bellone. June 1817, became Surgeon on 4th May 1822, This action is also described in greater detail by retired on 14th July 1825, and died at Byfieet James. when the Lord Among those killed, on 28th April 1847. Nelson was were taken by boarding, Surgeon The manes of the Great Proconsul have not William Spottiswoode, and Lieutenant-Colonel been propitious to ships named after him. The Peter MacGregor Murray, of the Bengal Army. Indiaman above mentioned was one of the finest Another description of this capture may be found vessels in the Company's fleet, and was making in the Gentleman7s for 1803. Magazine September her first voyage. While only a few years ago Here it is stated that Lieutenant-Colonel Murray the last and finest addition to the modern Indian went out as a mate originally to India Surgeon's Marine, also named Warren Hastings, was lost about and received a comba- 1773, subsequently on Mauritius, while still quite a new boat. tant commission ; he had been Adjutant-General The following letter from Andrew Baird, Sur- of the and was with a Bengal Army, retiring geon of a captured Indiaman, the Culland's fortune of ?200,0001. William Spottiswoode, Grove, is preserved in the India Office :? who was a " brother of the Captain of the Lord To Dr. John Hunter, Physician to the Nelson, entered the Bengal Army as Assistant- Honorable East India Company. on 23rd and became " Surgeon April 1781, Surgeon Sir,?I have the honour to acquaint you that on 1st June 1796. Nelson was The Lord retaken I was Surgeon of the Honorable a few later Company's days by the Colossus. Culland's which was on On 9th ship Grove, captured October 1800 the French privateer the 22nd July 1803, and since that time I have La Robert the Con/Lance, commanded by Surcouf, been a prisoner of war in France. most famous and most of the French daring "That unfortunate event has not only prevent- in the took the East India- privateersmen East, ed me from to India, an Assistant- man Kent off the when almost in returning Sandheads, Surgeon on one of the Honorable Company's of port. This action is described sight by Establishments, but it has also deprived me of James, and also in the Gazette of 14th Calcutta the means of subsisting myself by the exercise October 1800. The of the Kent were passengers of my profession. After a of three years' allowed to in the period go boats. Among those wound- I it will not be considered ed in the captivity, hope pre- fighting were two young Assistant- mature to solicit the of the Honor- on their out for the first protection S.urgeons way time, able Company, nor to request the Gibson and Sherwood. presumptive Henry Richard Gibson favour of being appointed an Assistant-Surgeon was to the as Assistant- appointed Bengal Army on one of their establishments, with the privilege of rank from the time of 1 taking appointment. I knew of. no other reference to Murray's medical career. Convinced from the justice and generosity of Jan. 1905.1 SERVICE NOTES FROM THE GREAT WAR. the Honorable Court of Directors that it is joined the Royal Horse Guards,, the Blues, in only necessary that my unfortunate situation 1802; became Deputy Inspector-General on 27th should be represented to them in order to obtain June 1805, and served in that rank in the the favour I ask, I hope you will have the Walcheren Expedition. He became Inspector- goodness to lay it before them as soon as con- General on 25th August 1809, and served as venient. Chief of the Medical Staff of Wellington's Army "Your zeal for the interest of the department throughout the Peninsular War. being present at of the Honorable Company's affairs over which the sieges of Badajoz, Cindad, Rodrigo, and Bur- you preside, leaves me no room to doubt of your gos; the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, the taking an early opportunity to comply with my P}7renees, and Toulouse. He retired in 1814, request. