TEN-YEAR STANDARD FOR THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL, 1867 TO 1876. [Section II.
April ; and 80 per cent. of all deaths from respiratory diseases are shown in the same months.
The fact that nearly 200 men have died on the march in the cold season within the last ten
years from fever or pneumonia, in the great majority of cases synonymous terms, demonstrates
how exposure tells on the debilitated sepoy, and indicates the necessity for avoiding night
marching in every case where a regiment has suffered severely in the previous months. In the
Frontier Force 80 per cent. of all deaths from respiratory diseases are included within these
months, and 63 per cent. of all deaths from fevers.
" These are the figures on which the preceding remarks are based :-
Died per cent. of the total in each month from the chief causes of mortality affecting the Native
Army-Results of 1864-73.
REGULAR ARMY.
FRONTIER FORCE.
Fevers.
Dysentery. Respiratory diseases. Fevers. Respiratory diseases.
January
11.5
11. 9
21.8
12.9
23.6
February
7.5
7.9
12.8
8.0
18.7
March
8. 6
8.3
10.8
6.9
7.3
April
7.1
4.1
7.9
6.3
7.8
May
6.9
4.4
6.0
6.9
2.6
June
6.5
5.2
2.8
6.6
2.6
July
5.4
6.7
2.6
3.5
1.5
August
6.3
6.7
2.7
4.9
.9
September
5.3
6.3
2.2
5.5
2.3
October
10.1
11.0
3.7
9.5
.9
November 13.3
12.3
10.3
15.5
8.5
December 11.5
15.2
16.1
13.5
23.3
100.0
100.0
1 0 0 . 0
100.O
100.0
"In the aggregate for the ten years 1864-73, fevers, dysentery, and respiratory diseases
represent 70 per cent. of the total mortality ; and if spleen disease, scurvy, dropsy, and atrophy
be classed along with these, as they should be, having regard to their etiology, one-fifth only
of the deaths remain to be otherwise accounted for.
" The difference in the character of the fevers of the Native and the European is shown
by this, that in the months from May to October 70 per cent. of all fever deaths occur in
the European Army, and 30 per cent. from November to April; while in -the Native army,
60 per cent, occur in the cold months, and 40 in the six hot months of the year. Respiratory
disease represents 20 per cent. of the mortality of the Native, and 5 per cent of that of the
European. But, on the other hand, hepatitis, which causes 1 . 59 per cent. of the Native
mortality, brings about 17 out of every hundred deaths of Europeans; heat apoplexy is shown
with a ratio of 11 .51, as compared with 1 .8 8 i n t h e c a s e o f t h e N a t i v e ; a n d h e a r t d i s e a s e
is responsible for 5. 27 per cent. of the deaths of European soldiers, and for less than 2 per cent.
of the total Native mortality."
In the ten years ending 1876, after excluding cholera, 64 per cent. of the total mortality
of the Native Army took place between November and April, and 36 per cent. between May
and October.
In the European Army of Bengal, for the same ten-year period, 60 per cent. of the total
mortality occurred from May to October, and 40 per cent. from November to April.
The components of the death-rate were very nearly the same as represented above.
Components of the Death-rates of the Fevers, dysentery and the allied diseases, and respiratory
Native and European Armies of 1867-76 diseases made up 77 per cent. of the total; and the remaining
compared.
23 per cent. was nearly identical in its composition.
Died out each 100 Deaths.
NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL. EUROPEAN ARMY OF BENGAL.
1864-1873.
1867-1876.
1860-1869. 1867-1876.
Fevers
29. 5
25.8
18.8
21.2
.
Dysentery
20.3
18.3
18.2
10.9
Respiratory diseases
20. 2 78.6 23.4 76 . 9
5.2
6.4
Spleen disease, scurvy, dropsy,
8.6
9.4
2.2
and atrophy
Phthisis
6.2
7.0
9.0
1.3
8.9
Heart disease
1.9
1.8
5.3
8.3
Apoplexy
1.9
2.0
11.5
12.1
Hepatitis
1.6
1.4
17.3
16.7
.
All other causes
9. 8
10.9
12.5
14.2
100 .0
100.0
100.0
100.0
8 2