Ceylon. Thus it appears that disease of the liver, ophthalmia, and rheumatism have been the principal causes for which these men were sent home. Only eleven men, who had been invalided from Ceylon, were finally discharged during the year. Their disabilities were as follows: Of the black troops, 35 were discharged from the service during the year, and for the following diseases : Rheumatism and debility are the two principal causes assigned for the discharge of these men as invalids. We have no information as to their length of service, but it is probable that a large proportion of them were old soldiers. The average number of the white troops constantly sick in hospital during the year was 60, and of the black troops 46, being in the ratio of 66 and 32 per 1,000 of the mean strength. The following Table gives the usual deductions on this head compared with the results of the two preceding years: This shows a decrease in the average constantly sick and the average sick time to each soldier of the white troops, but a trifling increase in the average duration of the cases, while the reverse is shown as regards the black troops. SECTION IV. Influence of Age on the Mortality. The following Table shows the mortality at different ages among the white Ceylon. troops : The mortality among the black troops has been as follows at the different quinquennial periods : - 256 1 227 1 274 2 323 1 215 8 86 1 1861 1859 The mortality in 1861, at the ages 35-39, has been very high, but the numbers under observation are too few to warrant our drawing any deductions from this circumstance. X.-ON THE HEALT! OF THE TROOPS IN THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. I. Sickness and Mortality. I. AUSTRALIA AND TASMANIA. The troops serving in Australia and Tasmania during 1861 consisted of Australia. Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, a wing of the 12th, and a wing of the 40th Regiments. The average strength was 907 men, among whom there were 717 admissions into hospital, and 14 deaths, including 2 of invalids sent home to England. These numbers give a proportion of 790 admissions, and 15:44 deaths, per 1,000 of the strength, being slightly in excess of the average of the two preceding years. Australia. The diseases by which the sickness and mortality were occasioned are detailed in Abstract No. XXII of Appendix. The following Table shows the influence of the different classes of diseases compared with the results of 1859-60: MIASMATIC DISEASES have been more prevalent than formerly. On being subdivided they give the following results: From this it appears that the admissions from dysentery, diarrhoea, continued fevers, and rheumatism have been in excess of the previous average, while there has been a marked decrease in those from sorethroat, influenza, and ophthalmia. DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM have been the cause of more than one_ fourth of all the deaths. Two of the fatal cases were the result of inflamma STATISTICAL REPORT FOR 1861. tion of the brain, 1 of delirium tremens, and 1 of mania. The admissions Australia. ACCIDENTS.—The fatal case in this class was that of a private of the 40th Regiment, who in attempting, while in a state of intoxication, to break out of barracks at Hobart Town, fell from a height and fractured his skull. II. NEW ZEALAND. In the beginning of 1861, the troops serving in New Zealand consisted of New Zealand. Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, the 2nd Battalion 14th Regiment, the 65th Regiment, and detachments of the 1st Battalion 12th, and of the 40th Regiments. In March, an additional battery of Royal Artillery joined from England, and in the end of January the 57th Regiment, and in May the 70th, arrived from India. The troops were actively engaged in field operations till the end of March, and a large proportion of them was subsequently, for a considerable time, under canvas while huts were being erected. The amount of rain which fell in 1861 is stated to have been greatly above the average. At Auckland 57:18 inches were recorded; while the average of six years, as published by Sir H. James, was 47.10. The average strength of the troops for the year was 4,890 men, among whom there were 3070 admissions into hospital and 68 deaths, of which 26 occurred out of hospital. These numbers give the proportion of 628 admissions and 13.90 deaths per 1,000 of the mean strength. There were no deaths among the invalids sent to England. The diseases by which the admissions and deaths were caused, are detailed in Abstract No. XXII of Appendix. The following Table shows the influence of the different classes of diseases : Ratio per 1,000 of Mean Strength. Diseases. Admitted. Died. Admitted. Died. Admitted. Died. 9 237.4 9.4 15.7 2.8 : 14 10.6 2.87 9.5 1.41 Class III. Diseases of the 1 system Nervous 97 2 Circulatory 26 3 Respiratory 307 4 Digestive 151 5 Urinary 9 6 Reproductive 29 7 Locomotive 11 8 Integumentary 395 1 80.8 .20 91.7 Class IV. 126 4 Diseases of Nutrition .. Class V. 434 53 20 16 Total 3,070 86.1 1.06 10.8 3.07 28.9 14.11 4.1 3.3 20.1 .. 68 627.6 13 .90 634.9 20.10 New Zealand. The admissions have been slightly, and the deaths one-third, below the average of the two preceding years. If, however, the deaths of the men killed in action be deducted, the mortality by disease will be found to have been considerably above the average. MIASMATIC DISEASES have been more than usually prevalent. The admissions by the chief groups constituting this class were as follows: Australian Paroxysmal Fevers.-With the exception of one case in the 14th Regiment, all the admissions into hospital on account of paroxysmal fevers occurred in the 57th and 70th Regiments, and were clearly the result of their previous service in India, and not attributable to the climate of New Zealand. Continued Fevers have been more prevalent than formerly; but, considering the circumstances in which the troops were placed for a considerable period, the excess is not so great as might have been anticipated. Dysentery and Diarrhea have exceeded by one-half the average of the two preceding years. Diarrhoea was the cause of 241 admissions, and dysentery of 29 admissions and 5 deaths. The fatal cases and nearly all the admissions by dysentery occurred in the 57th and 70th Regiments, which, as already stated, arrived during the year from India. Considering how universally dysentery and diarrhoea are the diseases of troops in the field, the very wet character of the season, and the necessity for keeping a large portion of the force under canvas, even after the active field operations had terminated, it is matter for congratulation that the men suffered so little from this group of diseases. The other classes do not seem to require special comment, except that of accidents and violence. Under the former head are included 8 deaths by drowning, 4 of which occurred when the men were bathing, 3 from the upsetting of a boat, and 1 from the man falling into the harbour while drunk. The admissions into hospital by Violence include 2 cases of incised, and 51 of gunshot, wounds received in action-of the latter 5 died in the field hospitals. There were also 10 men killed in action, making a total of 15 deaths by the hand of the enemy, being in the ratio of 3:07 per 1,000 of mean strength. Section II. On the extent of Invaliding. During the year 36 men were sent home from Australia, recommended to be discharged from the service, being in the proportion of 39.7 per 1,000 of mean strength. None were sent for change of climate. From New Zealand, 78 men were sent for discharge, and 25 for change of climate, being in the ratio of 159 and 51 per 1,000 of the mean strength. The large proportion sent home from Australia compared with New Zealand, may probably be explained by the circumstance that when the detachments of the 12th and 40th Regiments were sent from Australia for field-service, the most efficient men were selected, while men with impaired constitutions, or who were likely to become soon non-effective, were retained in Australia. The diseases for which the men were sent home are shown in the follow ing Table : |