The infamous "greased cartridge"

[L. Braden]

P.S. - Lest it be thought from the quotations that the MH was extraordinarily inferior to the Snider as an effective weapon, it should be noted that the MH obviously did its fair share of disabling and killing, as indicated by statistics, despite its initial defects. However, irrespective of the various effects of each bullet, it was a proven fact that a .45 bullet traveling at high velocity at a relatively short range did less damage than a .577 bullet traveling at a lower velocity, and that when encountering so-called "fanatics" and "savages", the Snider was the more effective and therefore powerful weapon. Anyway, here's a fair comparison from Lt. Col. H. R. Whitehead of the Royal Army Medical Corps, Tirah Campaign:
(Cont'd)

[L. Braden]

"The injury produced by a bullet depends on the rate at which the bullet is going at the moment of impact, but certain peculiarities as to the shape, density, and weight of the projectile must also be taken into account, together with the hardness and resistance of the part hit. ... The Snider bullet. This, from its weight and size, produced at moderate ranges (600 yards) very severe results. The rifle was used a good deal by the enemy [Pathans], and some of the most destructive bone lesions were the result of this bullet. The wounds of entrance and exit are comparatively large when compared with the Martini-Henry and Lee-Metford, but do not present the same bruising as that produced by the round bullet [of the jezail]. The effect on the bones is very severe, much comminution and extensive fissuring taking place. The wound of exit is often large and has fragments of bone, muscle, tendon, etc., blown out. At the longer ranges these effects are not noted. ... The Martini-Henry bullet. The effects of the Martini-Henry bullet are of the same character as the Snider, but the bullet is smaller and has much greater velocity. The wounds of entrance and exit are, therefore, smaller if the bullet passes clean through the limb. There is but little bruising of the skin at the wounds of entrance and exit. The fracturing and fissuring of bone are very severe, especially at the shorter ranges."
In any case, according to A. B. Wylde (who served in the Eastern Sudan), "it was very easy to recognise those Dervishes that were killed by the Snider from the ones killed by the Martini-Henry."