MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 18TH SEPTEMBER 1878, No. 4838.
type was not severe. Secunderabad shows an increase in admissions for primary
syphilis; a decrease in those for gonorrhœa; while at Kamptee, a decrease in both
is noted. At Seetabuldee, only seven cases of primary syphilis and five of gonorrhœa
were recorded.
At Secunderabad, the type of syphilis was mild, and in but few instances
followed by constitutional symptoms. Much disease is attributed to connection
with unregistered women, the facilities for which are great.
Rangoon and Thayetmyo both show slightly-increased admission rates for
primary syphilis, the former 92.12, exceeding that of previous year by 15.30 per
mille, the latter (34.97) shows an increase of 6.78 only. At Tonghoo, there is a
decided decrease, the ratios for the two years being 45.56 and 105.03 respectively.
Nineteen admissions for primary syphilis were recorded, against forty-eight in the
previous year. Gonorrhœa has decreased slightly at Rangoon, but increased at
Thayetmyo and Tonghoo.
Two cases of primary syphilis occurred at Port Blair. There was no case of
gonorrhœa at this station.
Efforts have been made for some time past, with a view to limit as far as pos
-sible venereal affections among the troops, but with little effect. In most corps
the regimental police exercise a certain amount of supervision, but this is in most
cases restricted to the immediate vicinity of barracks.
During the past year, the prevalence of famine tended considerably to increase
venereal disease,—poverty and famine-stricken women from villages near and distant
from military stations having, it is stated, prostituted themselves in order to live;
and it is asserted that many of them were themselves diseased when first they
came to cantonments—a circumstance which points to the extensive prevalence of
venereal disease among the Native population.
Vaccination.—Has been carefully carried out during the year.
Officers.—Average strength 454, admissions 324, equal to a ratio of 713.65
p e r m i l l e o f s t r e n g t h , a g a i n s t 7 6 2 . 9 6 i n 1 8 7 6 . S i m p l e c o n t i n u e d f e v e r , a g u e ,
febricula, diarrhœa and dyspepsia were the chief causes of disability.
Only one case of enteric fever is recorded among this class, viz., that of Lieu
-tenant Bevan, R. A., Secunderabad, particulars concerning which are detailed in my
published report of enteric fever, page 43. There is nothing in the record of this
case to indicate that the fever was enteric; on the contrary, the record renders it
tolerably evident that it was not.
Compared with 1876, the death rate (13.22 per mille of strength) was less
by 4.06.
Nominal Roll of Officers who died during the Year from 1 st January to 31st December 1877.
Corps.
Service.
Rank
.
Name.
Age.
Total.
I n I n d i a .
Date of Death.
Cause of Death.
Place of Death.
1877.
Royal Artillery . . . Colonel W. J. Bradford . . . 49 31 9/12 28 10th November Acute Rheumatism Kamptee.
8/8 th Brigade,
Royal Artillery . . .
Major P. H. Rolland . . .
"
1 9 4 / 1 2
17 10/12 6th May . . . Sunstroke . . . On the voyage
to Tonghoo.
48th Regiment . . . Lieut. M. J. Munro . . . 22
3 4 / 1 2 2 7/12 29th June . . .
H œ m o p t y s i s
(tubercular) . . .
Bangalore.
Army Medical
Department . . .
Surgeon
Major.
W. F. Cullen, M.D . . . 46
2 2 5 / 1 2 1/12 1st May . . . Bright's disease . . . Bellary.
Royal Engineers Lieut-
Colonel.
J. Vertue . . .
"
. . . 17 10/12 16th August . . . Cholera . . . Trichinopoly.
Do. . . . Lieut. D. S. Litton . . .
"
. . . 1 5/12
Do. . . . Phthisis Pulmonalis Ranepett.
28