GENERAL DISEASES.-Diseases dependent on Morbid Poisons.-Under West Indies. the head of eruptive fevers there were no admissions.

Enteric Fever caused 10 admissions and 5 deaths, equal to ratios of 7·9 and 3.97 per 1,000, higher than the corresponding ratios for the previous year by 3.7 and 1.47 respectively. Compared with the average rate for the previous seven years the admission rate is lower by 3:3, but the death rate is higher by 164. The per-centage of mortality to attack was 500, as against 600 in 1892, and 209, the average for the previous seven years. Eight of the cases and 4 deaths occurred in Jamaica, and 2 cases with 1 death in the Barbados Command.

Other Continued Fevers caused 61 admissions, or a rate of 48.4 per 1,000, an increase on last year's rate of 9.3, but below the average of the previous seven years by 51.5 per 1,000.

Dysentery caused 5 admissions, 4 at Jamaica and one at Barbados. The ratio of admission equalled 4.0 per 1,000, as compared with 2·5 in the previous

year.

Other Diseases of this sub-group are represented by 69 cases of influenza.

Malarial Fevers caused 38 admissions and 1 death, 13 and the death being at Jamaica, and 25 in the Barbados Command. The ratio per 1,000 of admis sion was 301, a decrease of 21.5 as compared with the rate of the previous year, and one of 15'4 as compared with the septennial average rate.

Venereal Diseases.-The admissions for primary syphilis were 38 in number, equal to a ratio of 301, being lower than last year's rate by 140. Including simple venereal ulcer, the admission rate was 967, and the constantly sick rate 8.75, as compared with 125'7 and 9.76, the rates for the previous year, and 134-4 and 10-35, the seven years' average rates. In the Barbados Command the admission and constantly sick rates for primary venereal sores were 122.2 and 9'04 per 1,000 respectively, a marked decrease on the rates of the previous year. In Jamaica these rates were 580 and 5:56 respectively, as compared with 72.3 and 5-60 last year. The admissions for secondary syphilis were 60 in number, and there were 6:45 men constantly sick. The admission rate, 476, and the constantly sick rate, 511, were both lower than in 1892 by '7 and 101 respectively, but as compared with the septennial average rate were both higher by 12:1 and 1:38 per 1,000 respectively. In the Barbados Command the admission rate was 591 and the constantly sick rate 677, as compared with 58′6 and 7·46 in 1892. In Jamaica the ratios were 300 and 2-60, as compared with 33·1 and 4.13 in previous year. Gonorrhoea gave rise to 219 admissions, and an average of 19-12 men constantly sick, being in the ratios of 173-7 and 15 16 respectively, as against 1657 and 13.94, the previous year's rates, and 149-1 and 10·55, the rates of the seven years' average. In the Barbados Command the admission and constantly sick rates were 220-8 and 20-74, against 2371 and 19-85 in 1892. In Jamaica similar rates equalled 102.0 and 6-68 per 1,000, compared with 59.9 and 518, the rates for the previous year. Including all forms of venereal disease, the total admission rate was 3180, and the total constantly sick rate 29-02 per 1,000, as compared with 339-7 and 29-82 in the previous year, and 319'0 and 24 63, the septennial average rates. In the Barbados Command the total admission and constantly sick ratios were 4021 and 36:55, as against 457.5 and 39.87 in 1892, and in Jamaica the corresponding ratios were 190′0 and 14·84, as compared with 165-3 and 14.91 for the previous year.

Alcoholism caused 13 admissions, and debility 20.

Rheumatism. There were 52 admissions for this disease, of which 2 were for rheumatic fever, but no death occurred. The ratio per 1,000 equalled 41-2, a decrease of 4'6, as compared with the rate for the previous year. There were 2 cases of tubercular disease, both for lung affection. Other diseases of this group caused 16 admissions, or a ratio of 12.7 per 1,000, and included 10 cases of non-malignant new growth, 4 of anæmia, and 2 of scrofula.

LOCAL DISEASES.-Diseases of the Nervous System caused 20 admissions, including 2 of mental disease, giving a ratio of 15'8 per 1,000, slightly lower than last year's rate.

West Indies.

Diseases of the Eye gave 11 admissions, or a ratio of 87, lower by 3.8 per 1,000 than the rate for 1892.

