Nuisance.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Foot-soreness.
Duties.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
CENTRE OR PRESIDENCY DISTRICT.
21
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding, as
contrasted with previous years :―
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1875 ..
.. Raipur ..
..
..
82.58
2.03
.57
2.44
.86
1876 ..
..
Do. ..
..
..
65.22
2.08
.57
1.86
.71
1877 ..
..
Do. ..
..
..
42.16
1.84
.79
2.23
1.31
Average ..
63.32
1.98
.64
2.17
.96
1878
.. Madras
..
..
46.02
1.59
.69
. .
. .
Surgeon C. Lloyd, M.D., (since deceased) was in medical charge of this corps
during the year and reported as follows :—
Climate of the station. —The climate during the year under review has been a fairly healthy one. Climate of the
station.
If regiment has been on the march.―The
Head-quarters and Left Wing marched from Raipur
en route to Madras on 11th November and arrived at Nagpore, a distance of 184 miles, on 28th
November, the daily marches averaging about 10 miles a day. The health of the men was
greatly benefited by the march. Deducting halts when made, which was generally from a
quarter to half an hour, the men marched usually a little more than 4 miles an hour ; this with
their accoutrements and knapsacks was a very good pace to maintain. Small-pox was prevalent
amongst the children and a few women in the regiment on the march, but as men were attacked
with the disease those affected were kept segregated, and a sick camp formed, which always
marched well to the rear some hours after the main body.
If regiment
has been On
the march.
Ventilation
and drainage.
Ventilation, and drainage. —The ventilation of the barracks and guard rooms is sufficient.
Though the huts are small and low, they seem to admit a sufficiency of air through the many air
spaces between the tiles and at the doors. Still many of them would seem to be overcrowded
with inhabitants.
Nuisance.—No nuisance of note occurred during the year.
water-supply. —The water-supply is derived from the wells in the vicinity of the lines
barracks and hospital.
Diet.—Bazaar supplies have been plentiful, but towards the end of the year prices for grain,
&c., rose considerably owing to the famine elsewhere. Vegetables were abundant and cheap
except during the hot season. The men in some few cases underfed themselves in order that
they might contribute or send away a portion of their pay for the support of their families or relatives. I have had to represent the matter to the Commanding Officer.
Clothing. —The men were well clad in Raipur. On the march the winter uniform was worn,
and they were therefore warmly clothed during the coldest hours of the morning ; but in the
evenings and nights those off duty must have felt the cold severely, dressed only in their Hindus-
tani clothes, for the thermometer used to go clown to about 40° at nights. I am convinced many
of the cases of bronchitis and pneumonia in hospital are occasioned by men changing their warm
uniform for often the lightest and thinnest of garments, which they are obliged to wear as they
cannot afford better or warmer clothes.
Foot-soreness. —In the station there were seven admissions for shoe-bite. On the march, as
sandals were worn, only three admissions.
Duties. —They have in no way compromised the health of the men. Average number of
nights in bed 6.
Drill.— One parade daily in the morning, two or three days in the week excepted. Has had
no prejudicial effect on the men's health.
Clothing.
Drill.
Exercises. —There is no Thalimkhana in the lines which the recruits and young men could
resort to with benefit. Some of the men play cricket occasionally and excel in it.
Vaccination. —Up to 31st December 1878 a total number of 374 persons were vaccinated and
re-vaccinated in the regiment, including women and children. In the cold season of 1877-78 the
whole regiment was carefully inspected, and any men I considered with doubtful marks were
6