Medi

From this it appears that the average constantly non-effective from sickterranean. ness in Gibraltar has been higher than in the two preceding years, while in

Malta and the Ionian Islands it has been very nearly as before.

In Malta the duration of the cases has been considerably greater than formerly. The results in Gibraltar and Malta, except on this point, closely approximate the average for Infantry regiments serving at home, while in the Ionian Islands they are considerably under that average.

Section IV.

On the Influence of Age on Mortality.

The details respecting the number serving, and the deaths at different ages, of the troops in the Mediterranean, will be found in Abstract No. XI of Appendix. The results are shown in the following Table :—

This Table shows a considerable increase in the mortality after 25 years of age-greater than is found to occur in civil life. The numbers under observation are, however, still too small to ensure regularity in the results.

III.-ON THE HEALTH OF THE TROOPS SERVING IN BRITISH
AMERICA.

Section I.

Sickness and Mortality.

Bermuda.

I. BERMUDA.

During the year the garrison of Bermuda remained unchanged, except that the company of Royal Engineers was, in the beginning of December, relieved by one from England; it consisted of Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and the service companies of the 39th Regiment.

The average strength of the troops in 1861 was 1,010, the admissions into hospital amounted to 466, and the deaths in hospital to 9, out of hospital to 4, and of invalids 1, making a total of 14. These numbers give a ratio of 461 admissions and 13.86 deaths per 1,000 of the strength, the former being considerably below, and the latter above the average of the two preceding years.

The diseases by which the admissions and deaths were caused, are detailed in Abstract No. XII of Appendix. The following Table shows the influence of the different classes of diseases on the health of the troops :

This Table shows a great reduction in the admissions compared with the average of the two preceding years, chiefly in miasmatic diseases, and also, though to a less extent, in those of the respiratory, digestive, and integumentary systems, and in accidents. The reduction, however, is probably rather overstated; for, in consequence of a misunderstanding between the naval and military authorities at Ireland Island, the sick of the troops were not admitted into the Naval Hospital there during the greater part of the first two quarters of the year. During that period, the sick of the detachments there and at Hamilton were sent to hospital at St. George's; but the Principal Medical Officer states, "there were a few trifling cases treated in barracks at Ireland Island." Making allowance, however, for this, the results as regards the admissions have been very satisfactory. The mortality has been higher than the previous average, and a large proportion of it has unfortunately been the result of intemperance, 4 of the deaths having been from delirium tremens, and 3 by suicide.

MIASMATIC DISEASES, when subdivided into groups, furnish the following results :

From this it appears that the reduction in the amount of miasmatic diseases was almost exclusively in the continued fevers. In 1860 an epidemic of fever prevailed among the troops throughout the island, 209 cases having occurred, but without any deaths, while in 1861 there were only 3 admissions by fever from nearly the same number of men.

DIETIC DISEASES.-Under this class appear 19 cases of intemperance (ebriositas), of which 2 were from the Royal Engineers, and 17 from the 39th Regiment. In addition to these, there were in the class of

DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, 10 cases of delirium tremens, of which 4 terminated fatally Three of the cases occurred in the Royal Engineers, au 7, including all the fatal cases, in the 39th Regiment.

VIOLENT DEATHS. These were 4 in number, and all occurred in the 39th
Regiment. One was by accidental drowning at Ireland Island, and the others
were suicidal, 2 by hanging, and 1 by cutting his throat.
The other classes do not appear to call for any remarks.

Nova Scotia

and New Brunswick.

II. NOVA SCOTIA AND NEW BRUNSWICK.

The force employed in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick remained the same as in 1860. In the middle of May two companies of the 62nd Regiment were detached to St. John's, Newfoundland, but one of them returned at the end of a fortnight. This detachment has been included with the troops in Nova Scotia; but, as in former reports, the sickness and mortality of the Royal Newfoundland Companies are kept separate.

The mean strength of the troops during 1861 was 1,725, exclusive of the Royal Newfoundland Companies; the admissions into hospital amounted to 1,012, and the deaths to 13, of which 8 occurred in hospital, 3 out of it, and 2 among invalids. The annual ratio of admissions, therefore, was 587, and of deaths 7:53 per 1,000 of mean strength.

The proportion in each of the corps was as follows:

Died.

Orders.

As in previous reports, the amount of sickness is found to be considerably Nova Scotia higher in the Ordnance than in either of the two regiments. The mortality and New in the 63rd Regiment has been higher than in the other corps.

The influence of the different classes of diseases on the sickness and mortality, are shown in the following Table, compiled from Abstract No. XII. of Appendix, and from previous Reports:

Brunswick.

The most striking points in this Table are the reduction in miasmatic and venereal, and the increase in dietic diseases. There is also a reduction in tubercular diseases; but this may possibly have been in some degree due to the extent of invaliding.

MIASMATIC DISEASES, when subdivided, give the following results:

The increase in this class of diseases appears from this Table to have been chiefly in sorethroat (tonsillitis) and influenza, ophthalmia, and, though to a less extent, eruptive fevers. The whole of the admissions in the last group were by small-pox, which prevailed as an epidemic among the civil population of Halifax and of St. John's, Newfoundland, for several months. Five of the admissions were at Halifax, and the other in the detachment at St. John's, Newfoundland. The death occurred in the Artillery. Of the 34 cases of ophthalmia, 19 were in the 63rd Regiment.

DIETIC DISEASES have been thrice as common as on the average of the two preceding years. All the admissions were under the head of intemperance (ebriositas); 10 were in the Royal Artillery, 9 in the Royal Engineers, 12 in the 62nd, and 8 in the 63rd Regiment, being in the ratio of 47, 110, 17, and 11 per 1,000 of the strength in each of these corps respectively.

The other classes of diseases do not seem to require special remark, as the results so closely approximate the average.

The death by suicide was that of a gunner of the Royal Artillery, who hanged himself in the regimental cells at Halifax while a prisoner for drunken

ness.

III. CANADA.

Canada.

In the beginning of July the force in Canada was augmented by the arrival of a battery of the 4th Brigade Royal Artillery, the 30th and 47th Regiments, and the 4th Battalion 60th Regiment.

The average strength of the troops throughout the year was 3,503; the admissions into hospital were 2,090; and the deaths, in hospital, 21, and out of hospital, 12, making a total of 33. These numbers give an annual ratio of 597 admissions, and 9.42 deaths per 1,000 of mean strength.

The sickness and mortality were distributed in the different corps as follows:

Died.