Foot-soreness.
Duty.
Phthisis
pulmonalis.
Hospital
ventilation.
28
Climate of th
e station.
Lines.
V entilation
and drainage.
Nuisance.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS .
the number as compared with the year previous. Cholera though prevalent in the station for
more than six months in the year, yet only 4 men of the Wing were attacked, and 2, I am
sorry to report, proved fatal. There were no cases of small-pox among the men. One man had
a mild attack of chicken-pox. Sanitary duties in the lines were as far as practicable thoroughly
attended to.
Surgeon H. A. F. Nailer, M.B., MC., was in medical charge of the Wing at
Sumbulpur and reports as follows:—
Climate of the station.— The past year has not been remarkable for any great variation.
During the hot months of May, June and July there was cholera of an epidemic form in the Native
quarter of the town. The usual increase of malarial cases made its appearance during the rainy
months of July, August and September.
Lines.—The huts are constructed on the regimental pattern usually adopted for each Native
regiment. Each hut consists of generally one room, in which every thing has to be done
—
working, sleeping, &c. There is no proper aperture of exit for the smoke. In wet weather the
room becomes close and damp, and therefore unhealthy. The average number of persons in
each hut is 4.
Ventilation and drainage.— The ventilation of the solitary cells and the guard-rooms, together
with the drainage, is good. The arrangements made to ensure proper and due amount of clean
-
liness have been fairly carried out. The private latrines (there are no public latrines) are served
with a proper amount of dry-earth. The night-soil is then carried away and buried daily in
trenches dug in a field about a quarter mile distant. The rubbish, &c. is deposited in mud cisterns
daily, carted away, and periodically burnt. The drains are daily flushed and the liquid conveyed
by V-shaped drains into a field and distributed over its surface. There are now no circular
reservoirs to receive liquid sewage, &c.
Nuisance.—On account of there being no public latrines the ones attached to each house have
been in frequent use. In order to prevent nuisances resulting from such, frequent visits have been
made and adequate steps taken to ensure proper amount of cleanliness. The V-shaped drains, as
far as their slope goes, act satisfactorily; but as they are constructed of stone slabs merely laid
one against another, they admit of some leakage. Various representations have been made by
previous medical officers, but been negatived on account of the additional expense. No nuisances
have been caused by manure heaps, &c.
Water-supply.
Water-supply.—The water-supply, as regards quantity and quality, has been fair throughout
the year.
Sanitary
arrangements.
Sanitary arrangements.— The sanitary arrangements have been on the whole satisfactory.
Diet.
Clothing.
Diet.—On account of the extreme heat of the year provisions were rather dearer than
in previous years. Vegetables also were not abundant. The troops therefore received rice
money.
Clothing.—The clothing has been sufficient and adapted to the climate.
Drill.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Foot-soreness.—Few cases of foot-soreness have required treatment in hospital. A few days'
excuse from wearing boots has been sufficient to cure almost all the cases.
Duty.—The duties of the men are light: the usual drill parades and the furnishing of three
guards for the jail, barracks, and treasury. These have exercised no prejudicial effect on the
health of the troops. The number of nights in bed average 6 per week.
Drill.—Parades during the hot weather were held for about an hour, from 5-15 to 6-15; during
the cold weather usually twice a day, morning one hour from 6 to 7, evening about half an hour
from 5.
Exercises.—No regular provision has been made in this respect, but every encouragement has
been given to the men who keep up a sort of gymnasium of their own. The men take a good
deal of exercise in the open air, and every measure has been adopted to encourage gardening so as
to afford some sort of recreation.
Vaccination .—Vaccination has been satisfactory. Fifty cases of primary vaccination were
performed with complete success in all cases. One hundred and twenty-six cases of
secondary vaccination among the sepoys gave a percentage of 77 successful cases. No small-pox
visited the lines.
Epidemics.
Epidemics—During the rainy season malarial fevers were common, more so this year than
last. During the months of May, June, July and August cholera in an epidemic form visited
the Native part of the town, but on account of stringent measures adopted in the way of quarantine
and avoidance of mingling with the Native population no cases of cholera occurred within the
lines.
Phthisis pulmonalis.—No cases of phthisis pulmonalis occurred during the year. Most
of the cases of malaria were complicated with chest affections, principally bronchitis.
Hospital ventilation.— No representations, except that, in order to prevent draughts in the
cold weather, I have recommended that the doors be sawn through at their upper third, so that