iv

total treated was.74 in 1876 against.94,.74,.93,.92 and 1.05 in the preced-
ing quinquennial period. The proportion of the total number of deaths to the
total strength was almost the same in the Regular Army and in the Punjab
Frontier Force; next in order of mortality came the Madras troops, and then
the Central India Force. It will be observed, however, that the death-rates as
shewn in Statement No. II have varied very little from year to year, and the
low rate of mortality registered for 1876 (1.47 per cent. for the Bengal Army,
and 1.23 per cent. of the Madras troops on duty in this Presidency) will doubt-
less be accepted as an ample proof of the excellence of the conditions of ser-
vice, and of the constant attention paid to the sanitary arrangements of can-
tonments, as well as to every question which bears either on the efficiency or
general welfare of the Army.

Statistics of
European
officers attach-
ed to regi-
ments.

     9. The average strength of the European officers attached to the Native
Army during the past year was 572. From this strength there were 257
admissions and 4 deaths, the former at the rate of 44.93 per cent. and the
latter at the rate of.69 per cent. against 47.23 and.51 per cent. respectively
in 1875. The principal causes of admissions were fevers, injuries, bowel com-
plaints, liver diseases, &c., and the fatal diseases were fevers, heart and liver
diseases, &c.

Proportion of
adolescents,
adults and
aged men, and
the death-rate
of each class
in each
branch of the
service.

Adolescents.

Adults.

Aged men.

     10. Statement No. III shows the proportion of Native soldiers in the Bengal
Army of the several
ages of 25 years and
under, or adolescents;
of 25 to 40, or adults,
and above 40, or aged
men. The mortality of
each branch of the ser-
vice taken according to
the foregoing ages is
also shewn.

     It will be observed
that the greatest pro-
portion of soldiers un-
der 25 years of age,
or 35.15 per cent., was
in the Punjab Force,
then, in order of fre-
quency,inthe Infantry,
Cavalry, and Central India Force, and lastly in the Artillery. The high-
est proportion of adults was in the Artillery, next in the Infantry, and
then in the Central India Force, the Punjab Force, and the Cavalry. Of
aged men, the greatest proportion was in the Cavalry, then in the Central
India Force, the Artillery, the Punjab Frontier Force, and lastly in the Bengal
Infantry; but in this last-named branch of the service there were not 10 per
cent. of men of this age. These figures are consonant with the duties which
the men of the several branches of the Army have to perform.

Death-rate of
adolescents.

Of adults.

Of aged men.

     Examining the death-rate, it will be observed that the greatest mortality
of adolescents was in the Infantry; then in the Punjab, and Central India
Forces, and Cavalry, but there were no deaths of men of this class in the
Artillery. Of adults, the highest proportion of mortality was in the Bengal
Infantry, next in the Punjab Force, and then in the Artillery, Cavalry and
Central India Force, respectively. Of aged men, or those who were 40 years
and upwards, the highest rate of mortality was in the Artillery, Punjab Force,
the Cavalry and Central India Force, and in the Infantry of the Regular Army.
Taking the Army as a whole, the death-rate (1.16 per cent.) of the adolescents
was the lowest; the death-rate of the adults came next in order, and was 1.53,
or.37 per cent. higher than that of the adolescents, and the death-rate of the
aged men was 1.97 per cent., or.81 per cent in excess of that of the adoles-
cents, and.44 of that of the adults. The statistics just reviewed are again
confirmatory of those recorded in the reports of previous years.

Statistics of
the several
branches of
the Army.

     11. Statement No. IV exhibits the statistics of the Artillery, Cavalry and
Infantry of the Bengal Army, taken separately, in regard of strength both
"present" and "absent," and of the proportion of the admissions and daily