Cells.
Duties and
drills.
Hospitals.
9 0
Native lines.
Rations.
Defaulters'
and guard
rooms.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
The following corps were serving in this division on the 31st December 1878 :—
2nd Regiment Light Cavalry.
5th
do.
Native Infantry.
8th
do.
do.
16th
do.
do.
22nd
do.
do.
35th
do.
do.
The following Deputy Surgeons-General held administrative medical charge
of this division:
Deputy Surgeon-General J. R. Theobalds,
Deputy Surgeon-General W.H. Rean, M.D.,
the former of whom reports as below :—
Alleged cause of Sickness and Mortality.
Native Lines.— Very little has been done during the year to improve the sanitary condition
of the Native regimental lines in this circle; as a rule they are imperfectly drained by shallow
drains dug on both sides of the road, which after a heavy fall of rain silt up more or less.
The huts are low, very dark inside; no window, only one door. Many are overcrowded and
all very badly ventilated. I have suggested that the inside walls be whitewashed, and with a
little gentle persuasion I think this sanitary improvement may be carried out, and at a very small
cost. The huts are kept fairly clean inside, but as long as there is so much soakage of urine and
the latrine washing water into the compound in front of each sepoy's hut, the atmosphere of the
lines must be more or less tainted and a cause of disease. When I was at Raipur last year I found
394 private latrines in the Native lines had no arrangements made to carry off the urine and
latrine washing water into the drains. As I stated last year, I fear much improvement cannot
be carried out in the Native lines until some uniform, inexpensive plan for the sepoy's private
latrine is ordered that arranges for the daily removal of all the urine and latrine washing water
from the lines.
The ventilation of the old overcrowded 35th and Pensioners' lines at Kamptee has been
somewhat improved during the year, by taking down some of the Pensioners' huts on the eastern
boundary of the 35th lines, and a few of the extra huts built up by the sepoys of the 35th
Regiment N.I. have been knocked down, but a very large number of extra huts still remain in
the 35th lines in front and at the sides of the dwelling huts, and so prevent the free access of
air through these old and overcrowded lines. The drainage has been improved by deepening
the drains.
The drainage of the 8th Regimental lines at Seetabuldee remains in the same unsatisfactory
state as last year. At a very small cost I think this might be improved by deepening all the
drains in the streets of the lines, and give a gentle fall into the main drain that leads into
Jumma Tank.
The ground of the lines of the Native regiment at Hoshungabad is saturated with urine,
and the medical officer reports that during the rains ammoniacal exhalations are very perceptible,
and the walls of the huts are damp. New lines are to be built at this station on another site.
Rations.— The rainfall in the Central Provinces generally has been abundant during the
year; above the average at Kamptee. Supplies of all kinds have been good and abundant, though
the prices of all kinds of grains have been raised in consequence of the great exportation to the
famine districts. Vegetables abundant and cheap.
Defaulters' and guard rooms.— Found them all clean and most of them well ventilated, with
the exception of the 35th guard and defaulters' room, and 22nd Regiment N.I. guard and defaulters'
rooms. The ventilation of the former is now insufficient in consequence of the Commanding Officer
having closed up a window in each. Recommended that oval openings should be made in the
top of each wall and ventilation be made where the rafters rest on the wall.
As the ridge roof ventilation recommended for the 22nd guard and defaulters' rooms
is expensive, I this year suggested that oval openings be made in the tops of the walls. Recom-
- m e n d e d t h e s a m e k i n d o f v e n t i l a t i o n f o r t h e t r e a s u r y a n d j a i l g u a r d r o o m s a t S u m b a l p u r .
The ventilation of the 35th Hospital guard-room and 2nd Regiment Light Cavalry have
been improved since last report.
Cells.— I found all the cells clean and well ventilated.
Duties and drills.— The same as usual, and have not in any way proved prejudicial to
the health of the sepoys.
Hospitals.— All the hospitals in the circle are very good, well ventilated and well drained.
Accommodation sufficient.