Ventilation
and drainage.
Nuisance.
Sanitary
arrangements.
Diet.
Liquors.
Clothing.
Foot-soreness.
Duty.
Exercises.
Drill.
Vaccination.
Epidemic.
60
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Climate of the
station.
If regiment
has been on
the march.
Lines.
Climate of the station.— The famine may now be said to be over, but the people will be
long in recovering from its effects. There has been a good south-west monsoon and the crops
are said to be about the average. The north-east monsoon has failed altogether. The health of
the sepoys has not been materially influenced by the climate, owing to the continual changes of
station that have taken place during the year among the different companies.
If regiment has been on the march.— In April 1878 two companies, the G and H, went to
Malta on service, and from thence proceeded to Cyprus where they suffered much from the fever
of that place; they returned to Bangalore in the beginning of December. The F Company
returned from the Nilgiris in December. Three companies, the B, E, and K, proceeded to
Peshawar to join the Cabul force in December 1878. The head-quarters have been
stationary. One company returned from Chingleput on the 29th November; they were employed
on canal work during the late famine.
Lines.—The lines and barracks are built on a well-drained slope with a southern aspect, and
the position is a fairly healthy one. The chief drawback is that on the south and west the lines
are shut in by the Native town, the sanitary condition of which is such as in a great measure to
neutralize the effects of efficient conservancy within the regimental lines.
Ventilation and drainage.—Ventilation and drainage are the same as usual.
Nuisance.—The regimental latrine is a standing nuisance, being badly constructed and
insufficient for the use of the men. It has been frequently reported on during the last three or
four years, and the erection of another has, I believe, been sanctioned, but has not yet been erected.
Water-supply.
Water-supply.—From wells. Has been good and abundant.
Hospital
ventilation.
Sanitary arrangements.—On the whole the sanitary arrangements have been well attended to.
Diet.—Provisions have been dear, but not so scarce as during last year. Sepoys have
received compensation.
Liquors.—The usual Commissariat liquors have been issued to the Europeans. There have
been no complaints.
Clothing .—Clothing has been sufficient and adapted to the climate.
Foot-soreness .—Foot-soreness has been frequent owing to the ill-fitting boots worn by the
Native and also to the intermittent nature of its use.
D u t y . —
T h e
S a p p e r s d o a l l s o r t s o f w o r k i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i r o r d i n a r y r e g i m e n t a l d u t y .
They are employed as carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, blacksmiths, printers, photographers,
&c., and they also go through an annual course of field-work. This work is no doubt beneficial
and keeps the men in good health. Average number of nights in bed 3 in 4.
Exercises.— There is a good gymnasium, which all recruits are obliged to attend. The
Europeans have a billiard table. No advice has been required on the subject.
Drill.—There is the ordinary drill for recruits morning and evening, and battalion or
company drill for the men twice a week in the morning between the hours of 6 and 7. The
drills have not had an unfavorable influence.
Vaccination.—Vaccination has been carried on weekly. All recruits are re-vaccinated unless
they bear marks of vaccination. Twenty-two men were re-vaccinated, of whom 2 were successful.
Epidemic.—There
has been no cholera or dysentery during the year. Ague has been the
chief disease, and most of these men contracted the disease in Cyprus. It does not appear to be
of a dangerous nature, and is chiefly characterised by the cold stage being more pronounced than
usual.
Hospital ventilation .—Ventilation of hospital has been good. There has been no overcrowding.
Drainage and latrine of hospital good; the dry-earth system is carried out in its entirety.
General
conclusions.
Lines.
General conclusions.— 0n the whole the health of the Sappers at head-quarters has been
good. There have been 8 deaths among the Natives and 1 among the Europeans; of the former
4 were from respiratory diseases, and are no doubt attributable to the climate and the carelessness
of the sepoy in not taking greater precautions against the cold. Of the deaths 1 was from ague,
2 from diarrhœa, and 1 from dropsy.
Deputy Surgeon-General P. G-. FitzGerald inspected this corps on the 13th
of March last and reports as follows:—
Lines.—By the erection of new huts which were added to the existing lines more accommo
-
dation has been provided., and it is satisfactory to learn that none of the families of the sepoys
now live out of the lines. The number of huts amounts to 611 tiled and 2 thatched, and the
average number of inhabitants in each hut is 3.34. The strength of the corps at head-quarters
is continually changing, and during the past year it sometimes equalled that of a Native Infantry
regiment. The surplus, for whom there was no accommodation in the lines, was lodged in tents.
The population of the lines amounts to 2,048, including 502 sepoys, recruit and pension boys.
The drainage is good; V-shaped stone-lined drains run along the front of each line of huts and
conduct the contents to the municipal drains between the lines and the native bazaar. These