Necessaries of
life.
Strength of
troops.
Health of
Native
troops.
14
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Seasonal
phenomena.
Seasonal phenomena. —The year has been a very dry one. There were only a few showers
of rain during the first six months, but during the next five months the "rainfall" of the year took
place and was only about 25 inches. In December there were only a few showers of rain.
The temperature is said to have been higher than has been experienced for many years.
The thermometer registered the highest in the month of June, when on six days it rose to 99°i
n the Madras Club. It is stated to have been the hottest year which has been experienced for
some time.
On the 18th November there was a sudden fall of the thermometer from 81° maximum to
66° (some registered, I believe, 63°), the coldest day experienced in Madras for many years; the day
following was very chilly, and the cold season generally was pleasanter to the feelings, but more
unhealthy than usual, and public health suffered a good deal from hepatic disease, &c.
Necessaries of life.—The crops have again failed in some parts of the division, and the
necessaries of life are still high-priced, although not at the famine rates of 1876-77.
Strength of troops —The average strength of Native troops serving in the division was 3,101,
and on the 31st December 1878 the strength was 4,172, composed of 2,196 Hindus, 1,653
Mahomedans, and 323 Christians.
Health of Native troops. —Fevers were very prevalent, but with this exception there has
been no abnormal sickness during the year among the Native troops. The 10th Regiment N.I.,
which was stationed in Madras the whole year, was the most healthy ; then comes the 39th Regi-
ment N.I., which was stationed at Pallavaram until the 25th December, when it came to Madras ;
the most sickness, but with the lowest percentage of deaths, was in the 25th Regiment
N . I . , w h i c h w a s s t a t i o n e d t i l l 2 8 t h A p r i l 1 8 7 8 a t C a n n a n o r e : o n t h a t d a y i t s a i l e d f o r M a l t a , w h i c h i t
reached on 24th May, and again sailed for Cyprus on the 18th July, where it arrived on the
28th idem. On the 15th August it sailed for Bombay and arrived 3rd September, reaching
Madras by rail on 8th and 9th September, and remained in camp at Poodoopettah until the
13th November, when it left by rail for Vellore, where it is now stationed.
In the 31st Regiment N.I., which was stationed at Raipore until the 11th November, the men
were healthy, but amongst the families small-pox broke out on the march to Nagpore and 103
were attacked.
Table I gives full information as to percentage of sickness and deaths to average strength.
Table I.
Regiments.
Stations.
Average
Strength.
Percentage
of Treated
to Average
Strength.
Percentage
of Deaths
to Average
Strength.
Body Guard
..
. .
. .
.. Madras..
..
121
70.25
. .
10th Regiment N.I.
..
..
.. Do.
..
. .
670
35.97
.45
25th
do.
..
..
. . Vellore
. .
730
95.06
.27
31st
do.
. . ..
.. Madras..
. .
6 9 3
45.88
.72
39th
do.
. .
. .
. . Pallavaram ..
. .
563
60.92
.71
Native Details ..
. .
..
.. St. Thomas' Mount ..
182
46.15
..
Native Infantry Depôt . .
. . .. Pallavaram ..
. .
142
129.58
9.15
Total ..
3,101
62.30
.87
Principal
diseases.
It will be observed that out of an average strength of 3,101 the average treated was in the
ratio of 62.30 per cent. to strength and of deaths in the ratio of .87 per cent. These ratios are
greatly increased by my having to show the Native Infantry Depôt, Pallavaram, which includes
all men transferred on sick leave from regiments in Burmah, &c., and showing the very high
percentage of treated to average strength of 129.58 and percentage of deaths to average strength
of 9.15. It appears to me advisable that they should not be shown in this report as they must
have appeared in that of the Burmah Division of the Army. The total treated was 1,932 and the
t ot al deat hs 27.
Principal diseases, &c.—The principal diseases have been fevers, skin diseases, bowel
complaints, general debility, wounds and accidents, respiratory diseases, rheumatism, diseases of
the eye.
The largest number of deaths was from phthisis, the next bowel-complaints and general
debility.
Table II.
Principal Diseases, &c.
Treated. Died.
Fevers
..
..
. .
. .
..
. .
. . . . 570
. .
Skin diseases
..
. .
. . ..
. .
..
. . 232
. .
T. D.
Bowel-complaints Dysentery
..
..
139 1
168
3
Diarrhœa
. .
. .
91
2