Medical History of H M. 1 5th Hussars. 365 



armies. We even doubt, whether there are in existence, any ade- 

 quate materials for giving a medical history of so recent an event 

 as the late Gwalior campaign. 



It is almost needless to remark, that it is only by general inves- 

 tigations, by throwing together a whole series of returns, and thus 

 combining the experience of many years, that the accuracy of the 

 results of more limited enquiries can be fairly tested, and that ques- 

 tions regarding the healthiness of particular stations, and the various 

 effects of climate, can be satisfactorily decided. 



To attain such important ends, it is necessary to improve our 

 present system of returns, and to enforce uniformity throughout the 

 three presidencies, as also highly desirable to have copies of all re- 

 turns sent to Calcutta as a centre. 



As to the new forms of returns to be employed, the simplest way 

 would be to adopt those now in use in H. M.'s Service, perhaps 

 with some slight modifications. 



It is far from unlikely that each presidency may be unwilling to 

 alter the forms now in use, and it is no doubt quite possible to 

 point out many imperfections in H. M.'s returns, but they answer 

 admirably for all practical purposes, and the annual returns compiled 

 by H. M.'s Inspectors General since the year 1826, at a vast expense 

 of labour, ought already to be yielding valuable results. 



If a system of centralising all the returns were once adopted, 

 it would increase very considerably the duties of the Members of the 

 Medical Board in Bengal : but, if after an addition to their office es- 

 tablishment, they found the burden of arranging and compiling them 

 to be too heavy, Government would no doubt relieve them of this 

 additional duty, and would find it its interest to appoint a separate 

 officer for the special purpose of superintending the returns of all 

 India. 



The monthly returns of H. M.'s Service give merely a bare list of 

 diseases, and attempt no classification of them ; it might be as well 

 to adopt some practical classification, such as that now used in the 

 annual returns. But the sooner any forms, based on theoretical views, 

 such as the monthly ones now in use for Company's troops, which are 

 founded on Good's classification, are got rid of, the better. They are 

 ludicrous in many of their details.— J. M. P.] 



