3
terminates in desquamation. Subsequently to this the patient slowly recovers,
but feels weak and depressed for some time, and the swelling and pain in the
j oints may last for weeks or months. As a rule, I believe, natives suffer less
from the " after-pains" than Europeans and East Indians. In illustration of the
sudden nature of an attack of dengue, it may be mentioned that it repeatedly
happened that a clerk who had arrived at a public office in the morning,
apparently in good health, was by afternoon so prostrated, that he had to be
carried home. It need hardly be said, therefore, that an outbreak of such a
disease in the case of an army in the field might be attended with serious conse-
quences. Fortunately the disease is very rarely fatal, but it may be followed
by anæmia, long-standing muscular pains, diarrhœa, dysentery, bronchitis,
neuralgia, sciatica, or renal disorders. It is very communicable ; and once in a
house, the whole household, including servants, may be prostrated in a few days.
During and after the epidemic in Madras the public health was very much
depressed, and patients who had been attacked with some other disease subsequent
to dengue took a long time to recover. Dengue first made its appearance in the
Madras Presidency on the 2nd January 1872 at Cannanore, where it was intro-
duced by a party of Royal Artillery who had come from Bombay in a steamer,
on board which the disease was prevailing. On the 8th February it invaded
Madras, and it is doubtful whether it was introduced by parties who came to
Madras from Cannanore, or was imported by sea through visitors from other
parts of India, in which it was prevailing at the time. From Madras it spread
to Trichinopoly, Bellary, Bangalore, Berhampore, and to a great number of civil
stations. Immediately after its appearance in Madras it spread very rapidly and
prevailed amongst all classes till about the close of November. At this time the
very heavy fall of rain noticed in paragraph 2 took place; but whether the decline of
dengue was a consequence or merely coincidence,it is impossible to say. Dengue,
on the whole, caused a great deal of suffering amongst the poorer classes, as it
not only unfitted them for work during the attack, but often rendered them unable
to earn their daily bread for weeks subsequently. It also occasioned a good deal
of inconvenience in Native Corps, as, owing to the large number of men in hospital,
the ordinary garrison duties, in some cases, fell heavily on those not on the sick
list. The corps which suffered most from dengue were the 23rd Regiment,
Quilon ; the 28th Regiment, Vellore ; the 17th, 7th, and 37th Regiments, Madras ;
the 19th, 26th, and 38th Regiments, Trichinopoly ; and the 41st Regiment,
Cuttack.
8. Prevalence of small-pox. —Small-pox was also unusually prevalent during
1872, but there was a remarkable immunity from cholera. The circles in which
it occurred were the Presidency, Northern, Mysore, Hyderabad, Nagpore, and
Saugor, but there were altogether only 14 cases and but 6 deaths. On the whole,
as already stated, the health of the Native Army was by no means so satisfactory
during the past year as in 1871. This will be more clearly illustrated by the
following statement :—
Years.
1871.
1872.
Ratio per cent. of treated to average daily strength
... 71.28 103.83
Ratio per cent. of total deaths in and out of hospital to
average strength ...
...
•••
...
...
... 1.16
1.28
It thus appears that the ratio of sick during 1872, as compared with that of
the previous year, was increased to the extent of 32.55 per cent, and the death-
rate by 0 . 12 per cent. Considering the great increase of sickness, it is satisfac-
tory to find that the death-rate was so little disturbed. The actual number of
deaths during the two years was as follows :—
Total deaths in and out of hospital during 1871 ... ...
...
334
Do.
do.
do.
1872 ...
...
...
370
Increase in 1872...
36
9. Causes of sickness and mortality.--The more important causes of sickness
and mortality in the Native Army during 1872 were as follows :—