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your but was appointed Director-General of the A. most obedient servant, Andrew Baird. Verdun M. D. on 13th June 1815, and held that post for in France,?15th May 1806." thirty-six years, till he retired in 1851. He was The Dr. John Hunter to whom this letter was created a Baronet in September 1830, and K. C. addressed was Examining Physician to the East B. on 17th August 1850. He died in London, India Company in London, and held a position aged 87, on 2nd April 1858. A memoir of his life somewhat analogous to that of the President of will be found in the Dictionary of National Bio- the Medical Board of the India Office now. graphy, another in the Lancet of 10th April 1858. Medical Officers nominated to the Company's Besides his autobiography, published three years service appeared before him for examination as after his death, he was the author of a work " to their fitness, physical and professional, for entitled Medical Sketches of the Expedition their posts. He must not be confused with his from India to Egypt." more ana- When India with famous namesake, John Hunter, the servingo in the Connaughto tomist and surgeon, who died on 10th October Rangers in 1799-1801, McGrigor was appointed 1793. Dr. Hunter forwarded Andrew Baird's Superintending Surgeon of the force sent under letter with the following recommendation Baird to Egypt in the spring of 1801. As this " Dear Sir,?The enclosed letters will explain force was composed of both King's and Company's themselves. You will judge whether it is best troops, the E. I. Co. gave McGrigor a temporary to lay them before the Committee of Shipping, commission as a Superintending Surgeon in their or the Court of Directors. All 1 know of Mr. service, that there might be no doubt as to his Baird is that in March 1802 I examined him as authority to issue orders to and to supervise the Surgeon, and found him well qualified. I am, medical officers of the Company's service. dear Sir, Yours sincerely, J. Hunter. Hill In the "Life of Sir David Baird," the follow- House, July 17th, 1806. ing medical officers are mentioned as having This letter bears no address, but presumably crossed the desert, from Korseir to the Nile, with it was to Mr. Millett, one of the Directors of Baird's force in June 1801. All appear to have the Company, for Baird's letter is endorsed been in the King's Army?W. R. Shafter, In- " recommended for Bengal on my nomination, spector of Hospitals; J. Foreman, Surgeon to the George Millett." forces; J. Paterson, Field Apothecary ; J. Rice Baird's commission as Assistant Surgeon was and T. Price, Hospital Mates. Shafter was after- dated 3rd February 1807, and he ranked from wards Inspector-General of Hospitals with Sir

that 7 while still at Verdun for John Moore's in in date, vegetatingo ? Army Spain 1808-09. some years. A letter from Court, dated 30th Among the medical officers of the I. M. S., who May 1810, published in the Calcutta Gazette of accompanied the Indian contingent to Egypt, 20th December 1810, states that he had succeed- were Hugh Lauder, Thomas Judson, James Small, ed in escaping from Verdun, and had been and George Procter, all of the Bengal Medical permitted to proceed to Bengal. His career Service. was short, for he died at Chittasong on 28th While McGrigor was in India, a proposal was June 1812. made, and for the time accepted, that a fourth A work of the greatest interest to the medical Presidency should be formed, under the Govern officer in the R. A. M. C. or in the I. M. S. is ment of India, to include the British possessions the autobiography of Sir James McGrigor, in the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, with the Director-General of the Army Medical Depart- seat of Government at Pulo Penang. Of this ment.' McGrigor was born on 9th April 1771, new Presidency, Dundas was to have been Gov- entered the Army on 13th September 1793 as ernor, and the appointment of Senior Member Assistant Surgeon to the newly raised DeBurgh's of the Medical Board was offered to McGrigor, regiment, afterwards the Connaught Rangers, who, after consideration, declined it. As he says, served in Flanders in 1794-95, in the West Indies the appointment of an outsider as the head of in 1795-96, India and Egypt in 1799 to 1801, the Medical Service would have caused con- siderable dissatisfaction in the I. M. S. In the 1 " The Autobiography and Services of Sir James McGrigor' end the whole scheme was dropped. Bart., lateDirector-General of the Army Medical Department- Speaking of the services of the Medical De- with an of notes and original correspondence.'' appendix in the Peninsular : London : Longman, Green, Longman and Roberts. Ss. partment War, McGrigor says London, 1861. "During the late war the cases of wounded THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE. (Jan. 1905.

