> 2 co RIG De Cy ay WS 
+ iia 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 89 

have of late years to place a rapid increase of emigration. During the ten years 
1821 to 1831, the total number of emigrants was 738,582; and in the seven years 
1842 to 1848 inclusive, the number was no Jess than 985,953. And according to the 
latest complete returns obtained by the Emigration Commissioners (down to the 20th 
of June last), the number of emigrants in the first half of 1849, was no less than 
196,973. Hence it appeared that the emigration from the United Kingdom during 
the last three years was fully equal to, if it did not exceed, the natural increase of 
the population; and, in short, that emigration has now been carried on to such an 
extent, as, if it were maintained, must effectually prevent the further growth of the 
population. 
On the Diseases and Causes of Disability for Military Service in the Indian 
Army. By C. Frxcu, M.D. 
~ The native soldier is not subject to a variety of diseases incidental to the European, 
and many of the complaints common to both are less severe, less complicated, and 
less fatal in the Indian, from physical constitution, simple nature of his food, and reguiar 
and temperate habits. He is in a great degree exempt from many of the acute, 
febrile, and inflammatory disorders so fatal to the European within the tropics. There 
isa marked difference in the character of the complaints common to both—those of 
the native being of the asthenic, and those of the Eurcpean being of the sthenic 
diathesis. In the Asiatic, though there is a less tendency to a rapid course, there is 
less vigour to resist the encroachment of disease, which exhibits a proneness to be- 
come chronic and inveterate, occasionally terminating more tardily, but not less 
certainly, in death. This inferior power of the constitution renders them more prone 
to disease under slight exciting causes, less able to bear active depletory measures, 
or on the invasion of disease in an acute form they sink so rapidly that the mortality 
in the two classes is in agreat degree equalized. From this inferior power of rallying 
from the attacks of disease, many disorders which at their commencement are acute 
become in their progress chronic, and terminate in rendering the native soldier inca- 
pable for service. In order to ascertain the particular diseases which incapacitate 
the Sepoy, and their relative frequency, it may be deemed requisite that an exami- 
nation should be made, ona comprehensive scale, of the invaliding rolls, which 
besides containing a statement of the numbers, enumerate the diseases and causes of 
disability. On inquiry, Dr. Finch finds no such documents are procurable in this 
country; hitherto mere numerical returns have been made to the India House. In 
the absence of more extensive returns, he has been obliged to satisfy himself with the 
results of a more limited examination, but which will afford a close approximation to 
a knowledge of the real causes of disability, and enable us to form an estimate of 
_ their relative frequency. He has submitted to examination the invaliding rolls of 
three regiments for a period of nine years—from 1834 to 1842, These rolls are of 
the men presented for examination belonging to the 31st, 40th, and 57th regiments 
_ of Native Infantry on the Bengal establishment. Undoubtedly there are many cir- 
_ cumstances which have a temporary as well as a permanent influence on the health 
_ ofcorps. The chief of these are climate, locality, and nature of the duties required 
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of the men. By a fortunate coincidence, arising from a diversity in the course of 
their service during these nine years, he is enabled to give illustrations of the effects 
of these agencies, The 31st had lately returned from service in Affghanistan, The 
40th had, within the period selected, completed three years’ service to the eastward, 
at Kyak Phyon, and the 57th had returned from Barrackpore, after a triennial resi- 
dence at that unhealthy station. By a reference to the general table exhibiting the 
numbers invalided, we find the following results :—That there were invalided from 
“susceptibility to fever 5, and general debility, a frequent consequence of fever, 24; 
enlargement of the spleen, induced by fever, 3; or from fever and its consequences, 
atotal of 32. That there were transferred from these regiments for rheumatism and 
contractions of the joints, a common consequence of rheumatic disease, no fewer than 
68. That there had been incapacitated by asthma not fewer than 28; by dyspnoea 
not less than 6; and by consumption, 1;—from pulmonic disease altogether, 39. 
_ Disqualified by diseases of the eye, cataract, ophthalmia, and amaurosis, 14. Invalided 
