Statistical reports on the sickness, mortality, & invaliding, among the troops in Western Africa, St. Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Mauritius / prepared from the records [by A.M. Tulloch, H. Marshall, and T.G. Balfour] of the Army Medical Department and War Office returns.

  • Great Britain. Army Medical Services
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statistical reports on the sickness, mortality, & invaliding, among the troops in Western Africa, St. Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Mauritius / prepared from the records [by A.M. Tulloch, H. Marshall, and T.G. Balfour] of the Army Medical Department and War Office returns. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    SECTION II. On the extent of Invaliding among the Troops serving in the Cape of Good Hope Command. Prior to 1825 the information on this head is very defective, the total number sent home is all that can be stated ; and as it is well known that, owing to the reductions then taking place, a large proportion of these were recommended for discharge merely in consequence of having'completed the usual period of service, it has not been deemed necessary to submit information which might lead to erroneous conclusions as to the influence of this climate in inducing disabilities. Since 1825, however, the information on that subject is much more specific, as will be seen from the following Tables :—• Years. Mean Strength of Troops in the whole Command. Discharged totally unfit for further Service. Number found fit for Garrison Duty only. Total of both Classes. Ratio per 1000 of Mean Strength Invalided of both Classes. Number found fit for further Service, and sent to their Depots or Corps. 1825 1,696 58 • « 58 34 1 1826 1,712 26 • • 26 15 20 1827 1,793 29 4 33 18 10 1828 1,511 27 2 29 19 7 1829 1,759 39 14 53 30 3 1830 1,751 4 5 9 5 1 1831 1,750 12 1 13 7 1 1832 1,675 5 5 3 • • 1S33 1,659 11 1 12 7 • • 1834 1,670 ‘ 17 3 20 12 2 1835 1 ,667 10 1 11 7 S 1830 1,589 28 I 29 18 4 Total . 20,232 266 32 298 15 58 Thus the ratio discharged as unfit for active service has amounted to about 15 per thousand of the force annually, being lower than in any of the other stations which have yet come under review. This may probably be attributed to many of the soldiers, as they advance in life, availing themselves of the privilege of free discharges without pension, for the purpose of remaining in the colony, because it offers considerable inducements to settlers. We have already shewn that the extent of invaliding does not depend materially on insalubrity, owing to the number who, in all healthy colonies, live to attain that age when they are discharged as £t worn out,” or for “ rheumatic pains” unfitting them for the duties of active service. The disabilities or diseases of those found fit for garri'son duty only are not stated in the Returns, but the following are the causes assigned for the discharge of such as have been deemed totally unfit for further service :— Diseases or Causes of Disability. 1 (M i CO i—i 1S26 1827 1828 1829 1830 1S31 1 1832 1833 1 1S34 1835 1836 Total.! Dysentery and Hepatic 5 6 4 1 1 1 1 • * 19 Eye Diseases .... 4 1 3 3 1 .. i •. 2 • • • • 1 16 Fractures, Dislocations, Con-j tractions, Wounds, and |> S 2 7 8 2 2 4 • • • • 5 3 7 48 Hernia.! Mental Diseases 2 i 3 3 1 • • • • • • 2 12 Pulmonic Diseases . 8 5 4 4 5 2 •. 1 1 4 3 4 41 Rheumatism and Chronic] 13 6 1 2 11 2 2 37 Pains.j Ulcers, Varices, & Strictures 5 3 1 2 11 • • 1 • • 1 4 • • 3 31 Venereal. • • 1 1 • • 3 5 Cachexia and Scrofula . 4 1 1 4 • • 1 1 12 Paralysis and Epilepsy . 6 • • 1 4 2 • • 1 2 • • • • 1 • • 17 Dropsy and Visceral 1 • • • • 1 Deafness and Impediment] 1 1 1 3 1 of Speech.J Worn-Out. 3 1 5 3 6 1 # • 1 4 24 Total .... 58 26 29 27 39 4 12 5 11 17 10 28 266 During the same period 17 died on their passage home, of various diseases not specified in the Returns from which the above Table is compiled. Cape of Good Hope. Invaliding. Table VII. Showing the Num¬ ber Discharged An- nually, as unfit for Active Service, of the White Troops serving in this Command. Table VIII. Showing the Dis¬ eases or causes of Disability of those found unfit for further Service.