1839.] Duration of Diseases in 13,019 fatal cases in Hindoos. 317 



to the generation and concentration of disease, and of the ratio of mor- 

 tality in each Thannah, as also the influences of age, sex, and season 

 upon the course of disease among the natives. 



The present Table has reference chiefly to the comparative preva- 

 lence of particular diseases, and to the duration of these in a majority 

 of cases before they kill. It must be remembered that none of the sub- 

 jects here classified enjoyed the benefits of Hospital treatment, and but 

 very few probably of Dispensary aid, or of European skill in any form ; 

 yet the Table will be interesting, if on this account alone, by exhibiting 

 in comparison with similar Tables, the results of Hospital or Dispensary 

 practice here and in Europe. 



The rapid fatality of tropical diseases in their early stages, is remark- 

 ably shown ; and with reference particularly to the diseases of child-bed, 

 there is more than sufficient to compel the conviction not only of the 

 existence of many unhappily fatal habits and prejudices on the part of 

 the people, but of most barbarous, perhaps sinful, obstetricy on the part 

 of the practitioners. The mortality in child-bed is one-tenth of the 

 whole ; that is, equal to one-fifth of all the deaths among females. 

 Of the fatal cases, more than half occur during the three first 

 days, in other words " in the birth," and of the remainder a large ma- 

 jority fall victims to puerperal diseases within 15 days. So frightful a 

 picture is not to be met with in the records of humanity ; yet so little 

 has it been known or suspected, that only two years ago the India Com- 

 pany's examining Physician in London actually struck out of the medical 

 indent from this country the entire of the obstetric instruments, stating 

 as a reason, that " the relaxing effects of the climate rendered the use 

 of instruments at all times unnecessary." 



The subject has lately attracted attention here in an influential quar- 

 ter, and such disclosures as the present will, it is hoped, lead to the in- 

 stitution of measures calculated to prevent the fearful waste of life from 

 such causes. 



[ Table shewing, fyc. 