Diseases of other Organs of Special Senses caused an admission rate of 33-3, higher by 12.5 per 1,000 than last year's rate.

Diseases of the Circulatory System caused 9 admissions and 1 death (which was due to valvular disease of heart), being in the ratios of 7·1 and 79 per 1,000, as compared with 8.3 and 1.67 in 1892.

Diseases of the Respiratory System gave rise to 21 admissions, or an admission rate of 167, lower by 141 than in 1892.

Diseases of the Digestive System caused 115 admissions, giving a ratio per 1,000 of 91-2, an increase of 79 on the rate of the previous year, but lower than the seven years' average rate by 19-2 per 1,000.

Diseases of the Lymphatic and Glandular System caused 68 admissions, or a ratio of 539 per 1,000, higher than last year's rate by 8.9.

Diseases of the Urinary System caused only 2 admissions.

Diseases of the Generative System.-There were 121 admissions for these diseases, equal to a ratio of 960, being less than last year's rate by 131 per 1,000, and by 175 than the seven years' average rate. Most of the cases were due to simple venereal ulcer.

Diseases of the Organs of Locomotion caused 22 admissions, or a rate of 17·4 per 1,000, an increase of 8.3 compared with 1892.

Diseases of the Connective Tissue.-There were 59 admissions for these diseases with a rate of 468, which is lower by 8:2 than the previous year's rate. Diseases of the Skin caused 82 adınissions, giving a ratio of 65'0 per 1,000, being lower than the rate for 1892 by 166, and than the seven years' average rate by 17.7.

Poisons.-There were no admissions under this head. One death, however, occurred from cyanide of potassium, but by whom. administered there is no evidence to show.

Injuries. The admissions were 133 in number, or a ratio of 105.5 per 1,000, as compared with 116.6 in the previous year. The cases were chiefly contusions, wounds, and sprains.

Invaliding.-The number of men invalided home from the West Indies was 28, equal to a ratio of 22-20 per 1,000, compared with 31 64 in 1892, and 23:35, the decennial average rate. The invaliding rate from the Barbados Command was 28:91, and from Jamaica 12:00, compared with 40:45 and 18:59 respectively, the rates for 1892. With regard to age one man, or a ratio of 5263, was under 20 years of age, 13 men, or 21-28 per 1,000, were between 20 and 25 years; 6 men, or 12:19, were between 25 and 30 years, and 8 men, or 57.55 per 1,000, were over 30 years of age. As to service in the Command, 7 men, or 8:39 per 1,000, were under 1 year's service; 12, or 4-22, were in their second year; 7, or 66 67 per 1,000, were in their third year; and 2 men, or 25.00, had 3 years' service in the Command. The causes of invaliding were five for nervous disorders (including 2 of mental disease), three each for debility, rheumatism, and digestive disorders; two each for malarial fever, diseases of the eye, diseases of the ear, diseases of the circulatory system, and diseases of the organs of locomotion, and one each for tubercular disease, chronic bronchitis, disease of the skin, and fracture.

The number of men discharged the service during the year as medically unfit was 21, equal to a ratio of 1665 per 1,000, as against 2000 in previous year, and 13-26, the decennial average rate. The principal disabilities necessitating discharge were diseases of the nervous system 6 cases (including 2 of mental disease), rheumatism and diseases of the digestive system 3 cases each, diseases of the eye and circulatory system 2 cases each, &c., &c.

Officers. The average strength was 122, of which 54 were in the Barbados Command, and 68 in Jamaica. The attacks of illness were 34 in the former and 39 in the latter, a total of 73, giving an admission ratio of 598-4 per 1,000, an increase of 124 3 on the rate for 1892. There were no deaths, and the invaliding rate was 8-20 as against 8.62 in the previous year. The principal causes of sickness were influenza, simple continued fever, malarial fevers, and diseases of the digestive system.

Women.-The average strength was 101, and the admissions 59, giving a West Indies. ratio per 1,000 of 5841, higher by 1234 than in the previous year. There were no deaths.

Children. The average strength was 170, the admissions 122, and there were 2 deaths, the respective ratios being 717·6 and 11.76 per 1,000, compared with the rates for 1892 the former was higher by 2206, but the latter lower by 36. The principal causes of sickness were simple continued fever, diarrhoea, and bronchitis. The two deaths were due to convulsions and croup, and occurred in Barbados.

