11
7. Details as to the causes and number of deaths in each station and corps are
given in table 2 of appendix, and table 3 contrasts the prevalence and mortality
from the different classes of diseases in each of the administrative districts.
8.
Officers .—Average annual strength in 1888, 365 against 295 the previous
year ; the admissions to hospital and deaths were 330 and 6 against 246 and 3 in
1887. In 1888 there were 40 officers invalided, in the previous year only 29.
The ratio per mille of strength are in 1888 admitted 904.11, died 16.44, and
invalided 109.59, compared with in 1887, 833.90, 10.17, and 98.30. The increase
in the ratios for the year under report is admitted 70.21, died 6.27, and invalided
11.29 per mille of strength. The 6 deaths among officers in 1888 were due to
hepatitis 2, enteric fever 1, cholera 1, gunshot wound (killed in action) 1, poisoned
wound (snake-bite) 1.
Lieutenant W. G. Miredyth, 7th Queen's Hussars, died at Secunderabad of
hepatitis with perforation of the bowel. The post mortem examination recorded
a mottled appearance of the surface of the liver which was firm in substance and
contracted showing on section products of inflammation. There was in the
intestine, about a foot above the ileocæcal valve, an ulcerated patch, in the centre of
which was a perforation of considerable size.
Lieutenant L. D'Aguilar, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, died at Minbu in Upper
Burma of hepatitis resulting in abscess. He had previously suffered from
dysentery and fever. The diagnosis of the case was made on its clinical history ;
there was no post mortem examination.
Captain G. A. Frost, S Battery, 1st Brigade, Royal Artillery, died at Bellary of
enteric fever ; the disease ran its usual course and the clinical history determined
the diagnosis. There was no post mortem examination.
Lieutenant W. Jephson, Bengal Staff, died of cholera at Mandalay, where the
disease was prevalent at the time, No post mortem examination was made.
Lieutenant R. G. LeF. Williamson, Royal Munster Fusiliers, was shot in action
with dacoits at Thagyin on the 5th of May. The body was not recovered from the
dacoit camp until six days after.
Captain P. Cunningham, A.P.D., attached to 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, died
at Myingyan of snake-bite ; death occurred on the 6th day after the wound ; there
were congestion of the lungs and œdema of the uvula. There was no post mortem
examination made.
In addition to the above fatal cases, the chief diseases from which officers
suffered were ague, simple continued, and enteric fever, debility, hepatitis, and
diarrhœa.
9.
Women .—In the year under report the average strength of soldiers' wives
present in the command was 843 against 856 the previous year ; 816 admissions to
hospital occurred and 11 deaths, giving a ratio per mille of 967.97 and 13.05
compared with 1,002.33 and 17.52 the previous year, a decrease of 34.36 in the
rate of admissions per thousand and of 4.47 in deaths per thousand.
Of the 11 deaths, 3 occurred from tubercle of lung, and 1 each from
remittent fever, hydrophobia, scirrhus, puerperal convulsions, bronchitis, diarrhœa,
hepatitis, and abortion. The largest number of admissions 244 was for debility
and next 101 for ague.
10.
Children .—There were 1,627 children on the average in the command in
1888 against 1,738 the year before. There were 1,437 admissions and 70 deaths,
ratios per thousand of 883.22 and 43.02 ; compared with the ratios of the same for
1887, 855.58 and 54.08, we find that there was an increase of 27.64 per mille in
the ratio of admissions and a decrease of 11.06 per mille in deaths. The deaths
resulted 12 from teething, 9 diarrhœa, 7 debility, 7 infantile convulsions, 4 bron-
chitis, dysentery 4, 3 each from whooping cough, remittent fever, immaturity
of birth and croup ; 2 each from measles and meningitis, and 1 each from epidemic
diarrhœa, erysipelas, enteric fever, malarial cachexia, spinal bifida, hydrophobia,
hydrocephalus, cyanosis, pneumonia, pleurisy and enteritis. Of the other cases,
bronchitis was largely prevalent, 272 cases being returned. The next most preva-
lent diseases have been diarrhœa 166, ague 137, debility 121 cases.