Exercises.
Vaccination.
130
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Clothing.
Foot-soreness.
Duty.
Epidemics.
Phthisis
pulmonalis.
Clothing.—The clothing was sufficient for French Rocks and adapted to the climate, and
used to be changed according to the season of the year. Though sufficient for the Rocks, it was
far from being so for the climate of Mooltan. In addition to their usual clothing the sepoys had
served out to them only a cumblie, a thin flannel jersey, two pair of socks and a pair of mittens,
clearly insufficient for Madras troops, when all the regiments serving on the Frontier wear
" posteens," " puttres," &c.
Foot-soreness.—Cases of foot-soreness are frequently met with, caused by wearing defective
boots without socks. Excusing the men from wearing boots for a few days has generally been
sufficient to effect a cure. My experience on the line of march is the same.
Duty.—The duties of the troops at French Rocks consisted of a small number of guards and
parades morning and evening, from 6-30 to 7-30 A.M. and from 5 to 6 P.M. The duties do not
seem to have had any ill effect on health. The average number of nights in bed per week 6.4.
Exercises.—A cricket club has been established, but it is too early to offer an opinion as to
whether it were conducive to health or otherwise.
Vaccination.— No cases of small-pox in the corps during the year. Vaccination has been
kept up in the regiment. No occasion to re-vaccinate any of the corps. Number of cases
vaccinated during the year—
Successful
..
. .
..
..
..
. .
..
..
.. 27
Unsuccessful
..
. .
. .
..
. .
..
. .
. .
43
Total .. 70
Epidemics.—Fevers of various types have been the prevailing diseases during the year ; this
I attribute to the large amount of rainfall. There has been no overcrowding or defective venti-
lation. There has been no defect in drainage, latrines or water-supply. Provisions, as before
stated, have been dear. No epidemic diseases during the year under review.
Phthisis pulmonalis.—No cases of phthisis pulmonalis in the regimental hospital. During
the year one Havildar died from it in the Garrison Hospital, Bangalore, where he had proceeded
to appear before a medical board with a view to be discharged the service.
Hospital
ventilation.
Drainage and
latrines.
Hospital
water-supply.
General
conclusions.
Lines.
Sanitary
condition of
all buildings.
Conservancy
of the neigh-
bourhood.
Hospital ventilation.— The ventilation of the hospital has been sufficient. No representation
necessary. No overcrowding of hospital wards.
Drainage and latrines.—Drainage good. Latrines kept in good order ; the dry-earth system
of conservancy efficiently carried out. No representations necessary.
Hospital water-supply.—The water-supply good and sufficient for all purposes.
General conclusions.— The past year cannot be said to have been very favorable for the health
of the troops. The rainfall was excessive and there was in addition great scarcity of provisions ;
at most they were selling at famine prices. The number of admissions was 697 against 449 in
1877. The admissions for fever (intermittent) were more than doubled, namely, 435 last year
and only 210 in the preceding year.
Deputy Surgeon-General P. G. FitzGerald, M.D., inspected this corps at the
French Rocks on the 5th November 1878 and reports as below :—
Lines.—The occupied huts are 704, and the average number of inhabitants in each hut was
3 . 24. The huts and lines are according to regulation scale. The drainage is natural, assisted
where necessary by art. The configuration of the ground renders it easy. The regimental
latrines are simply enclosures open to the sky and internally divided by low mud partitions.
The excreta are removed daily to a distance and partly buried, and in part to manure the fields.
Water is obtained in abundance from wells. It is good for drinking and is not filtered. There
are no bathing places except those in the enclosures of the huts.
Sanitary condition of all buildings.— The solitary cells are on the standard plan and are
clean and sufficiently ventilated. They have chunam floors. Prisoners lie on the floor. The
guard-room is a narrow room but at a right angle. It as well as the lock-up room is floored
with slabs of stone, and both guard and prisoners have to lie on the floor. The guard-room does
not afford sufficient room for the number sleeping there, but most of the men prefer the open
verandah, which is also floored with stone. I should say that in cold wet nights they would be
likely to suffer from this kind of accommodation. The construction of the latrines does not admit
of the use of coal-tar, and dry earth can only be used in dry weather.
Conservancy of the neighbourhood.—The station generally is very clean and well kept. No
improvement seems called for.
Hospital.
Hospital.—It is clean and well ventilated. It would perhaps have been better if it were
divided into two wards of unequal size, so as to afford separate accommodation for special cases,
which are now treated in the room built for a dead-house. The drainage is natural, the surface
water flowing into a nullah immediately outside the wall of the compound. The water is obtained
from No. 1 well, and is filtered in the ordinary chatty filter.