Chapter I.]
GENERAL STATISTICS OF THE ARMY FOR THE SIX YEARS.
9
Delirium Tremens of the Army of India, 1871 to 1876.
1871.
1872.
1873.
1874.
1875.
1876.
Cases
290
245
163
181
201
189
Treated per 1,000 of Strength
5.1
4.2
2 . 8
3.1
3.4
3.3
Died out of each 100 cases treated 7.6
4.5
3.1
4 . 4
4.0
3.2
Out of the total of 60, 35 who died of delirium tremens were sergeants, 8 corporals, and
17 privates. The large proportion of sergeants liable to die from this cause was noticed in
previous reports.
The statistics of drunkenness do not show much improvement from year to year. The
number of cases of drunkenness reported, averaged annually in Bengal 28.7 per cent. of
the strength of the Army, in Madras 44.0, and in Bombay 40.7.
Cases of Drunkenness reported from 1871 to 1875.
1871.
1872. 1873.
1874. 1875. Average.
Army of Bengal
11,750 11,779 8,976 10,988 8,926 10,484 out of a strength of 36,542
Army of Madras
*
4,960 5,051 5,346 4,683 5,010
11,393
.Army of Bombay
4,643 4,552 4,568 3,568 4,259 4,318
10,607
Venereal diseases still contribute enormously to swell the admission-rate and daily sick-rate
of the Armies of the three Presidencies, and the ratios of 1876
are not more favourable than the average of 1871—75. The ad
-missions from venereal affections of all kinds still afford annually
a ratio of not less than 20 per cent. in relation to the strength.
If this does not imply that a fifth part of the whole Army passes annually through the hos
-pital for venereal disease in some form, it is still very serious to find in five years an admission-
rate equal to that of the strength of the whole Army of India. Seven thousand cases of
secondary affections were treated in the five years; of these 534 were invalided under the
head of secondary syphilis; but it is probable that very many more of those affected dis
-appeared from the Army, sent home for rheumatism or general debility. Regarded merely as
affording a certain ratio, the invaliding from syphilis cannot be said to form a large proportion
of the total invaliding; and this is to be observed, that if the ratio has not diminished it has
not gone on increasing:—
Invalided per 1,000 for Secondary Syphilis, 1871—76.
1871.
1872.
1873.
1874.
1875.
1876.
2.02
1.86
1.43
1.63
1.61
1.69
It may be objected that orchitis and inflammation of the inguinal glands are not necessarily
derived from a venereal source, and should not be shown as below. But the large number of
cases entered, leaves no doubt of the origin of the great majority; and the many forms of
venereal which escape tabulation will more than compensate for exaggeration. of the ratio due
to such a cause.
A total of 62,267 admissions from diseases of a venereal origin is made up thus:—
Venereal Affections, Army of India, 1871—75.
Aggregate Strength 292,615.
Admissions. Ratio per 1,000 per
annum.
Ratios of 1876.
Primary syphilis
18,588
6 3 . 5
5 9 . 8
Gonorrhœa
24,963
85.3
93.4
Phymosis
2 5 2
10.5
9.1
Stricture
1 , 1 0 5
Warts
7 5 6
Orchitis, gonorrhœal
969
TOTAL
46,633
159.3
162.3
Secondary syphilis
6,999
23.9
23.9
Inflammation of the ingui
-nal glands
5,318
29.5
28.1
Orchitis
3,317
TOTAL
62,267
212.7
214.3
In the table below the admissions and ratios are detailed year by year, and for the Armies of
the Three Presidencies.
* T h e R e t u r n f r o m M a d r a s f o r 1 8 7 1 w a s n o t r e c e i v e d .
Statistics of Venereal Disease. The
statistics of the married as compared
with those of the unmarried soldier
contained in a separate report.