mure a C. B. in 1804 medical officers were numerous. Some had been much sparingly than now; was a rarer distinction than a K. C. B. in 1904. killed, and not a few lost limbs in sieges or in was not until 1850 battles." Wellington's despatches from the It that departmental officers, medical were made Peninsula, copied from the London Gazette, are including officers, eligible to of the Bath. The at length in the Gentleman''s Magazine for for appointment the Order given of which the time. In the despatches announcing the London Gazette 16th August 1850, contains the notification of the extension of the result of each battle are given the names of the names of officers killed and wounded. The only medical Order, also publishes the three medical officers who were created K. C. B. : Sir James officer mentioned as killed in action throughout Director-General of the A. M. Sir the war is J. Bollman, on the staff of McGrigor, D.; Surgeon of the Medical the Portuguese forces, killed at Albuera 011 16th William Burnett, Director-General of the and May 1811. In the previous fighting in the Low Department Navy ; Inspector-General Sir James of the Medical Countries, however, two medical officers were Thomson, Bengal also of seventeen to whom the C. B. killed in action : Assistant-Surgeon H. Quin, of Service; was The latter include seven officers of the 71st Foot, at Middleburg on 2nd August given. six in and four in the 1809, and Chislet, 81st Foot, the A. M. D., the Navy, Assistant-Surgeon 1. M. B. W. Macleod and C. of at Flushing on 13th 1809. S., viz., Kennj7, August J. and C. D. McGrigor states that, previous to the Penin- Bengal ; Wylie, Madras, Straker,. sular War, the Medical Department had never Bombay. Two officers of the M. or rather two been mentioned in despatches. After the siege I. S., officers who afterwards entered the I. M. S., of Badajoz, taken by storm on the night of 6th in the and at Waterloo. Of April 1812, Wellington to served Peninsula McGrigor requested the best known is William who mention the good work done by the Medical these Twining, went out to as a Mate with Department in his despatch announcing the Portugal Hospital in 1810, was to capture of the fortress. Wellington asked him Wellington's Army promoted in 1814, and, after whether such mention was usual, and McGrigor Assistant-Surgeon serving the Peninsular was admitted that it was not; but urged that the through campaigns, present at Waterloo. He went to as Medical Department had deserved mention for Ceylon Surgeon to Sir Edward the in and their services, and that the fact that they had Paget, Governor, 1821, afterwards him to India. He was not been mentioned in despatches before was no accompanied an in the reason why they should not receive such honour- appointed Assistant-Surgeon Bengal on 12th 1824, but did not able mention now. On consideration, Wellington Army August resign in till agreed, and accordingly in his despatch makes his commission the Royal Army 1830,. " thus a commission as mention of the gocd services of Mr. McGrigor holding Assistant-Surgeon in services for six and the medical gentlemen under his direction" both simultaneously years. most of his in India he was on (Despatch of 8th April 1812; London Gazette, During service the staff of the General 24th April 1812). They are mentioned again Presidenc}r European died there on 25th in the same terms after the battle of Salamanca Hospital, Calcutta, and 1825. An oil of (Despatch of 21st July 1S12 ; London Gazette, August painting Twining hangs- loth in the Medical College Hospital, Calcutta ; and August 1812). in the South Presumably the services of medical officers his tombstone may be seen Park in There is a curi- had not previously been mentioned in despatches Street Cemetery that City. ous mistake in the which that he in European warfare. They had, however, met epitaph, says was born in and died on 25th with recognition at an earlier date in the East. 1780, August error of ten In the despatch, dated 21st July 1810, from 1835, aged 45?an obvious years. The of birth is it should be Lieutenant-Colonel Keating, announcing the date incorrect, 1790. was the of several on. capture of the island of Bourbon, published in Twining author works the London Gazette of 2oth October 1810, tropical medicine, which were standard authori- ties in their "Diseases of the among the officers mentioned are : Superintend- day: Spleen, par- ing Surgeon Harris, of the Madras Service, and ticularly in Bengal," 1828;" Clinical Illustrations more of Surgeon Davies, of the Bombs.