Epidemics.
Vaccination.
Recommenda-
tions.
PRESIDENCY DISTRICT. 7
physically and mentally have greatly improved. Subjoined is a list comparing the admissions
for the principal diseases between the years 1877 and 1878 :—
YEAR.
A g u e .
H y p e r t r o p h y o f
s p l e e n .
G e n e r a l d e b i l i t y .
B l i s t e r e d f e e t .
D y s e n t e r y .
D i a r r h œ a .
B r o n c h i t i s .
I t c h .
R e m i t t e n t f e v e r .
A b s c e s s .
O t h e r d i s e a s e s .
T O T A L .
1877 .
.
.
.
.
761
146
81
69
55
50
37
29
8
17
209
1,462
1878.
.
.
.
633
122
100
61
58
73
44
26
18
16
173
1,324
XVII. Principal causes of mortality.— Causes of deaths :—
1 5 A . A g u e .
H y p e r t r o p h y o f s p l e e n .
D i a r r h œ a .
D y s e n t e r y .
R e m i t t e n t f e v e r .
G e n e r a l d e b i l i t y .
A . B r o n c h i t i s . B . B r o n c h i t i s .
S c u r v y .
C a n c r u m o r i s .
S u i c i d e . G u n s h o t
wound.
H e p a t i t i s .
C h o l e r a .
P r i m a r y s y p h i l i s .
P n e u m o n i a .
L a r y n g i t i s . A p o p l e x y .
N e c r o s i s o f b o n e .
P l e u r i s y .
C o n g e s t i o n o f b r a i n .
U n k n o w n .
T O T A L .
In hospital .
. 30
20 12 8 8 5 4 1 2 2
...
1 1 1 1 1 1
1
...
...
...
99
Out of hospital . 9
2 1 ... ... 1 1 ... ... ...
1
. . . . . .
. . . 1
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
1
34
52
TOTAL
• 39
22 13 8 8 6 5 1 2 2
1 1 1 1 2 1 1
1
1
1
34 151
The mortality has been almost entirely due to ague, hypertrophy of spleen, remittent fever, and
other diseases malarious in origin. The cause of (905) general debility was repeated attacks
of fever. The increase of mortality over that of 1877 is partly due to causes already given
and partly to the number of men sent on sick leave, who have subsequently died at their homes
Twelve post-mortem examinations were made during the year. Some exhibited enormous
spleens, and in several cases an abnormal amount of pigment was observed in cases dying from
prolonged malarial cachexia. Ninety-nine men died in hospital, and fifty-two out of hospital
Of these, two died in 1877, but the report was not received until 1878, and thirty-four died from
causes unknown. It is probable that fever was the cause in many of these cases.
XVIII. Epidemics.—There have been no epidemics during the year.
XIX. Vaccination. —A hundred and five men have been vaccinated. In sixty-seven a per-
fect pustule, and in thirty-eight a modified pustule resulted.
XX. Recommendations. —On the recommendation of the medical authorities, on 1st Febru-
ary the regiment marched into camp at Kanchrapara, near Barrackpore. The sick were trans-
ported by rail. While in camp all parades were excused, and the men given every opportunity
to recruit their health. Little, if any, benefit resulted. Again, on 25th January, forty-two
sickly men were sent for change of air to Cawnpore, whence, on 4th September, they were
transferred to Moradabad. The effect was prejudicial to the weaker and beneficial to the stronger
men. Recommendations of minor importance have, from time to time, been made. All have been
fully carried out by the regimental authorities. Of these recommendations, the issue, on
arrival at Meerut, to. the men of cinchona febrifuge, iron and chiretta has been decidedly
beneficial. A considerable number of recruits have been discharged as never likely to become
efficient soldiers, and sick leave given to such sepoys as are likely to benefit from change of air.
XXI. Special observations. —It is statisfactory to state in conclusion that the condition of
the regiment generally already shows signs of improvement from residence in the present station.
The number and severity of the cases of fever is lessening, and the men physically and mentally
have improved. A considerable number of recruits must be discharged, and the invaliding list
for this year will be heavy ; but a residence in the present station offers fair prospects of bring-
ing the regiment into an efficient state of health at no very distant date.
Inspection. —The inspecting medical officer, Dr. Thorp, Deputy Surgeon-
General of the Meerut Circle, describes the deplorable condition of the men on
the arrival of the regiment by train from Barrackpore on the 23rd October :—
"There was scarcely a man fit for duty, and they had a sad and depressed
look, which I had never before seen in any regiment." Dr. Thorp was decidedly
of opinion, in opposition to both Commanding and Medical Officers, that the
men were in a physical condition both of scurvy and anæmia, which was the
result of underfeeding as well as of malaria. But it is probable that the real
cause of the low vitality present, and which was proved by the frightful mortali-
ty, arose from several causes of which the chief were primarily a malarious blood
poison, prolonged through three years' residence in the Eastern Frontier at Buxa
and the outposts where food was dear and vegetables scarce. Next, a further
Principal
causes of
mortality.
Special obser-
vations.
Inspection.