Sanitary Conditions.-The Senior Medical Officer of the Barbados Command reports that the general health of the troops has been good, venereal cases being the principal cause of admission. The ventilation of barracks, huts, &c. throughout the district was satisfactory, and the amount of cubic and superficial space per man well maintained. The water supply is good, and the dieting and clothing satisfactory. In Barbados, automatic flushing cisterns have been provided for all urinals, and all old waterclosets removed, and new combination closets provided throughout the garrison (soldiers' latrines excepted). New washing troughs have been provided to laundry, two Deane's boilers to cook-house, and water laid on to warrant officers' quarters, Station Hospital; a recreation room has been provided for detachment 2nd West India Regiment at Stone Barracks, and a bath to warders' quarters, military prison. At St. Lucia a system of drainage by piping and an open concrete channel from the Morne through Courbarie to the sea for the disposal of foul water is close on completion; this system is to be flushed from the three reserved tanks which have recently been constructed. The systein of carrying soil from earth closets out to sea works well. A skittle alley has been erected at Vigie, but further means of recreation are very desirable in St. Lucia. A block of 14 married quarters with accessories (except washhouses) has been completed and is now occupied, temporary washhouses are provided. A Morris tube gallery has been completed. Drying rooms are in course of erection. The shingle roof of iron barracks has been replaced by galvanized iron; a similar change is to be made in the hospital roof.

At Jamaica the Senior Medical Officer reports that an extra block of noncommissioned officers' married quarters for the white sergeants of the West India Regiment and the staff sergeants of Up Park Camp has been completed and occupied, and now all the necessary barrack accommodation both at Up Park Camp and Port Royal that was required has been provided, except at the Station Hospital, Up Park Camp, where barracks for the men of the Medical Staff Corps, and improvements in the linen and other stores are muca required. The arrangements for filtering the water to Up Park Camp, referred to in last year's report, are, it is believed, being matured, but they are not yet commenced.

II.-BLACK TROOPS.

The average strength of non-commissioned officers and men, exclusive of white sergeants, was 1,557, 484 being stationed in the Barbados Command and 1,073 in Jamaica. The force in the Barbados Command consisted of the St. Lucia Company Royal Artillery, some men of the West India Fortress Company, Royal Engineers, and detachments 2nd Battalion West India Regiment. The stations occupied were Barbados, average strength 329, and St. Lucia, average strength 155. In Jamaica, were the Jamaica Company Royal Artillery, the West India Submarine Mining Company, and the West India Fortress Company, Royal Engineers, the headquarters 2nd Battalion West India Regiment, and the Depôt, West India Regiment. The stations occupied were Up Park Camp and Port Royal, average strength 877 and 196 respectively.

West Indies. The principal statistics of sickness and mortality among the black troops in the two divisions, as well as among those serving in the West Indies as a whole, are given in the following table :

Comparing the results for the Barbados Command with the corresponding ratios in the previous year, there is a decrease of 249.7 in the admission rate, one of 76 in the death rate, and one of 12:31 in the ratio of constantly sick. The average sick time to each soldier was 25 90 days, and the average duration of each case of sickness 24.68 days, the former being shorter than the corre sponding period in the previous year by 4.57 days, and the latter longer by 1.23 days.

In the Jamaica Command, compared with the results in 1892, the admission rate is lower by 390.6, the death rate by 12-46, and the constantly sick rate by 5.60 per 1,000. The average sick time to each soldier was 26-45 days, and the average duration of each case of sickness 29-32 days, the former being shorter by 2.12, and the latter longer by 7-22 days than in the preceding year.

Taking all the troops in the West Indies together, the admission ratio shows a decrease of 3470, the constantly sick rate one of 7.86, and the death rate one of 8.51 per 1,000. Compared with average ratios for the previous ten years, the decrease in admission rate was equal to 250 6, and that in the death rate to 5:34; but there is an increase of 2.25 in the constantly sick rate. The average sick time to each soldier was 26 28 days, shorter than in the previous year by 2.95, but longer than the average period for the preceding ten years by 82 of a day. The average duration of each case of sickness was 27.72 days, longer than in 1892 by 5·15 days, and than the decennial average period by 6.48 days.