}7 Establishment. of the important diseases Bengal," 1832,. The honorary distinctions which fell to the second edition, 1835; and "A Practical Account of 1833. lot of the Medical Department a century ago Epidemic Cholera," The also were few and far between. The only honours second, George Nicholas Cheek, served; received bj7 medical officers for services in the in the Peninsula, and was present at the capture of San Sebastian Orthev. He was also great war were the Knighthoods bestowed upon and " at as be seen from the- McGrigor and upon J. R. Grant, Chief of the present Waterloo, may the Medical Department of the Army lately employ- following letter, preserved among certificates ed in France and the Netherlands." The latter of Assistant-Surgeons at the India Office : " 10th was not gazetted until 1819 (London Gazette, London, April 1816. To the Hon'ble- the East India Honourable 10th April 1819), nearly four years after Committee. Sirs,?I Waterloo. The K. C. B. and Baronetcy bestowed beg leave to inform you that the reason I cannot of the upon McGrigor were not given till many A'ears produce my diploma having passed College later. Honours of all kinds were then given of Surgeons, .as also my other certificates of- Diagram Showing Seasonal Prevalence of Seasonal Prevalence Anopheles, Rainfall, Temperature, Fever Cases and Varieties of Parasites in Ferozepore, 1903

1. Amount of caught and is of TWO with 1. thethe Amount of ShadingShading IndicatesIndicates the the DensityDensity ofof NumbersNumbers caught and is thethe experiencegxperience of TWO years.ykars. ShadingShading beginsbegins withwith thethe firstfihst capture,capture, andand endsends with thkthe last.last. 2. Parasite prevalence is of Jail and 2. TheThe Parasite prevalence is takentakkn fromfrom MicroscopicMicroscopic ExaminationsExaminations of CasesCases inin CivilCivil Hospital,Hospital, Jail and privateprivate work.work. 3. It If CERTAIN THERE IS MUCH KNOW IT AND "CHOWTHA" BY THE 3. IT IS CERTAIN THERE IS MUCH QUARTANQUARTAN ININ THETHE DISTRICT.DISTRICT. THETHE NATIVBSNaTIVKS KNOW IT ANDCALL CALL ITIT "CHOWTHA" (FOURTH).(FOURTH). THEIRTHEIR STATEMENTSSTATRMRNTS HAVEHAVE BEENBERN VKRIFIEDVKRIFIED BY THE MICROSCOPE.MICROSCOPE. IS HIGHLY PROB4BLE THE 4.4. ITIt is highly probable the PARASITEParasite RaTBRatr VARIESvarirs VERYvery MUCHmuch FROMfrom YEARyear TO to YEAR.year. Jan. 1905.] MOSQUITOES IN PEROZEPORE DISTRICT.

attendance at the hospitals, arises from my having lost the whole of them on service, with a part of my baggage, when on service in Holland at the battle of Waterloo. I have the list of the sur- geons to produce, and also my commission, which I should never have obtained had I not produced the necessary certificates to the Army Medical Board. I have the honour to be, Honoured Sirs, your most obedient and devoted humble servant, ?George Nichls. Cheek." The commission Cheek speaks of was that of Assistant-Surgeon in the Army Medical Depart- ment; it was dated 19th July 1813, and signed by the Prince Regent. He received a commis- sion from the E. 1. Co. as Assistant-Surgeon in *the Bengal Medical Service on 30th September 1816, and served in the Third Maratha War of 1817-18, being present at the siege and capture of Hathras. He soon, however, settled down in Civil employ in Lower Bengal, being appointed Civil Assistant-Surgeon, first of Bard wan, and soon after of Bankura, then usually known as West Bard wan or the Jungle Mahals. Here he went in extensively for zamindari, indigo, and trade, and, when his turn came for promotion to Surgeon, gave up promotion in order to remain at Bankura as Civil Assistant-Surgeon. Here he spent the rest of his life. After over half a century of service in India as Assistant-Surgeon, he died, while on short leave at the Nilgiris, on 20th June 1859.