Ventilation
and drainage
of men's
barrack-
rooms,
huts. &c.
Nuisance.
Water-
supply.
Sanitary
arrange-
ments.
Diet.
Clothing.
Foot-
soreness.
Epidemic.
Hospital
ventilation.
General
conclusions.
20
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Ventilation, and drainage of men's barrack-rooms, huts,&c. —The place of arms and the barrack
guard-room are well situated and airy. The defective system of drainage has been represented
to the Commandant, but of course only recently, and nothing has yet been done to remedy it.
Nuisance. —Yes. Regimental lines are in a very unsatisfactory condition, dirty, and no
means of carrying out the thy-earth system. This has been reported, and the Officer commanding
is about to apply for proper latrines.
Water-supply. —The sepoys supply themselves from a tank near their lines said to be fresh
and good.
Sanitary arrangements.—The lines are kept as clean as circumstances will allow. A proper
drainage system is much wanted, as are also latrines on the dry-earth system.
Diet. —Dear and scarce, but cheaper now than in the stress of the famine. Rice compensa-
tion has been and is granted. The men diet themselves.
Clothing. —No changes have been recommended.
Foot-soreness. —From the 1st January to the 17th April, 51 cases of foot-soreness from
defective boots occurred. A few days without boots and emollient applications sufficed for a cure.
During the expedition to Malta there were no cases of foot-soreness as the men were supplied
with socks and well-fitting boots.
Duty. —The usual guards and parades before the expedition to Malta and after their return.
Duing their stay in Malta and Cyprus there was a good deal of extra work in the way of
unloading stores, &c., but it had no prejudicial effect on health. Average number of nights in
bed 6.5.
Drill. —Adjutant's drill for recruits from 4-30 to 5-30 P.M. four times a week; also morning
drill between 6 and 7 A.M. five times a week, excepting during the hot weather and south-west
monsoon.
The recruits also are exercised daily with clubs. No ill effect on health.
Erercises. —While the regiment was at Cannanore there was a small gymnasium and a
regimental cricket club ; these have not yet been re-organised since the return of the regiment
from foreign service.
Vaccination. —Vaccination is carried on. Thirty men were vaccinated between January and.
April. Of these 23 had no marks of vaccination or small-pox, and the results were 4 successful,
9 modified, and 10 failed. Two men bore marks of small-pox. Of these one was a modified
case, the other failed. The remaining 5 men bore doubtful marks of vaccination ; in their case
re-vaccination gave 3 successful and 2 modified cases.
Epidemic.—No epidemic disease has prevailed.
Hospital ventilation.—Well ventilated ; no representation necessary. No overcrowding.
General conclusions. —During the year under review the regiment has been at Cannanore,
Malta, Cyprus, Madras, and the present station, Vellore. The expedition having taken place in
the summer months, the change of climate, and probably the sickness, was less than it otherwise
would have been. By God's blessing no epidemic occurred, but 694 men came under treatment
during the year, and the fact that only 2 deaths occurred out of this number, especially when the
changes to which they have been exposed are taken into consideration, speaks highly, I think, for
the care and skill of the medical officers who had charge of them, and also for the attention of
the medical subordinates to their work. I may allow myself to say this, having only had charge
of the regiment since the 13th December.
31st Regiment
Native Infantry. STATION —MADRAS.
Arrived from Raipore 5th December 1878.
Average strength
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719
Do.
do.
present
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691
Admissions
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318
Daily sick
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11
Deaths in hospital
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4
Do. out of hospital
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1
Pensioned. ....
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Sick leave ..
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