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XI.-Meteorological Observations at Netley and Foreign Stations,

1892

XII.-Meteorological Observations at Netley and Foreign Stations,
1893

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382

ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
REPORT FOR 1893.

HEALTH OF THE TROOPS AT HOME AND ABROAD.

The statistics concerning the health of the troops at home are favourable. Troops at There was a serious outbreak of enteric fever at Aldershot. Influenza still Home and caused a large amount of sickness, but was not quite so prevalent as in 1892, Abroad. For all forms of venereal affection there was a slight decrease in the admission rate, but the constantly sick rate showed a fractional increase. There is no other point concerning the health of the troops in the United Kingdom calling for special notice.

In the Colonies the following points are worthy of notice. At Gibraltar, the admission rate was higher than in 1892, owing to the prevalence of simple continued fever. The sick rate for venereal affections showed a considerable increase. At Malta there was an outbreak of enteric fever, which after investigation was attributed to contaminated water. Malarial fever was also very prevalent, but the cases were mild in character. At Cyprus, venereal affections are stated to be the chief cause of inefficiency. In Canada the health of the troops was excellent. In Bermuda, enteric fever was rather prevalent. In the West Indies the health was fair, but the Senior Medical Officer of the Barbados Command reports that venereal cases were the principal cause of sickness. In South Africa the health of the troops was better than in 1892; but at Mauritius the contrary was unfortunately the case. Malarial fevers of a severe and fatal type were epidemic in the island during the greater part of 1893, and many of the cases were of the type designated malignant" by the local medical practitioners. Observation shows that prolonged residence in Mauritius increases the liability to malarial fevers, and that there is no such thing as acclimatisation as regards pure-blooded Europeans; residence in this colony, even when attacks of malarial fever are escaped, inducing a general deterioration of the health. In Ceylon, the health shows a considerable improvement on 1892. In China the bad health of the troops, as at Mauritius, was due to malarial fevers. The majority of the cases occurred during the rainy season. In the Straits Settlements the health of the troops was most satisfactory.

In Egypt, as at Cyprus and in the Barbados Command, the chief cause of inefficiency was due to venereal affections, nearly a third of the total number of admissions having been due to these diseases. Enteric fever was not so prevalent as in 1892, but the general health of the troops was not very satisfactory.

In India the health of the troops was fairly good. In Bengal, enteric fever was not so prevalent, and cholera showed a very marked decline. Venereal affections, on the other hand, were more numerous and very prevalent, some of the cases being of a most virulent type. In Madras there was only one case of cholera, but, as in Bengal, venereal disease was more prevalent than in the previous year; otherwise there is no special outbreak of sickness to record. In Bombay the health of the troops was very good. There were fewer cases of enteric fever, and the men attacked were as a rule young and of recent arrival in the country; cholera was also less prevalent. Venereal affections, however, showed an increase-as in the other two Presidencies.

• 83200.

Troops at

Home and
Abroad.

The statistics of some of the most important of the results of sickness, in every Command in which the troops were stationed, are exhibited in the following Table :—

1893.

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Troops at Home and} 202,125 204,255 1,696 2,404 2,680 12,143-27

Abroad

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Days. Days.

Troops at Home1010-5 8-30 24-21 13:30 60 90 22-23 22:01 and Abroad

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* Calculated on strength, excluding men detached (2,123).
Calculated on strength, including men detached.

Calculated on strength, excluding United Kingdom and troops on board ship.
Calculated on strength, including mendetached, and excluding troops on board ship.
Calculations exclude men detached and troops on board ship.

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Abroad

Troops at Home and 1,885,893 1,953,215 18,176 25,247 29,206 105,584

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and Abroad

Days. Days.

Troops at Home 1035 7 9.53 27-69 15 54 56-78 20-72 20-03

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