SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
41
Phthisis pulmonalis.—Four cases of phthisis pulmonalis were admitted and two of them died.
These and the other chest diseases appear to me to be more attributable to constitutional and
hereditary causes than any other influence.
Hospital ventilation.—Ventilation good. No overcrowding. Drainage good. The dry-earth
system is efficiently carried out in the hospital latrine, and it is kept clean and free from smell.
Water-supply.—Sufficient and of good quality.
General conclusions .—Although in the first half of 1878 the sepoys suffered from want of a
sufficient amount of food, yet the health of the regiment has slightly improved during the past year,
due, no doubt, to the cessation of famine in Southern India. The sepoys' huts, though small and
defective in ventilation, are comparatively well built. There are pucka drains in the lines to carry
off all superfluous water, except in the lines occupied by the drummers where no drains exist.
Two well built public latrines are much required for the use of the regiment. On the 9th
December 1878 the Head-quarters and Left Wing began its march to Secunderabad, leaving the
Right Wing in Trichinopoly. Total number of admissions from all causes during the year was 358 ;
of these 131 were for ague, 20 for bowel diseases, 19 for general debility, 14 for rheumatism, and
49 for skin diseases. Three deaths occurred in hospital, viz., one from ague and two from phthisis
pulmonalis. Two men sent on sick leave died out of hospital, one from chronic rheumatism and
the other from dysentery.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. Wilson inspected this corps on the 4th October
1878 and reports as follows
: —
Lines .—The lines are well built and clean, with good natural drainage, as there are " pucka "
drains to carry off all superfluous fluid ; these are flushed daily, and the drainage washed part1y
to rice-fields and partly to a large drain north of the lines. There are no drains in the line
occupied by the drummers, and consequently the drainage is not so satisfactory, as all the refuse
matter is allowed to soak into the ground ; but the soil being sandy the natural drainage is good.
Sanitary condition of all buildings .—The latrines are clean. All excreta are conveyed to
distance and buried. There are no cess-pools or foul drains.
Water-supply .—During the past year the water-supply has been sufficient. Water for
drinking purposes is obtained from a well situated to the eastward of the 19th lines.
Conservancy of the neighbourhood .—Very fair.
Hospital .—The building is clean, with good natural and artificial drainage, well ventilated
by doors, windows, skylights and ridge-ventilators. It is not crowded. The latrine is clean,
the dry-earth system carried out, and coal-tar freely used.
Phthisis
pulmonalis.
Hospital
ventilation.
Water-supply.
General
conclusions.
Lines.
Sanitary
condition of
all buildings.
Water-supply
Conservancy
of the neigh-
bourhood.
Hospital.
DISTRICT OF MALABAR AND CANARA.
Average strength
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
..
1,373
Do.
do. present
..
. .
..
. .
. .
..
1,327
Total admissions
..
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
545
Daily sick
..
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
. .
23
Deaths in hospital
..
. .
. .
. .
..
..
. .5
Do. out of hospital
..
..
..
..
..
..
9
Pensioned
. . . .
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
56
Sick leave
..
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
25
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding, as
contrasted with previous years :—
Years.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions.
Daily Sick.
All Deaths.
Pensioned.
Sick Leave.
1875 ..
. .
. .
..
51.88
2.09
.49
3.16
2.97
1876 ..
. .
. .
. .
51.17
1.83
.33
7.54
1.76
1877 ..
..
. .
. .
63.86
2.24
.73
1.24
1.91
Average
. .
55.63
2.05
.51
3.98
2.21
1878 ..
..
..
. .
41.07
1.73
1.01
4.07
1.82
11