XVii
No. 681 of 1877, has proved a great boon ; and in many regiments, the im-
portant matter of hospital clothing and bedding has been made the subject of
special regimental arrangement. The 2nd Goorkhas at Dehra Dun is the only
regiment in which hospital clothing has been specially provided ; but in the
6th Native Infantry at Lucknow and 36th at Barrackpore, sheets and counter-
panes have been introduced, which subserve the purposes of cleanliness,
neatness and refinement. The supply of fires in hospitals on a more liberal
scale than formerly has been productive of great benefit to the sick. Alto-
gether there is abundant proof in these reports that, within late years, many
salutary changes have taken place in hospital construction and arrangement,
which must greatly enhance the comfort of the sick, and contribute most
materially to their recovery.
28. The special diseases, which many account for the sickness and mortality
of the year, are exhibited in Statements Nos. XII and XIII. Table No. II fur-
nishes a complete list of the diseases to which admissions and deaths were due,
their comparative prevalence and fatality.
Supply of
blalikets, &e.
Fi res.
Prevailing
di seases.
STATEMENT No. XII.
Showing the comparative prevalence of the principal causes of sickness.
DISEASES.
ADMISSIONS PER CENT. OP TOTAL ADMIS-
SIONS.
DISEASES.
ADMISSIONS PER CENT. OP TOTAL ADMIS-
SIONS.
1877.
1876.
1875.
1874.
1873.
1877.
1876.
1875,
1874,
1873.
Fevers
48.32 56.58 49.21 52.31 51.92 Diarrhoea
2.46 2.46 2.78 2.60
2 . 5 8
Cholera
.04
.21
.19
.06
.09 Colic
1.16
.89 1.11
.99
.86
Rheumatism
3.45 2.17 2.64 2.74 3.14 Spleen
.91
.21
.53
.72
.90
Syphilis
1.53 1.41
1.74 1.83 1.46 Gonorrhoea
.59
.46
.61
.68
.50
Phthisis
.20
.15
.16
.14
.14 Abscess
1.66 1.42 1.88 1.77 1.77
Anaemia
.31
.12
.13
.19
.24 Ulcers
2.15 1.91 2.37 2.53 2.48
Ophthalmia
2.08 1.86 2.34 1.98 2.21 Boils
2.72 2.11 2.66 2.63 2.48
Diseases of the ear .48
.41
.48
.52
.38 Scabies
.98
.77
.55
.60
.91
Bronchitis
3.88 2.59 2.56 1.80 2.53 Debility
1.19 1.10 1.59 1.25 1.21
Pneumonia
.73
.56
1.01
. 7 7
.76 Poisons
.06
.06
.08
.06
.09
Pleurisy
.38
.23
.27
.29
.34 Injuries
10.5
8.76 10.44 9.65 9.17
Dyspepsia
.83
.61
.89
.79
.67 All other diseases 9.90 8.05 8.42 8.75 8.18
Dysentery
5.59 4.90 5.36 4.35 4.92
Fevers, injuries, bowel-complaints, ulcers, abscesses and boils, chest diseases,
rheumatism, ophthalmia, venereal diseases and debility again account for the
great majority of admissions. As compared with preceding years, the most strik-
ing facts are a decided diminution in fevers and a higher relative prevalence of
dysentery, rheumatism and bronchitis. Spleen diseases do not exhibit a
parallel reduction with fevers ; but this is due to the large number of cases which
occurred in the 38th Native Infantry at Barrackpore.
29. The diseases which caused the greatest number of deaths were fevers,
pneumonia, bronchitis, dysentery, diarrhoea, phthisis, debility, spleen diseases,
injuries, and cholera. As compared with past years, the relative number of deaths
from fever, bronchitis, debility, spleen diseases, and injuries has been higher, and
from small-pox, cholera and dysentery lower.
D i s e a s e s
c a u s i n g
mortality.
5