GO 



On the Sickness and Mortality 



state, — "Since the middle of August, fevers of the remittent and 

 intermittent types, have been unusually prevalent among the Euro- 

 peans corps and Native Infantry, and latterly, the Cavalry, the camp 

 followers, and, generally, the inhabitants in the neighbourhood." 



" That the cantonment, being situated on an uninterrupted level 

 plain of great extent and of clayey soil, the water is not readily 

 absorbed, and lies on many parts of the lines and parade grounds in 

 extensive sheets of the depth of several inches, for some days fol- 

 lowing a fall of rain ; such surfaces, acted on by the intense heat 

 of the sun, generate malaria in great abundance over the whole extent 

 of the cantonment and its vicinity ; and to this cause, the Committee 

 ascribe the prevalence of fever in the present season." 



The present Surgeon General W. Panton and lately Superintending 

 Surgeon of the Sirhind Division, in his Annual Report on the Hospi- 

 tals of European and Native troops in the Sirhind Division, for 1842, 

 writes to the Medical Board, — " That the state of health at Kurnaul, 

 during the past year, has been unfavorable, from causes similar to 

 those which were formerly reported to have operated injuriously 

 on the troops in the preceding year." 



" The hot season continued long and most oppressive, interrupted 

 only by occasional showers, until the middle of July, and again till 

 the end of August, when heavy falls of rain occurred, and flooded the 

 cantonment for some days." 



" In July, fevers intermittent and remittent began to be prevalent, 

 and as the season advanced, during August and September, the num- 

 ber of remittents gradually, but steadily, increased, until the middle of 

 October, when these decreased, and the intermittent type prevailed 

 afterwards in greater proportion." 



" The soil on which the cantonments are situated being argillaceous, 

 retains water on the surface long, and when allowed so to remain 

 exposed to intense solar heat, malaria will soon be generated." 



Dr. Panton also refers the deterioration of the health of the troops 

 stationed at Kurnaul of late years, to the increase and extension of 

 rice cultivation to the very boundaries of cantonments. 



Dr. McGregor, who has given much attention to this subject in 

 reference to the sickness prevalent at Kurnaul in the succeeding year 

 1843, as well as to that of the previous two years, states, — "the 

 cause of the great sickness at Kurnaul, during the past three years, 



