Section II.]
GENERAL DEDUCTIONS FROM THE STATISTICS OF THE PERIOD.
89
Goorkhas at Abbottabad; and the 1st Goorkha Regiment, at Dhurmsala, had, in 1869, 707
fever admissions. These cases are, however, exceptional ; the average number of admissions
annually for the 2nd Goorkhas is 208, for the 3rd Goorkhas 210, and for the 4th Goorkhas,
leaving out 1872, during which the regiment suffered on the Eastern Frontier, 236. In
employing the following comparative statement, the fact should be noted, that the fever-rate
of the Goorkhas has suffered from these exceptional circumstances :—
Admission-rates and Death-rates of the Goorkha Regiments compared with the Ratios for the
Native Army of the Gangetic Provinces, on the average of the ten years, 1867-76.
ADMISSION-RATES PER 1,000.
DEATH-RATES PER 1,000.
Goorkhas. Army of Gangetic
Provinces.
Goorkhas. Army of Gangetic
Provinces.
Cholera
3.6
2.5
2.04
1.49
Apoplexy
1.1
.4
.13
. 1 8
Fevers
512 . 8
445.6
2.17
1.45
Dysentery
65.5
85.5
1.32
1.08
Hepatitis
5.6
1.6
.41
. 1 9
Spleen disease
12.8
5.3
.53
. 4 2
Phthisis
4.1
2.6
2.32
. 6 8
Dropsy
.3
.3
.16
. 0 9
Scurvy
2.0
1 . 1
.16
Respiratory disease
37.6
3 3 . 1
1.92
1.15
Rheumatism
67.5
5 3 . 4
Venereal diseases
45.9
49.9
Eye diseases
43.3
28.6
All other causes
318.4
328. 1
2.95
1.65
1120.5
1038.0
14.11
8.38
The Death-rate for hepatitis is doubled in the case of the Goorkha; and in his mortality,
phthisis takes the highest place. I have shown elsewhere how, under parallel circumstances,
the Goorkha and European are equally liable to cholera, and are attacked. in an equal ratio.
By smallpox also the Goorkha is selected, and nearly 40 per cent. die of all who contract
the disease.
Constitution by Race of the Native
Army of Bengal.
Taking the Native Army as constituted in 1872 and 1876
as typical, we find the different races represented. in these
proportions :—
1872.
1876.
Sikhs
9,527
10,242
Rajpoots and Brahmins
6,226
5,390
Hindoos
31,905 Goorkhas
4,469
32,594
4,619
Other Hill Hindoos
2,454
2,673
Other Hindoos
9,229
9,670
Punjabees
3,547
4,069
Mahomedans
12,073 Trans-Indus Pathans
2,876
11,844
2,749
Other Mahomedans
5,650
5,026
Native Christians
298
284
making up a Strength of
The Punjab Frontier
44,276 in 1872, and of 44,722 in
Force is made up thus :—
1876.
Sikhs
3,608
3,677
Rajpoots
.323
368
Hindoos
6,651 Goorkhas
857
6,646
843
Other Hill Hindoos
1,340
1,333
Other Hindoos
523
425
Punjabees
2,099
2,230
Mahomedans
5 , 5 6 3 Trans-Indus Pathans
2,642
5,614
2 , 3 3 2
Other Mahomedans
822
1,052
Native Christians
1
1
a total of 12,215 in 1872, and of 12,261 in 1876.
Of 5,688 men entering into the composition of the Irregular Regiments of the Central
India Force in 1876, 659 were Sikhs, 1,679 Bheels and Mhairs, 600 Rajpoots or Brahmins,
2,068 other Hindoos,—a total of 5,006 Hindoos; 670 were Mahomedans, of whom 33 were
Punjabees and 33 Trans-Indus Pathans; and the strength as above was completed by 12 Native
Christians.
I have made these few remarks to call attention to the leading features only of the series
Medical and sanitary history of each
regiment of the Army published an
-nually by the Medical Department.
of ten-year tables which are appended. For the last nine years
the Bengal Medical Department has issued a report, in which
the history of every regiment is published in detail year
by year; and the information afforded by the medical officer of each corps is given either
Y