With regard to the sickness and mortality of corps in Barbados, the admission rate for the St. Lucia Company, Royal Artillery, was 12345, and the death-rate 12:34 per 1,000; that for the West India Fortress Company,

Royal Engineers, 14706, and for the detachments 2nd Battalion West West Indies. India Regiment, 992.2, and a death rate of 10:36 per 1,000. In Jamaica the Jamaica Company, Royal Artillery, had an admission ratio of 10851. The West India Submarine and Fortress Companies, Royal Engineers, an admission rate of 534-6, and the 2nd Battalion, West India Regiment, an admission rate of 9100 and a death rate of 11-63 per 1,000. In the Depôt, West India Regiment, the admission rate was 1016-4 per 1,000.

The sickness according to age, taking the troops in the West Indies together, shows that in men under 20 years of age the admission rate was 5979, as against 1299.3 per 1,000 in the previous year. In men from 20 to 25 the rate was 1423-9, as against 1781.5. In those from 25 to 30 it was 674.9, as against 956 3, and in those of 30 years of age and upwards it was 459 6, as against 733.9 in 1892.

The mortality rates as compared with the previous year's returns are as follows:-In men under 20 there was no mortality; in men from 20 to 25 years 9-31, against 15'74; in those between 25 and 30 years 9.50, against 17.11, and in those over 30 years 10-10, against 16.13 per 1,000.

With regard to length of service the admission rate in those in their first year of service was 1102.2 as against 1030-8 in the previous year. In the second year the rate was 8850 as against 3351.3. In the third year the rate, 1349-6, contrasted favourably with 1652-8 in 1892. In men with over 3 years' service the rate was only 742-4, against 1184 1 per 1,000 for the previous year. The mortality rate in those under 1 year's service was 276, against 18.93; in the second year 12-46, against 18:02; in the third year nil, and in men over 3 years 9'09, against 14:44 per 1,000 for 1892.

In Abstract VIII. will be found the chief statistics of sickness and mortality arranged according to the different groups and orders of diseases.

GENERAL DISEASES.-Diseases dependent on Morbid Poisons.-The admissions under the head of eruptive fevers were 6 in number, equal to an admission rate of 3.9 per 1,000, a considerable decrease as compared with the rate for 1892. Enteric fever caused 8 admissions and 4 deaths, or rates of 51 and 2:57, both being roughly half those of last year, but showing an increase when compared with the average rate for the previous seven years of 1.9 and '98 respectively. Two admissions and two deaths occurred at Barbados, and the remainder at Jamaica. Other continued fevers caused 105 admissions, or an admission rate of 674 per 1,000, much below the rate for 1892. Dysentery caused 20 admissions.

Malarial Fevers.-Only 54 cases were admitted, compared with 133 in 1892. The ratio, 347, compares very favourably with 1019 in the previous year. There were no deaths.

Venereal Diseases.--The admissions for primary syphilis were 193 in number, equal to a ratio of 124.0 per 1,000, being an increase on last year's rate of 39 7. Of these 11, or a rate of 22.7 per 1,000, occurred in Barbados, and 182 cases, or 169.6 per 1,000, in Jamaica. Including the sickness from simple venereal ulcer, the admission ratio for primary venereal sores was 167.6, being less than the previous year's rate by 316, and than the average rate for the previous seven years by 420 per 1,000. The constantly sick rate was 15.97, being less than in 1892 by 1.10, and than the average rate by 212 per 1,000. In the Jamaica Command the admission rate was 174 3, and the constantly sick rate 17.71, the former showing a decrease of 23.5 and the latter an increase of 27 per 1,000 as compared with 1892. In the Barbados Command the admission and constantly sick rates equalled 152.9 and 12.11, as compared with 2017 and 16:39 per 1,000 in 1892. The admissions for secondary syphilis in the West Indies were 84, and 10-15 men were constantly sick, giving ratios of 53.9 and 6.52 per 1,000 respectively as compared with 521 and 601, the rates for the previous year, and with 451 and 405, the average rates of the previous seven years. In the Jamaica Command only, the admission rate was 46'6 and constantly sick rate 674, as against 398 and 4:55 in the previous year. In the Barbados Command the corresponding ratios were 70-2 and 6:03, showing a decrease when compared with 1892 of 52 and 2.73 per 1,000. Gonorrhea caused 218 admissions, and 18.60 men were constantly sick, giving ratios of 1400 and 11.95. Contrasted with the previous year there is a decrease of 10.2 in the admission rate, but an increase of 107 in the constantly sick rate.