8
MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 18TH SEPTEMBER 1878, No. 4838.
The sixth, due to measles, occurred at Bellary. Continued fevers, under
which head are comprised ardent or heat fever, simple or non-specific continued
fever and febricula were less prevalent than in 1876, the admission ratios being
130.72 and 135.29 respectively. The death ratio (0.09) was also less, there being
but one death against four in 1876. It was due to simple continued fever, and
occurred in an old soldier at Trichinopoly.
Continued Fevers (simple continued ardent or heat fever, and febricula) have
apparently increased in the Presidency and Mysore Circles, but decreased in those of
Hyderabad and Burmah. In the Presidency, the increase is noted chiefly at
Bellary, Trichinopoly and St. Thomas' Mount, while in the Mysore Circle it occurred
chiefly at Bangalore. The decrease noted in the Hyderabad Circle occurred only
at Kamptee, the admission rate at Secunderabad being identical with that of the
previous year. Many of the cases returned as simple continued fever would be
more appropriately recorded under the head of ardent or heat fever of the tropics,
but the absence of such a heading from the established nomenclature of diseases
forbids their being so designated. These cases were of a non-specific nature, and
entirely due to endemic and climatorial influences.
Paroxysmal Fevers (ague and remittent) show an increased admission rate as
compared with 1876, the respective ratios being 70.26 and 55.60 per mille of
strength. There was but one death. It was due to remittent fever, and occurred
at Trichinopoly. This class shows an increase in the Presidency Circle as com
-pared with 1876. They prevailed most at Bellary, which contributed 103 out of a
total of 121 cases of ague in the Presidency Circle. A large number of the cases
occurred during November and December, and were attributed to the heavy rain-fall
in October. There has also been a slight increase in the Mysore Circle. Several
of those recorded in the 14th Hussars, Bangalore, occurred in men who had exposed
themselves when on a shooting excursion. The 45th Regiment, quartered at
Bangalore, had not a single case. Remittent fever was absent from the Mysore
Circle. In the Hyderabad Circle, the admission rate for paroxysmal fevers (129.27)
exceeds that of 1876 by 26.41 per mille. There were 416 cases of ague and 8 of
remittent fever. Of these, 232 cases of ague occurred at Secunderabad, 147 at
Kamptee and 37 at Seetabuldee.
Of the eight cases of remittent fever, six occurred at Secunderabad and two at
Kamptee. Of the 232 cases of ague recorded at Secunderabad, 225 were furnished
by the Infantry, the 44th Regiment contributing 190 cases ; the 2/16th Regiment
only arrived from England on 13th March 1876. The greater prevalence of the
affection in this corps (44th Regiment) was due to its previous residence at Kamp
-tee, where it had suffered much from malarial diseases. Surgeon-Major MacQueen,
in his annual report of 44th Regiment for 1876, wrote as follows :—"The continued
residence of the 44th Regiment at the station of Kamptee, where the men suffered
greatly from malarial fevers, has induced functional disorders of the nervous system
in many, and in others morbidly-enlarged liver and spleen." No deaths from
paroxysmal fevers occurred in the Hyderabad Circle.
In the Burmah Circle, the admissions from paroxysmal fevers were slightly in
excess of the previous year, and, with the exception of Port Blair, this class was
pretty equally distributed over the other stations.
Enteric Fever .—The ratio of admissions attributed to enteric fever (5.90)
exceeds that of 1876 by 1.32 per mille of strength. There were in all sixty-five
cases and twenty-two deaths among men. Full particulars of cases of so-called
enteric fever, recorded from a date as far back as practicable, are contained in a report
which I had lately the honor to submit to His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief
and Government. Of the cases which occurred in 1877, all do not appear in the
above report, some having occurred at a date subsequent to its preparation. The
records of such as were omitted form a separate appendix to the present report.