Topographical Report on the Neilgherries, 



Ul 



fnW, who are all fit for hard labour, and rarely need any medical aid, 

 but for accidents, chiefly slight wounds, or ephemeral fevers, usually 

 called colds, which they catch from exposure to heat, cold, damp and 

 wet, often all in succession in the same day. Although the cold of the 

 climate is severely felt by the prisoners, who on their first arrival 

 complain bitterly of it, and deem it a great hardship to be sent here, 

 yet it is not injurious to their health but on the contrary conducive to 

 it; and I think that, whatever may be averred about the severity of 

 confinement and prison discipline, and its destructive effects elsewhere? 

 this jail is a happy exception, and that it will bear a comparison, in 

 |)Oint of salubrity, with that of any other place in the world. 



The worst form of disease to be met with on the hills, and to which 

 the climate seems to be very favourable is the formation of abscess in a 

 KTcr already diseased, and in this respect perhaps exceeds the low 

 country ; in as much as the cold, whether dry or moist, acting unfavour- 

 ably on the skin, and repelling perspiration, deprives the patient of a 

 salutary check upon the unhealthy internal action. This may be con- 

 sidered a special and unfavourable effect of the climate, but I tvouM li- 

 mit it to those instances, wherein the liver has previously been engag- 

 ed, and a tendency to disorder plainly manifested. 



The returns of sick in whole 

 numbers shew the following 

 results t — 



Admitted. 



y 



s 



j Relieved. 



No better. 



Europe. 



Transferre( 



Died. 



Remaining. 



Sick of the Madras Esta-i 

 blishment from Feb. 1824 to> 

 June 1837 inclusive. S 



445 



295 



46 



15 



50 



0 



19 



20 



European soldiers at the} 

 depot from May 1830 tof 

 June 1834 when it was dis-f 

 continued. 3 



171 



108 



25 



26 



0 



0 



12 



0 



Native sick of all classes } 

 including the prisoners in( 

 the jail from 1st Jan. 1826 io C 

 io 30 June 1837 inclusive. ) 



3152 



3079 



_l 



0 



0 



0 



24 



45 



4 



Total 



3768 



3482 



71 



41 



50 



24 



76 



24 



I The mortality here exhibited is but a small fraction above 2 per 

 isent of all diseases, many of which were very dangerous. Among the 

 ^ officers two thirds were cured of serious complaints, for which, in all 



