Chapter III.] MEDICAL HISTORY OF REGIMENTS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF SERVICE. 57
While 40 per 1.000 of strength die in the first and second years, 74 per 1,000 are
invalided; 11 per cent. may be fairly regarded as the loss
to be looked for in the first two years. This is a much smaller
loss than the statistics of 1864—69 would have led us to anti-
cipate. Many of the illustrations drawn from the history of these years gave a loss of from
14 to 17 per cent.; and if, in the future, the loss does not exceed the standard of 1871—75,
it need not be deemed excessive.
This statement shows the loss by invaliding, and the chief causes for which men new
to India were invalided between 1871 and 1876:—
Invaliding-rate of Regiments in the first and second years of Indian Service, 1871—76,
and its composition.
First year. Second year. In first two years. Per cent. of total.
Hepatitis
4.39
7.03
11.42
15.5
Heart Disease*
4 . 1 3
3.25
7.38
10.0
Phthisis
3.95
4.98
8.93
12.1
General Debility
3.69
5.05
8.74
11.9
Dysentery
2.81
2.68
5.49
7.5
Epilepsy and Brain Affections†
1.76
1.71
3.47
4.7
Fevers
1.50
1.67
3.17
4.3
Rheumatism
1.23
2.94
4 . 1 7
5.7
Venereal Affections
.97
1.93
2.90
3.9
Bronchitis
.97
1.01
1.98
2.7
Ophthalmia
.57
. 6 6
1.23
1.7
All other Causes
5.97
8.75
14.72
20.0
Loss per 1,000
31.94
41.66
73.60
100.0
The Enteric Fever of the Unacclimatised, as manifested from, 1871 to 1876.
Immediately in connection with the study of the effects of age and length of service
on the ratios of sickness mortality and invaliding, falls the important question, what is the
enteric fever of the unacclimatised? and, now that observers from one end of India to the
other, have had their attention drawn to the fact of its universal prevalence, what is the
place which this fever holds in the medical history of young men and bodies of men new to
India?
Out of 633 deaths in the Army of India in the six years 1871—76, which occurred in
the first year of Indian service, 168 were attributed to Enteric
Fever. If 48 deaths from cholera and smallpox, and 75
deaths from accident and suicide, be excluded, one-third of all
deaths of the first year was caused by Enteric Fever.
Making the same reservations, 34 per cent. of all deaths in the Army of India in the
six years, at the age of 24 and under, were ascribed to the same fever.
Assuming the returns to be correct, out of 73 regiments and batteries which came to India
between 1871 and 1877, 9 only remained free from Enteric Fever in the first twelve months after
landing.
These are the general facts; and I have tried to prove that the same ratio of prevalence
has been consistent throughout the past 20 years, by showing that the monthly mortality
for fevers as a class was relatively the same in different sub-divisions of the period.
I have noted above how rapid is the decline in the liability to Enteric Fever after twelve
months' residence in India. Extending the observations, these are the ratios of liability at
different periods of residence, taking the results of 1873—76 as best ascertained, and reckoning
liability as 100:—
1 to 4 years.
5 to 7 years.
Above 7 years.
82.44
13.69
3.87
=100
In relation to age the relative liability stands thus:—
Below 25.
25 to 29.
30 and upwards.
61.91
31.17
6.92
=100
* Not including palpitation.
† N o t i n c l u d i n g m e n t a l a f f e c t i o n s .
The Constitution of the Invaliding-
rate in the first and second years
of Indian service.
Ent e r i c Fe ve r —ge ne r a l s t a t i s t i c s of
prevalence in relation to age and
length of service.