xviii
STATEMENT No. XIII.
Showing the diseases causing mortality.
DISEASES.
1877.
1876.
1875.
1874.
1873.
Died per
cent. of
admis-
sions.
Died per
cent. of
total
deaths,
Died per
cent. of
admis-
sions.
Died per
cent. of
total
deaths.
Died per
cent. of
admis-
sions.
Died per
cent. of
total
deaths.
Died per
cent. of
admis-
sions.
Died per
cent. of
total
deaths.
Died per
cent. of
admis-
sions.
Died per
cent. of
total
deaths.
Small-pox
13.51
.98 8.11
.54 20.59 1.04 23.63 2.43 26.92 3.09
Fevers
.43 25.88
.28 23.24
.46 2 3 .
.32 22.02
.49 26.22
Cholera
45.83 2.15 53.92 15.85 43.94 8.61 69.05 5.41 55.88 5.69
Phthisis
21.60 5.29 25.44 5.23 26.72 4.60 28.56 5.59 31.37
4 . 7 1
Scurvy
...
...
3.70
.54 2.81
.45
...
...
4.51
1.03
Apoplexy
37.5
.59 66.66
. 7 2 57.14
.59
1 0 0 .
. 3 7 66.66
.88
Bronchitis
1.45 6.86
.97 3.42 1.02 2.67
1.10 4.48 2.90 7.66
Pneumonia
20.92 18.62 20.66 15.68 25.25 26.26 20.40 23.71 16.23 12.81
Pleurisy
1.28
.59 5.26 1.62 5.82 1.63
3 . 8 6
1 . 4 9 5.46 1.91
Dysentery
.74 5.09
.94 6.31 1.03 5.64
1.24 7.09 1.06 5.45
Diarrhoea
1.69
5 . 0 9 1.29 4.32 1.67
4 . 7 5
1.54 5.22 2.02 5.45
Debility
3.52 5.10 1.58 1.26 3.82 3.41
1.23 1.49 1.26 1.18
Spleen diseases
4.08 4.51 3.38 5.04 2.54 4.15
2.04 3.36 1.75 2.21
Poisons
4.76
.39 22.22
.18 6.90
.59 12.17 1.12 10.45
1.03
Injuries
.32 4.12
.18 2.16
.14 1.48
.19 2.43
.11
1.03
All other diseases
.47 14.7
.48 13.89
.45 11.57
.50 16.98
.76 19.65
Fevers.
Diminished
prevalence of
periodic
revers.
Fever at Jubbulpore.
Mooltan.
Morar and Meean Meer.
Barrackpore.
The differences are not very material. It is satisfactory to note that not
only has the proportion of deaths contributed by dysentery been reduced, but the
death-rate also exhibits a decided fall. This result is, no doubt, in great measure,
due to improved methods of treating the disease. The reduction, it will be
observed, has been progressive during the last four years, and there is no
evidence that the disease has become milder in type.
30. One of the most remarkable facts in the sanitary history of the year
is the diminished prevalence of malarious disease. Admissions from ague con-
stituted 540 per 1,000 of strength, against 779 in 1876, which may be accepted
as an average year, and deaths 1.27, against 1.30. Admissions from remittent fever
amounted to 93.6 per 1,000, against 97.5, and deaths to .88 , against .91. The
death-rates were, however, higher—of ague 2.35, against 1.67, and of remittent
fever 94.5, against 85.1. These figures indicate a very marked reduction of
prevalence of ague, and a slight reduction in that of remittent fever ; but, the
number of deaths which took place being very nearly the same in both years,
these bear a higher proportion to cases. There can be no doubt that the diminu-
tion of periodic fevers thus shown was due to the greater dryness of the year
and the failure of the monsoon rains, and was brought about in two ways :
directly, by the deficiency of rain, and indirectly by the diminished flooding
and soaking of the soil by rivers. In many of the reports the two phenomena,
deficient rain and diminished prevalence of periodic fevers, are associated as
cause and effect, and an instructive comparison instituted between 1877 and
previous years. In the case of the 16th Madras Native Infantry at Jub-
bulpore, the unusual drought seems to have operated prejudicially in developing
the morbific influence of an adjoining swamp. In Mooltan the excessive
spring rain was followed by an outburst of periodic fevers in May and June ;
the usual autumnal fever was absent, and the late autumnal rain was not
followed by an outbreak of fever, showing that high temperature is a very
essential element in fever causation. The experience of the year is thus very
valuable, as indicating the physical conditions upon which the production of
malarious fevers depend. An illustration of these is given by Surgeon Barclay
in his description of a " bheer " at page 64. In two conspicuous instances
— that of the 41st Native Infantry at Morar and the 9th Native Infantry at
Meean Meer—there was an exception to the rule of diminished fever prevalence
; but every corps stationed in these places appears to be destined to undergo, in
the first or second year of its residence, an outbreak of malarious disease,
whatever the character of the season may be. The 38th Native Infantry at
Barrackpore has also suffered most severely from malarious fever, with severe
complications—the too common sequels of the disease in Lower Bengal,—to
such an extent, that the health and physique of the men have been most seriously
compromised, and a very serious mortality has occurred. This result is evidently