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MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 3RD DECEMBER 1883, No. 6524.
Eruptive Fevers.—Six of the twelve admissions were cases of small-pox, but
none of these proved fatal. The remaining cases consisted of five of measles and
one of cow-pox.
Continued Fevers.—Under this head there were 558 cases, giving an admission
-rate of 51.59 per mille of strength against 70.84 in 1881. The admissions and
mortality from enteric fever show a great increase, the former having amounted to
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47 and the latter to 23, against nine and five, respectively, in the previous year.
The chief incidence of the disease was at Bangalore, where 19 admissions took place ;
but eight cases occurred at Secunderabad and six at Bellary. The other admissions
under this head consisted of 213 cases of simple continued fever and 298 of febri--
cula, without a single death.
Paroxysmal Fevers.—There was again a great decrease in fevers of this class,
the admission-rate having been 126.65 per mille of strength against 208.78 in 1881.
The admissions consisted of 1,301 cases of ague and 69 of remittent fever, and the
deaths, which amounted to three, were all under the head of remittent fever.
Cholera.—This disease appeared at Secunderabad, Bellary, and Madras, but
never became epidemic amongst the troops, although prevalent amongst the civil
population. Of the 15 admissions, 7, with 4 deaths, occurred in the S Battery, 1st
Brigade, Royal Artillery, on the march between Kamptee and Secunderabad, and 4
admissions and one death occurred among 1st Battalion Oxfordshire Light In
-fantry, while they were proceeding to Bangalore. Two fatal cases also occurred at
-Secunderabad. The admission-rate per 1,000 of strength was 1.39 and the death
-rate 0.83, against 3.37 and 1.64 in 1881.
Venereal Diseases.— The average number constantly sick per mille of strength
from primary syphilis was 8.81 and from gonorrhœa 7.52, against 7.18 and 5.79 in
1881. Taking admissions, they were for primary syphilis at the rate of 109.74 and for
gonorrhœa in the ratio of 109.37 per 1,000 men, as compared with 88.65 and 92.79,
respectively, in the preceding year. Again, in the case of secondary syphilis, the
admissions in 1882 were 0.19 per 1,000 of strength in excess of the number in
1881. The chief diseases of this class were, therefore, more prevalent than in the
preceding year, and it cannot be said that lock hospitals had any appreciable
effect in diminishing the prevalence or modifying the type of venereal diseases.
Including the whole of the complaints that come under this class, they formed the
chief causes of sickness in the force, and this notwithstanding the expensive arrange--
ments maintained with the view of keeping them in check. In short, the operation
of the Contagious Diseases Act is rendered nugatory by its inability to cope with
clandestine prostitution, which is prevalent in all large military stations.
Sunstroke.—The admissions under this head were 12 and the deaths five,
against 14 and 6, respectively, in 1881.
Mental Diseases.— The admissions under this head numbered 30, being at the
rate of 2.77 per mille of strength against 2.99 in 1881. The diseases were nine of
mania, nine of melancholia and twelve of dementia.
Diseases of the Circulatory System.—The admissions under this head were 6.44
per thousand men higher than, and the death-rate 0.25 in excess of, the correspond--
ing ratios in 1881. Palpitation was the most frequent form of complaint, having
caused 181 out of a total of 231 admissions ; and of these men, 38 were invalided.
Twenty-six men suffered from valvular disease of the heart ; and, of these, three
died and 19 were invalided, viz., 16 for discharge and three for change of climate.
Diseases of the Respiratory System.— The admissions under this head in 1882
were 0.97 lower per 1,000 of strength, and the death-rate 0.11 less than in 1881.
Of the three deaths, two were from pneumonia and one from pleurisy. Of the
admissions, 285 were due to bronchial affections, 13 to asthma, 15 to pneumonia
and 12 to pleurisy.
Diseases of the Digestive System.—These were, next to venereal complaints, the
chief causes of inefficiency, and, in many cases, the result of, or aggravated by, in
-temperance. Compared with the results of 1881, the admission-rate per mille of
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