540 OF RESPIRATION. 



from 120 to 131. Now the general mortality of London, which was 0.9 in 

 1000 in June and July, increased to 4.5 in 1000 in August and September; 

 and the mortality among the female prisoners underwent a similar increase, 

 from 8.3 to 53.4 per 1000; but the mortality among the male prisoners exhi- 

 bited the extraordinary diminution, from 23.1 per 1000, which was its rate 

 during June and July, when the prison was crowded, to 9.2 per 1000, which 

 was its rate during August and September, after the reduction had taken place 

 (Op. cit., App. B., p. 67). It is scarcely possible to imagine a more probative 

 case than this ; since it shows, in the first place, the marked influence of the 

 crowded state of the prison upon the fatality of the disease the diminution of 

 mortality consequent upon the relief of the overcrowding, notwithstanding the 

 augmented potency of the epidemic influence, as indicated by the quintupling 

 of the general mortality of the Metropolis and the yet greater increase of 

 mortality among the female prisoners, which proved that the diminution among 

 the males could not be attributed to any recession of the epidemic influence from 

 the locality. 



579. The cholera-experience of the Indian army is fertile in examples of the 

 same kind, whose peculiar character makes them even more remarkable. It is 

 to be remembered that the normal amount of Respiration is much lower in a 

 hot than in a temperate climate ( 564, a) ; consequently, any deficiency of oxy- 

 genation will tend in a yet higher degree to promote the accumulation of putre- 

 scent matter in the system, and this especially when there has been any unusual 

 source of "waste," such as that induced by excessive muscular exertion. The 

 circumstances attendant upon the outbreak of Cholera, in 1846, at Kurrachee 

 in Scinde, in which ten per cent, of an army of 6380 men were carried off, place 

 the influence of these conditions in a very striking point of view. In order that 

 the comparison may be fairly made, the data will be taken only from European 

 regiments, similar to each other in diet, clothing, regimen, habits, and every 

 other conceivable particular, save such as will be mentioned. Out of 200 

 Officers, there were only 3 deaths from Cholera (only 1 of these being in an un- 

 complicated case), or at the rate of 15 per 1000. The 2d Troop of Horse Bri- 

 gade, 135 strong, lost 5 men, or at the rate of 37 per 1000. The 60th Rifles, 

 980 strong, lost 75 men, or at the rate of 76.5 per 1000. Four Batteries of 

 Artillery, 375 strong, lost 37 men, or 96.6 per 1000. The Bombay Fusiliers, 

 764 strong, lost 83 men, or 108.6 per 1000. And the 86th Regiment, 1091 

 strong, lost 238 men, or 218 per 1000. Among 42 ladies (wives and families 

 of Officers), there was not a single case of cholera. But among 159 soldiers' 

 wives, there were 23 deaths, or 144.6 per 1000. Now most of the Officers, and 

 all the ladies, were quartered in well-ventilated apartments ; and the only pre- 

 disposing cause from which the former could be considered as liable to suffer, 

 was the exposure, in common with the soldiers, to the burning heat during the 

 hours of drill. Of the 9 officers attacked with cholera, 4 belonged to the Bombay 

 Fusiliers, and had been living (like their men) in tents. The Horse Brigade 

 were lodged in good barracks, but had recently come off a march of 1000 miles; 

 being mounted, however, they must have suffered comparatively little fatigue 

 from this. The 60th Rifles were quartered in barracks ; but the ventilation of 

 these was very imperfect, and the men were much crowded. The battalions of 

 Artillery were quartered in good barracks ; but three out of the four had re- 

 cently made the march of 1000 miles on foot. The Bombay Fusiliers were 

 quartered in tents, whose accommodation was so limited that 10 or 12 men were 

 cooped up in a space 14 feet square, with the thermometer ranging from 96 to 

 100, without any adequate provision for ventilation. The 86th Regiment was 

 quartered in precisely the same manner ; and had recently made the march of 

 1000 miles under very unfavorable circumstances, besides having previously 

 suffered from the debilitating influence of severe service. The condition of the 



