3
command was less by 46.27 per 1,000 than in 1882, but the death rate for both
years was the same, viz., 0.28 per 1,000. Cholera was very prevalent amongst the
civil population, and there occurred 19 cases and 10 deaths amongst the troops,
giving an admission and death rate of 1.79 and 0.94, respectively, per 1,000, against
giving
1.39 and 0.83 in 1882. Ten of the cases occurred in the Nagpore Circle, five at
Secunderabad, three on the march, and one in Bellary.
Constitutional group of diseases.—The admission rate for these was less by 8.83
per 1,000, and the death ratio 0.11 higher than in the previous year. In all the
circles, except Hyderabad, diseases of this class were less frequent. The admis
- s i o n s f o r
r h e u m a t i s m
were in the ratio of 24.41 per 1,000 against 30.32 in the pre
-vious year. Primary syphilis shows an admission rate of 110.06 per 1,000 men,
which is higher by 0.32 than in 1882. In all the circles except Hyderabad there was
a decrease in admissions for this complaint, but the rates, especially at Bangalore,
are still generally very high. There was a satisfactory decline in secondary
syphilis, the admission rate being less by 2.94 per 1,000 than in the previous year.
For tubercular diseases, consisting chiefly of cases of phthisis pulmonalis, the
admission and death rates per mille were, respectively, 5.37 and 0.57, against 6.19
and 0.56 in 1882. These ailments were most prevalent at the depôts where men
were sent for change of air; and in Burma, Nagpore, and the Eastern District.
Under the constitutional group, there also occurred three cases of cancer, three of
diabetes, and 27 of anæmia.
Local Diseases.—The admission and death rates per 1,000 for diseases of the
nervous system wer e, r espect i vel y, 11. 59 and 0. 85, agai nst 13. 77 and 1. 39 i n t he
previous year. There was a marked decrease in cases of sunstroke, there having
been but five attacks with three deaths, against 12 with six deaths in 1882.
Amongst other nervous complaints there were 14 of epilepsy, seven of melancholia,
the same number of dementia, and four of mania. The admission rate for eye
diseases was fractionally higher than in 1882, and the most common form of disease
was conjunctivitis. For diseases of the circulatory system the admission rate was
18.75 and the death rate 0.09 per 1,000, against 21.36 and 0.83 in the previous
year. The greater portion of the admissions consisted of cases of palpitation, which
occurred in the proportion of 15.17 per 1,000, against 16.73 in 1882.
Of 380 admissions for diseases of the absorbent system, the whole, except 20,
were for inflammation suppuration, &c., of the inguinal glands, and presumably to
a large extent connected with venereal disease. Diseases of the respiratory system
show, as compared with the results in 1882, a decline of 4.40 in the admission rate,
but a fractional increase in the death rate per 1,000 of strength. The most
common diseases of this nature were bronchial catarrh and bronchitis, but there were
10 cases of asthma, 15 of pneumonia, and nine of pleurisy.
Diseases of the Digestive system constitute over one-fifth of the total admis
- s i o n s f o r t h e y e a r . T h e a d m i s s i o n s w e r e a t t h e r a t e o f 2 2 1 . 1 6 a n d t h e d e a t h s i n t h e
ratio of 2.17 per 1,000, and therefore 3.49 and 0.24 less respectively than in 1882.
The admissions consisted chiefly of cases of dysentery, dyspepsia, diarrhœa,
hepatitis, and tonsillitis. Digestive diseases were most prevalent in Burma, which
may have been partly due to climate and partly to the little change possible in the
dietary of the troops. The diet scale was receiving attention during the year.
Diseases of the Urinary System.— The admissions under this head were in the
ratio of 118.92 per 1,000, of which 112.89 were due to venereal complaints. There
were eight cases of Bright's disease with three deaths. For debility the admission
rate was higher by 5.37 per 1,000 than in 1882.
Poisons.—Of the 24 admissions under this head, 16 were due to delirium
tremens, six to alcoholic poisoning, one to poisoning by a species of jatropha, and
one to a poisoned wound from dead animal matter.
Injuries.—There were five cases of accidental drowning, and one man was killed
and his body fearfully mangled with an axe by an escaped convict near Port Blair.
There were six accidental gun-shot wounds, of which one proved fatal. There were
also six suicidal gun-shot wounds, of which four resulted in death, and one homicidal