of health than it has done since 1872. The regiments at Sholapore, Dharwar,
and Satara suffered very severely from the malarious fever which decimated the
Deccan population after the famine. Syphilis and, more especially, bowel diseases
have also told adversely on the health of the troops in this Division.
10. The principal diseases which swell the returns are, as usual, malarious
fevers. The total treated for these disorders during the
period under review amounted to 11,240, as compared
with 12,528 in the previous year—equal to a percentage on total treated for all
diseases, for the two years, of 43.3 and 45.3 respectively. Taken by Divisions,
the total treated for malarious fevers in the Presidency was 1431, Poona 3848,
in the Northern Division 4205, and in Sind 1756; for the preceding year the
numbers were 1490, 3083, 5111, and 2844 respectively. It will thus be seen
that there has been an increased prevalence of fevers in the Poona Division, but
a decrease in the Presidency, Northern Division, and Sind—in the latter Division
a very marked one indeed. In the Presidency Division malarious fevers were
39.4 per cent. of the total treated, in Poona 43.5, in the Northern Division 45.2,
and in Sind 42.3. For the year 1876 the percentages were 43.0, 41.2, 44.6, and
54.0 respectively. Amongst the regiments in the Presidency Division the 17th at
Surat again shows the largest number treated for fevers—692 in a total treated of
1515. It can hardly be doubted, moreover, that a considerable proportion of the
other sickness contributing to this large total must also be ascribed to malarious
influences. At Bombay in the 20th N. I. the treated for fevers has been
somewhat less, while in the 21st it has exactly doubled; neither has, however,
suffered to any unusual extent. Bassadore maintains its evil reputation, with
a treated for fever of 135 in a total of 201. At Aden fevers have diminished in
frequency by one-half, as compared with the treated for 1876. The regiments
stationed at Poona continue to exhibit a large number of treated for malarious
fevers: in the 1st L.C. the figures are nearly double those of the year previous,
still the total for all the regiments taken together has diminished. The returns
of the 4th Rifles at Satara, the 3rd N. I. at Kolapore, the 12th at Dharwar, and
the 19th at Sholapore all show an increase in the treated for malarious fevers,
the latter regiment especially having suffered most severely. In the Northern
Division the 1st Grenadiers at Ahmedabad, the 22nd N. I. at Baroda, the 11th
at Bhuj, the 23rd and 25th at Mhow, the 10th at Neemuch, the 24th at
Mehidpore, and the 16th at Nusseerabad show the greatest amount of sickness
from fevers. The 10th Regiment, although transferred from the malarious
station of Mehidpore in the latter part of 1876, appears to have suffered to an
even greater degree than before. Out of a total treated of 1277, no less than
948 cases, or 74.3 per cent., were due to fevers; the percentage of fevers to
total treated at Mehidpore in 1876 was 66.9. The 24th N. I., which replaced
it from Neemuch, shows 381 cases of fever, or a percentage on total treated
of 60.2, as compared with one of 50.1 at Neemuch in the preceding year.
Both the regiments at Mhow show an increased number of admissions, and the
same observation applies to the 11th N. I. at Bhuj. A great improvement has
taken place in the 16th N. I. at Nusseerabad; the number of fever cases, though
still large, was 505 as compared with 862 in the year previous. Amongst the
troops at Rajkote and in the wing at Agar fever has been much less prevalent.
The abolition of Barda Chowki as a station has helped materially to reduce the
figures for this Division. All the Sind regiments, especially the 27th N. I. at
Hydrabad, and the 30th N. I. and 3rd Sind Horse at Jacobabad, show a very
satisfactory diminution in the number of fever cases as contrasted with the
returns of recent years.
Malarious Fevers.
11. The numbers treated for small-pox exhibit a further increase on those
for 1876, 101 cases with four deaths having occurred,
as compared with 57 cases and one death in the previous
twelve months. Although vaccination was carefully carried out, the continuance
of the disease in the army can scarcely be wondered at, considering that
Small-pox.