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BRITISH BURMAH DIVISION.
Deputy Surgeon-General H. R. Oswald, M.D., was in medical charge of this
division and reports as follows :—
Alleged causes of Sickness and Mortality.
Seasonal phenomena.— The climate during 1878 was characterized by a late commencement
of the rains and by frequent long breaks in the monsoon, during which there was a higher
temperature than usual. At Rangoon 85.4 inches were registered against 102.64 in 1877 and an
average of 97.64 for the past six years. The first fall of rain did not occur till 12th May, and
the last took place on the 14th of November. Between these dates rain fell on 133 days, and no
rain fell on the remaining 54 days.
The highest temperature in the shade was 105.5 on the 4th May against 106.7 on the 4th
and 10th May 1877. The highest temperature in the sun's rays in vacuo was 175.2 on the 16th
May against 167.1 on the 8th June 1877.
The lowest temperature was 57.4 on 9th January against 57.4 on 18th February 1877. At
Thayetmyo the rainfall was not more than half the average and insufficient for the crops, which
failed. At Moulmein, Shoaygheen and Tonghoo there was likewise a great deficiency in the
rainfall.
Seasonal
phenomena.
Necessaries of life.—F o o dw
a s a b u n d a n t , b u t o w i n g t o l a r g e e x p o r t a t i o n s p r i c e s r a n g e d v e r y
high. Every article of food is said to be 25 per cent. higher than it was two years ago. Notwith-
-standing the deficient rainfall mentioned in the last paragraph, the harvest this season is said to
be excellent except at Prome and Thayetmyo. Such is the superabundance of rain in this country.
Sickness and mortality.— The year has no doubt been an unusually unhealthy one. Cholera
prevailed amongst the civil population all over the province. In the town of Rangoon the
epidemic was more severe than had ever been known. It commenced in May and continued up
to December, during which time the troops were prohibited entering the town. With the
exception of a slight outbreak in Her Majesty's 89th Regiment and one or two isolated cases, the
cantonment of Rangoon escaped. Dysentery and diarrhœa likewise were very prevalent.
Malarious fevers prevailed along the Sittang Valley to an unusual extent, especially at
Shoavgtheen. No epidemic of small-pox occurred.
Necessaries of
life.
Sickness and
mortality.
Notwithstanding the widespread diffusion of cholera among the civil population the Native
troops almost entirely escaped. The 41st Regiment N.I. on the last day of their journey to
Tonghoo by boat was attacked, a cholera camp was formed a mile below Tonghoo on the opposite
bank of the river, and the boat in which the cholera appeared and its passengers at once segregated.
Five cases among the sepoys occurred and two deaths, and then the disease disappeared.
An isolated fatal case occurred among the D Company, Sappers and Miners, Rangoon, and
one amongst the Left Wing of the 33rd Regiment N.I. at Moulmein. These were all the
casualties from cholera among the Native troops in Burmah. Four deaths however occurred in
the 32nd Regiment N.I. at Trichinopoly from cholera previous to embarkation for Burmah.
The rewas only one case of small-pox (not fatal) amongst the Native troops during the year.
The health of the 24th Regiment N.I. has improved this year, but it still has a large sick list.
There have been some cases of beri-beri; mild ague, dysentery, rheumatism and venereal affections
have been the chief diseases. There is a great deal of venereal in this regiment—rather an
unusual thing in a native corps—the admissions during the year from this cause having amounted
to 61. The mortality has been small, only two deaths having occurred.
The 32nd Regiment N.I. at Thayetmyo has been healthy, and only two deaths occurred since
its arrival in Burmah on the 18th March. The Left Wing of the 33rd Regiment at Moulmein
has also enjoyed good health, and although cholera prevailed severely in the Moulmein Central
Jail which is contiguous to the barracks, the sepoys escaped with one case.
The Right Wing 33rd Regiment and the 41st Regiment N.I. at Tonghoo and Shoaygheen
have suffered a good deal from fever, dysentery, diarrhœa, general debility and beri-beri, and
there has been a good deal of invaliding in these corps to the Madras coast in. consequence. It
may be mentioned here that beri-beri has also prevailed a good deal in the Tonghoo jail this year,
and that it has likewise been noticed in the civil population. There have been two deaths in the
Right Wing of the 33rd Regiment and ten in the 41st inclusive of the two from cholera. The
23rd Regiment N.I. has suffered very severely from malarious fever at Port Blair and the
Nicobars. The regiment arrived from Bangalore in February weakened by the famine and but
little capable of resisting the influences of a malarious climate like that of the Andamans. I
happened to be at Port Blair when the 23rd Regiment arrived, and the difference in the physique
of the men of the 15th Regiment N.I., who had been three years in Port Blair, was very marked.
The former looked half-starved, while the 15th Regiment N.I. were robust looking in comparison,
notwithstanding that they also had suffered much from fever during their three years of foreign
service in the Andamans. The medical officer at present in charge of the 23rd Regiment N.I.,
Dr. Chester, of the Army Medical Department, ascribes the fever to the use of the tank water and
to deficient drainage. On my first visit to the Andamans I was led to attribute much of the fever
that prevailed there to these two causes, and requested the Officer commanding to prevent his men
from using the tank water for drinking purposes, and to restrict them to the well water. I fear
however the Andamans will always prove a malarious station, but to men in previous good health
and not weakened by semi-starvation the ultimate consequences need not, I think, be apprehended.