MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 8TH SEPTEMBER 1879, No. 5000.
It was most prevalent at Thyetmyo, where nine cases (four fatal) were
furnished by the 44th Regiment. All of these occurred between the 27th and
29th May, five being recorded on the 28th May. These attacks were attributed to a
peculiarly moist condition of the atmosphere which prevailed at the time combined
with high temperature. No case could be traced directly to intemperance. Some
of the men attacked were total abstainers. A fatal case of hydrophobia was
recorded in a man of B Battery, 6th Brigade, Royal Artillery, Bellary. He was
admitted on 17th June and died the following day. On inquiry it was ascertained
that he and three other men had been bitten by a dog about two months prior to
admission, but the matter was not reported, nor was surgical aid applied for.
The deceased was the first man bitten. All four men were bitten on the same
date, but none of the others suffered subsequently. The symptoms in this case
were very characteristic.
The admission and death ratios for diseases of the circulatory system, 15.99
and 1.19 per mille, respectively, are almost identical with those of 1877. The
invaliding ratio (4.50) shows an increase of .69 as compared with the year preced
-ing. Aneurism caused eleven admissions and two deaths against fourteen admis
-sions and nine deaths in 1877.
Diseases of the Absorbent System furnished 317 admissions, but caused no
mortality or invaliding. The admission ratio, 29.14 per mille, shows a reduction
of 9.35 per mille as compared with 1877. The chief admissions were due to inflam-
-matory affections of the inguinal glands, many of which were no doubt the sequel
of venereal disease, which was very prevalent throughout the year and caused
much inefficiency.
Diseases of the Digestive System furnished 3,593 admissions, or a ratio of
330.24 per mille of strength. The ratio exceeds that of 1877 by 15.70 per mille.
The death-rate, 6.89, exceeds that of the previous year by 1.53. Of 75
deaths recorded, 28 were due to dysentery and 40 to hepatitis, either alone
or combined with abscess of the liver. The chief admission causes were
dysentery (974), diarrhœa (758), dyspepsia (658), and hepatitis (595). The invalid
-ing ratio (13.23) is almost identical with that of 1877. The chief invaliding
causes were dysentery (58) and hepatitis (64). The Army Sanitary Commission
having, in their memorandum on the health returns of British troops in the Madras
Presidency for 1876, remarked that the occurrence of so many fatal cases of hepatic
and gastric disease points to the necessity of examination into the personal habits
of the men to which such disease may be due, such as spirit drinking, too small
a proportion of farinaceous and vegetable diet, or too much animal food, night
chills, and the like, I directed medical officers in this command in their annual
reports for 1878 to give as exact accounts as possible with regard to these points.
The following is a summary of the results arrived at, viz., Hyderabad Circle:—The
Principal Medical Officer remarks: over-indulgence in spirituous liquors, the use
of strong bad country spirits, and exposure to chills are no doubt the cause of by
far the greater proportion of all diseases of the digestive system. Dysentery was
more prevalent and fatal than in the previous year. The majority of the cases,
and all the deaths, occurred at Secunderabad. They were ascribed to the heavy
and protracted rain-fall of the year. Relapses were frequent on the least exposure
or indiscretion in diet. The raw north-east monsoon which prevailed at the close
of the year operated injuriously on these cases. Diarrhœa was prevalent during
the rains, and was in most cases due to damp, in some cases probably to indiscretion
in diet. The chief number of the cases occurred at Secunderadad. Hepatitis pre
-vailed chiefly at Secunderabad, and was attributed to the variable climate and the
prevalence of chilling winds at certain seasons. In many cases the disease was
influenced by excessive indulgence in stimulants. He considers that much of the
hepatitis recorded in 12th Lancers, composed of young soldiers in their second
year of residence in India, was influenced by excessive indulgence in spirituous
drinks. Subjoined is a summary of the remarks of medical officers holding
charges in this circle. The officers in charge of the various batteries of Royal
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