84

TEN-YEAR STANDARD FOR THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL, 1867 TO 1876.

[Section II.

     The ratios for the Trans-Indus Force and for the Troops in Bengal Proper are contrasted
below with those of the regiments stationed in the Gangetic Provinces and Oudh during the
same period of seven years, from 1870 onwards:

1.—Native Troops serving Trans-Indus.
    Ratios per 1,000 of Strength.
Year. Strength. Daily Sick-rate. Admission-rate. Death-rate. Cholera-rate.
1870 13,452 59.5 2165.3 18.96 ...
1871 13,058 46.6 1558.3 18.99 .08
1872 13,093 47.7 1839.4 22.23 6.87
1873 12,789 48.4 1724.6 16.35 ...
1874 12,720 49.8 1836.3 11.48 ...
1875 12,722 47.9 1795.6 20.12 .08
1876 13,159 44.2 1785.4 14.21 3.72
2.—Native Troops in Bengal Proper and Assam.
1870 7,248 45.5 1460.0 15.59 3.03
1871 7,203 57.2 1731.0 18.33 1.25
1872 6,660 59.9 1788.2 16.36 2.70
1873 7,260 50.0 1455.8 21.08 2.76
1874 7,591 55.5 1530.4 19.10 4.74
1875 7,601 57.6 1525.3 21.58 2.76
1876 7,484 48.8 1579.0 16.43 2.01
3.—Native Troops in the Gangetic Provinces and Oudh.
1870 6,742 38.0 1251.3 10.98 .89
1871 6,530 37.7 1140.7 9.34 .61
1872 5,900 37.1 1285.2 9.33 2.37
1873 6,664 39.6 997.9 9.75 1.20
1874 6,357 35.1 880.6 5.51 ...
1875 6,738 31.9 896.9 5.05 1.34
1876 6,381 26.6 847.7 7.05 1.72

     The characteristics of the death-rate
of the Native Soldier, and their variation
with locality.

     Taking the European and Native Armies of Bengal in the aggregate, the average annual
loss per 1,000 on the results of 1867—1876, stands thus, and
is made up in detail as under:

... EUROPEAN ARMY OF BENGAL. NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
... Aggregate Strength of
1867-1876. 353,450.		 Aggregate Strength of
1867-1876. 395,081.
Cholera 5.19 2.12
Smallpox .15 .20
Fevers 3.31 2.84
Apoplexy 1.88 .22
Dysentery 1.68 2.01
Hepatitis 2.60 .15
Phthisis pulmonalis 1.38 .77
Respiratory diseases .99 2.57
Heart disease 1.29 .20
Spleen disease, dropsy, scurvy, and atro-
phy		 .19 1.03
All other causes 2.05 .99
Accidental and suicidal deaths 1.61 .74
... 22.32 13.84

     In acute disease, the ratio for pneumonia in the Native supplies the place of that for
hepatitis, which characterizes the death-rate of the European. The mortality from dysentery
and diarrhœa is greater in the Native than in the European; but how seldom it is attended
with hepatic complication is evident from the fact, that, on the average, six deaths only are
attributed annually to liver disease.

     For heart disease, the ratio here shown is as 1 to 6 in favour of the Native soldier. But
the disproportion is in reality much greater. As expressed in aortic aneurism, it is as 30 to 1.
The Native Army of Bengal and the European Army of India are bodies approximating in
strength, and in the last seven years 260 British soldiers died from aortic aneurism, while in
the same period the Death-rolls of the Native Army of Bengal show 9 deaths only.

     The death-rate of the Native Army is chiefly influenced by cold and by the prevalence
of diseases of the anæmic type. Fever is followed by diarrhœa, spleen enlargement, dropsy,
scurvy, and atrophy; and when the system is thus debilitated, exposure to cold readily deter-
mines a fatal pneumonia.