36
TABLE C.
Return shelving Ratio of Deaths to strength per thousand
from Cholera in bodies of men varying in strength from under 300 to 1,500 while marching.
Return shewing the Number of marches mude and attacks of Cholera in bodies of men varying in strength from under 300 to 1,500-from 1820 to 1844.
Number of Marches.
Attacked.
Escaped.
Ratio of attacks to marches per cent.
100 to 300 Men ...........
24.2424
100 to 300 Men ...
53
10
43
18.867
300 to 500 do .............
29.5742
300 to 500 do ...
75
15
60
20.000
500 to 700 do ............
24.3939
500 to 700 do ...
98
21
77
21.428
700 to 900 do .............
35.9500
700 to 900 do ...
239
54
185
22.594
900 to 1100 do ............
36.8574
900 to 1100 do ...
108
35
73
32.407
1100 to 1534 do...........
48.7322
1100 to 1534 do ...
29
9
20
31.034
Average of Total
35.5242
Total...
602
144
458
23.920
Analysis of the foregoing
Returns.
Strength of the Troops.
59. These tables were prepared by Dr. Lorimer in 1842, and from them it
will be- seen, that the ratio of attacks to inarches was sensibly
higher in proportion to the strength of the bodies of the
troops marching, and that the death-rate from cholera followed
a similar progression.
Detachments.
Thus in the case of detachments, 18 per cent. only of marches were attended
by cholera, while, when bodies of 1,000 men and upwards
marched, the proportion of marches attended by cholera was
31 per cent.
Numbers in Camp.
60. The death rate from cholera would also appear to be influenced in the
same degree by the numbers congregated. In detachments
of from 100 to 300 attacked by cholera, the death rate was
24 per mille, while in bodies of 1,000 and upwards it was
48 per mille.
Duration of Marches.
61. It will also be observed from these tables that the duration of marches
seems to exercise a considerable influence on the liability of
troops to attacks of cholera, for from Tables B. and C. it will
be seen that the attacks progressively increase up to a certain
point, with the duration of the march, either in distance or time, short marches being
comparatively exempt from attack.
Same subject.
62. Thus out of 108 marches, which lasted less than 20 days, only 9 were
attended by cholera. Of 10 marches, which lasted from 100 to
120 days, 5 were attended by cholera. As regards distance,
out of 144 marches under 200 miles, 130 escaped cholera.
Out of 222 marches, extending from 200 to 400 miles, only 164 were free
from cholera.
Out of 27 marches from 600 to 800 miles, only 11 escaped, while out of 6
marches, from 800 to 1,052 miles, only 2 escaped.
Peculiarity of Madras N. I.
Regts. as contrasted with
those of Bengal.
63. We think we cannot too prominently bring these facts to notice. The
Madras Regiments are always accompanied by the sepoys'
families and by crowds of followers, and their greater subjection to cholera than native soldiers in other Presidencies
may, in a great measure, be attributed to the greater agglomeration of numbers.