Barracks and
guard-rooms.
Solitary cells
Food-supply.
48
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
The huts of the 28th Native Infantry at Mercara have withstood another monsoon very well,
and the addition of a fresh coat of thatch each year will make those of the left wing warmer
and more comfortable.
The east hutting lines at Bangalore, now occupied by the 4th Native Infantry, are, perhaps,
with the exception of those of the 4th Cavalry, the least satisfactory in the whole administrative
circle. Their defects, both of site and construction, have been mentioned in former reports.
No progress has been made with the project for a new water-supply for Bangalore, and it
seems to be at a complete stand-still.
An attempt was made during this year to cut off one of the many sources of defilement to
which the Ulsoor Tank water is exposed, but it was successfully opposed by the Mysore Govern-
- m e n t , p a r t l y o n t h e p l e a t h a t t h e r e w e r e o t h e r a n d e v e n g r e a t e r s o u r c e s o f p o l l u t i o n o f t h a t w a t e r ,
and that, notwithstanding, the Official Analyst had some years ago reported it to be good.
There are causes of disease, however, which the Analyst is powerless to discover, probably,
because, in many instances, he destroys them in the search. The contagium of cholera has hitherto
eluded the quest of the crucible, and malaria the microscope. It is therefore not safe to trust
exclusively to analysis when other sources of information are open to us. The highest sanitary
authority in India goes even further, and lays it down as a rule that it is superfluous to test a
water the source of which is manifestly impure, and the water of the Ulsoor Tank is gathered
from ground which is exposed to almost every kind of impurity, human and bestial, that civiliz-a-
tion engenders.
Barracks and guard-rooms.—The barracks of Native corps are not inhabited. They are
occupied by the quarter-guard and by such prisoners as may happen to be in the lock-up room.
The lock-up rooms of the Sappers and Miners at Bangalore, the 28th Native Infantry at Mercara,
and the 27th Native Infantry at Bellary are floored with flags or blocks of stone. The two former
are now provided with wooden platforms for the prisoners to sleep on, but that of the 27th
Native Infantry has no such provision. The Native main-guard and lock-up rooms at Bellary
are in the same condition, but the latter is hardly ever tenanted.
Solitary cells.— The solitary cells are all on the standard plan. Their principal defect is,
being unprovided with any means of raising the prisoner from the floor when he lies down.
There is no horizontal ventilation in these cells, and when the prisoner lies down he breathes an
atmosphere which is renewed far too slowly, and is consequently soon loaded with exhalations
from his lungs and body. The cells of the Sappers and Miners are an exception to this remark,
as they have a wooden platform for the prisoners to lie on.
Foot.-supply.—Food has been cheaper than in the previous year, but still so dear as to
necessitate the grant of compensation to the sepoys at all the stations of this circle. Indepen-
dently of the price of food a large proportion of most regiments will be found to be under-fed
from the number of relations and followers who live on them.
The following table exhibits the prices of the principal articles of food in Mysore and Coorg
and in the Ceded Districts during the years 1876-77 and 1878 :—
Food-supply (quantity per rupee in seers).
Wheat.
common
Rice.
Cholum.
Cumbu.
Ragi.
Firewood.
1877. 1878. 1877. 1878. 1877. 1878. 1877. 1878. 1877. 1878. 1877. 1878.
Province of Mysore
.. 5.4 6.4 5.9 8.
7.8 12.2
8.7 13.5 7.6 11.9
159.7 153.9
Do. of Coorg ..
.. 5.8 5.7 6.6 9.1
..
..
..
.
8.4 12.7
110.
110.
Ceded
Districts.
Bellary..
.. 8.1 8.75 6.64 6.75 7.76 11.
8.9 11.. 50 9.77 12.66 5 Rs.* lbs. 129
Cuddapah .. 5. 5.25 4.7 5.25 5.6 7.63 6.1 9.25 6.
9.25 600.
600.
Kurnool
.. 5 . 5.
4.7 5.50 5.7 9.
6.5 8.25 6.
9.25 440. lbs. 360
* Per cart-load.
Clothing.
Duties.
Hospitals.
Clothing.-No change has been made in the clothing of the sepoys since last report, when
I expressed my opinion of the unfitness of the present costume of the sepoy for active service
especially. The Medical Officer of the 28th Native Infantry states that the men of that
regiment suffer, when out of uniform, from the unsuitability of their ordinary clothing to the
climate of Mercara.
Duties.—The duties of the troops have not been of a nature to affect their health injuriously.
The number of nights in bed in the week ranged from 6 in the 21st Native Infantry at
Bellary to 3 in the 4th Native Infantry at, Bangalore.
Hospitals.—The hospital accommodation was insufficient for the 4th Cavalry at Bellary, and
the surplus sick were lodged in a portion of the building known as the Staff Serjeant's quarters.
The hospitals of the 4th and 36th Native Infantry and the Garrison Hospital at Bangalore
have been occasionally found insufficient for the number of sick. The excess was accommo-
dated in tents pitched near the respective hospitals. The Garrison Hospital at this station has