Statistics of
the most pre-
valent fever.
84
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
It will be observed that the admissions of daily sick per 1,000 of average strength are
greater this than last year, although less than in 1874. The ratio of average daily sick is less
than the two preceding years. The ratio of deaths in hospital is however greater than the two
Precedin g years.
Statistics of the most prevalent fever.—Disease was as usual, fever of a more or less
distinctly marked intermittent type in several cases becoming remittent. The admissions under
this head are greater in 1876 than in 1875, but less than 1874. The 29th Native Infantry
and 40th Regiment show a larger number of admissions than the 1st Native Infantry.
A special report on the increased prevalence of fever in the former regiment was forwarded to
the Surgeon-General, Madras. No cause can be assigned for this increase of sickness in these
regiments. The 3rd Regiment, which suffered most in former years, has this year been
singularly free from fever, having had only 166 admissions this year against 268 in 1875 and
567 in 1874. The 1st Cavalry shows a slight increase of admissions (47) against 39 in last year
and 31 in 1874. There is also an increase in the G, H, and K companies, Sappers and Miners,
190 against 159 in 1875, but a decrease as compared with 1874.
The subjoined table exhibits the admissions from fever alone and the ratio per cent. to
average strength of the corps comprised in the preceding table :—
Fever.
Corps.
1876.
1875.
1874.
Admissions
from Fever
alone.
Ratio per
1,000 of
Average
Strength.
Admissions
from Fever
alone.
Ratio per
1,000 of
Average
Strength.
Admissions -
from Fever
alone.
Ratio per
1,000 of
Average
Strength.
H.M.'s 1st Regt. M.L.C. ...
47
20.52
39
18.22
31
13.95
Do.
1st do. M.N.I. ...
212
30.53
111
18. 10
. . .
...
Do.
3rd do. P.L.I.
...
166
24.71
268
3 8 . 9 6
567
84.12
Do. 29th do. M.N.I.
...
423
61.52
236
33.71
788
115.54
Do. 40th do.
do.
...
330
4 6 . 5 1
224
32.94
399
55.03
G, H, and K Companies,
Sappers and Miners.
190
65.02
159
55.36
312
94.14
For the whole native force actually occupying Secunderabad the percentage of admissions
to average strength for fever alone was
—
...
...
...
In 1874...
...
...
...
71.51
„ 1875
...
...
...
...
...
...
31.95
„ 1876
...
...
...
...
...
41.65
The proportion borne by admissions for fever to admissions for all other causes
—
In 1874
...
...
...
...
...
... 1 to 1.74
„ 1875
...
...
...
...
...
... 1 to 2.44
„ 1876
...
...
...
...
...
...
... 1 to 2.02
The proportion of deaths from fever to deaths from all causes
—
In 1874
...
...
...
...
... 1 to 3.11
...
...
...
...
...
„ 1875... 1 to 4.66
„ 1876
...
...
... 1 to 6.66
Fever of an intermittent and remittent type obtains in Secunderabad during the rainy
season, chiefly affecting the lines of one or more native regiments in each year. During the
past year fever was more prevalent in the native corps than last year, but much less so than
in 1874. One thousand three hundred and sixty-eight cases with 6 deaths, against
1,037 with 6 deaths in 1875 and 2,528 with 9 deaths in 1874. The pre-existing proclivity
to fever in the 3rd Regiment Light Infantry has been attributed to the state of their
lines, but all the regimental lines labor under nearly, if not quite, similar sanitary
arrangements. It has been attributed to the high monsoon winds to which the 3rd
Light Infantry Lines are exposed, but all the lines are to a greater or less extent exposed
to the monsoon winds, with varying years of health and sickness. Again it has been attri-
buted to want of acclimatisation, to atmospheric vicissitudes, to malaria, and to many other
sources ; but in spite of these and all alleged causes, the 3rd Light Infantry, as already stated,
was more exempt from fever than the hitherto healthy 29th, which this year has suffered more
than any of the other regiments. In the Hyderabad Assigned Districts fever among the
population exists every year in direct proportion to the rainfall in the year, but the native
troops in Secunderabad do not appear to come under the influence of a like law.
Statistics of
mortality.
Statistics of mortality.—The mortality among the native troops in Secunderabad was
much higher during the year under review than during the last two years, the deaths in hospital
having been 40 against 28 in 1875 and 1874.