PART II.] 



Stations of Luc know and Nowskera compared. 



405 



figures at all events show that, as a feature common to them, Frontier stations present 

 an excessive prevalence in the forms of disease included by the terms abscess and 

 ulcer. It would be hard to find any two regions more opposed to one another in 

 many respects than the North-East and North-West Frontiers. The stations present 

 hardly any common features, save that they are generally unhealthy; that special 

 forms of disease, such as abscess and ulcer, are very much more prevalent in the 

 troops there than in neighbouring areas ; and that no European troops are present in 

 them. How far this last fact may explain the excessive prevalence it is impossible 

 to determine detinitel}'^ at present ; but it appears probable that less attention to 

 sanitary improvement at places where no European troops are quartered, may, perhaps, 

 account for it. 



The previous tables have shown that the prevalence of abscess and ulcer is de- 

 pendent on some cause distinct from the mere general condition of health of troops ; that 

 general unhealthiness does not necessarily cause great prevalence of such disease, nor 

 healthiness necessarily secure exemption : it now remains to be seen to what extent 

 the statistics are capable of affording more definite information. In proceeding to 

 examine the possible special causes for the prevalence more closely, it appears that 

 one condition or set of conditions on which importance has frequently been laid, 

 namely, those giving rise to the so-called malarial fevers, may be set aside. The 

 figures clearly show that malaria, as indicated by prevalence of such fevers, is not 

 the determinant cause of the prevalence of abscess and ulcer. This cannot be 

 better illustrated than by comparing the stations of Lucknow and Nowshera. 



TABLE VIII. 



GoTnpai^ison of Admission Rates from Fever and Abscess and Ulcer of Europeans 



in Lucknow and Noivshera. 



* Calculated from Infantry Regiments only. 



