2

Bahamas.

The most striking point in this Table is the increase of admissions by miasmatic diseases. This has been almost entirely due to the prevalence of an epidemic of measles, which broke out immediately after the arrival of the 2nd West India Regiment, and was the cause of 44 admissions and 1 death among the troops.

Venereal has been more prevalent than formerly, which is attributed by the Medical Officer to the frequent presence of men-of-war in the port, "a sensible increase being noticed shortly after their arrival."

Honduras.

IV. HONDURAS.

The white troops serving at Honduras consisted of a few European noncommissioned officers, the average strength during the year being about 9. Of these a company sergeant-major of the 3rd West India Regiment died of bilious cholera.

The black troops consisted of detachments of the 2nd and 3rd West India Regiments and a few black gunners from Jamaica. Their average strength was 434, the admissions into hospital were 661, and the deaths 7; being in the ratio of 1,523 and 16·12 per 1,000 of mean strength.

The following Table shows the influence of the different classes of diseases in producing sickness and mortality. The diseases will be found detailed in Abstract No. XVI. of Appendix.

::

74

16.1

..

Died.

The admissions into hospital in 1861 were greatly in excess of the average Honduras. of the two preceding years, but the deaths were one-fifth below it. The excess was chiefly in the class of miasmatic diseases, and caused by the much greater prevalence of intermittent fever. This was attributed by the Senior Medical Officer partly to the enormous rainfall during the year, there having been only two weeks between the 8th of February and 31st December in which none fell, and the total amount registered having been 98 inches. Another circumstance, which probably increased the prevalence of fever, was that in consequence of a predatory incursion of Indians, a force of 125 men was sent up to Albion Island, on the Rio Hondo, in the middle of March, and remained encamped there till May, when they were withdrawn. The force at Corosal was considerably increased, and was crowded in the barracks and in tents till the end of July. The troops remained healthy while at Albion Island, but suffered very much from fever at Corosal.

There was a considerable increase, also, in the admissions by diseases of the integumentary system, owing to the prevalence of ulcers.

The deaths among the soldiers were seven in number, three of which were caused by disease of the heart, and two by consumption. Two officers died during the year-both of yellow fever--a Deputy-Assistant Commissary-General at Ruatan, and an Ensign of the 3rd West India Regiment, at Belize.

Section II.

On the extent of Invaliding.

During the year there were sent home from the Windward and Leeward West Indies. Command 22 men recommended for discharge as invalids, and 32 for change of climate; and from Jamaica, 1 for discharge, and 6 for change. The diseases which caused this are stated in Abstract No. XVII. of Appendix, of which the following is a classified summary.

Of those sent home for change of climate, nearly three-fourths were on account of miasmatic diseases, chiefly ophthalmia. Consumption, mental alienation, and hypertrophy of the heart were the chief causes of men being sent home for discharge from the service.

The number finally discharged as invalids during the year was 23 from the Windward and Leeward Command, and 8 from Jamaica, for the following disabilities:

The numbers discharged as invalids are considerably above the average of the two preceding years, but there were special circumstances, noticed in previous Reports, which reduced the proportion below the ordinary amount. The two principal causes of discharge have been ophthalmia and consumption.

In the Windward and Leeward Command 22, and in Jamaica 24, of the Black Troops were discharged as invalids, being in the ratio of 21.85 and 44.77 per 1,000 of mean strength. The causes of discharge were as follows:

The proportion discharged as invalids has been much higher in the Windward and Leeward Command, and much lower in Jamaica, than in 1860. The marked difference in the proportion invalided in the two Commands on account of rheumatism, which was the prominent feature in the Returns of 1860, has disappeared.

Section III.

Mean Daily Sick.

The average number constantly sick in hospital, of the White Troops, during 1861, was 43 in the Windward and Leeward Command, and 19 in Jamaica; and of the Black Troops, 32 in the Windward and Leeward Command, 30 in Jamaica, 18 in the Bahamas, and 19 in Honduras. These numbers furnish the following results :

West Indies.

This Table shows a marked reduction in the average non-effective from sickness, both of White and Black Troops. The much higher ratio among the Black than the White Troops in Jamaica may be traced to the circumstance of their being quartered in the lowlands, where intermittent fevers are rife, while the White Troops are in the more healthy climate of Newcastle.

Section IV.

Influence of Age on the Mortality.

In Abstract No. XVIII. of Appendix will be found a statement of the ages of the troops serving in the West Indies, and the deaths at each quinquennial period of life, from which the following ratios have been calculated regarding the White Troops.

Owing to defects in the returns it was impossible to give the usual information on this subject in the two preceding Reports. The above Table shows a marked increase with the advance of age, but the numbers under observation are too few to warrant any detailed comment.

The mortality at different periods of life among the Black Troops is shown in the following Table.

The results for 1861, like those of the two preceding years, show a reduction in the rate of mortality in the quinquennial period, 25-29; but the great irregularity in the ratio, which was noticed in the Report for 1860, is becoming, and will probably continue to become, less marked, as increased numbers under observation are obtained by combining the returns of several years,

Western

V.-ON THE HEALTH OF THE TROOPS SERVING IN WESTERN

AFRICA.

In the end of January the detachment of the 1st West India Regiment, Africa. which had been detained in the Command in consequence of the wreck of the troop-ship "Perseverance," embarked for the West Indies. The troops employed then consisted of a detachment of the 2nd West India Regiment, and of the Gold Coast Artillery Corps.

Among the white non-commissioned officers, serving in the Command, averaging 5 or 6 in number, one death occurred, that of a serjeant-major of the Gold Coast Artillery by dysentery.

The average strength, admissions into hospital, and deaths of the black troops at Sierra Leone, the Gambia, and the Gold Coast respectively are shown in the following Table.

This Table shows the sickness and mortality in all three Commands to have been considerably above the average of the two preceding years. At Sierra Leone and the Gambia, this may have been to a considerable extent due to the circumstance that a portion of the force was twice employed on active service during the year. In the first quarter, they formed part of an expedition sent up the River Gambia against the Mandingoes, and in the end of November they again took the field against the King and Chiefs of Quiat, a tract of country recently ceded to the British Government.

Only three soldiers were killed by the enemy in these expeditions, but the fatigue and exposure of the men doubtless contributed much to the increase of sickness and mortality by disease.

The influence upon the troops of the different classes of diseases is shown in the following Table. The detailed statement of the diseases which occurred in 1861 will be found in Abstract No. XIX. of Appendix.