1839.] Dr. Burkes Reports. 51 



its Returns, that its comparative salubrity would appear to be best 

 deduced. 



The steadiness or mutability of the climate, or considerable anoma- 

 lies of weather, or physical properties, seem more to influence the 

 health of the troops than either its heat or its cold, abstractedly consi- 

 dered. 



The causes of sickness in many Stations must be traced to other 

 sources than climate. 



The soil of Bengal being composed of alluvial matter, formed by 

 the detritus carried down by the great rivers, and accumulated for ages, 

 there is a poison in the exhalations of such soils, the nature of which 

 is unknown ; but from it emanate all those species and varieties of 

 fevers, (dependent on marsh miasma as their remote cause) so fre- 

 quent in Bengal, and to which one general character appertains — 

 periodicity, or remissions, and exacerbations. 



A large proportion however of the cases of sickness and deaths 

 among the European soldiers, may be more or less attributed to ex- 

 cesses, especially in the use of spirituous liquors. 



The relative healthiness of each Station is according to the Returns, 

 as follows, from 1830 to 1833 inclusive — 



Deaths to strength. 



Fort William J-59 per cent. 



Berhampore 6*77 



Chinsurah 610 



Cawnpore 4*55 



Boglipore 395 



Dinapore 384 



Ghazeepore 3*80 



Kurnal 3*00 



Meerut 198 



Agra 1 91 



There are given Classification Tables, taken from the Regimental 

 Returns, shewing the different classes, numbers, ages, and deaths, of 

 the soldiers of His Majesty's service in Bengal for the years 1826 to 

 1833, viz. 



