Health of the Army in India during 1937

Abstract

STATISTICS of the health of the British and Indian troops in India are contained in the recently issued “Annual Report of the Public Health Commissioner with the Government of India for 1937”, 2 (Government of India Press, New Delhi. Rs. 2·6, or 4s.). The year 1937 was, from the health aspect, a good year for both British and Indian troops. There was a reduction in hospital admissions among both groups as compared with 1936 (also a good year) of 14·3 per 1,000 of strength among British troops, and 37·0 among Indian troops. Although the admission ratio appears to be on the downward trend, conditions cannot be considered satisfactory according to modern health standards so long as 568 out of every 1,000 British soldiers and 390 out of every 1,000 Indian soldiers are admitted to hospital during the course of a year. Compared with the troops in the United Kingdom, the hospital admission ratio in India is almost exactly double. The reasons are partly climatic, and partly due to the more primitive methods of sanitation, both in the army and among the civil populations in contact with it. There has been, however, a reduction in incidenco of such diseases as malaria and the enteric groups of fevers. A now synthetic drug named ‘Certuna’ has given promising results in the treatment of sub-tertian malaria. Information is given of the work being done to supply pure water to the stations, on conservancy systems, and on the sanitary control of milk and foods.