Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, &c.
Water-supply.
Sanitary
arrangements.
Diet.
Clothing.
Foot-sore-
ness.
Epidemic
diseases.
Hospital.
128
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Climate of the
station.
Whether
regiment has
been on the
march.
Climate of the station.— The climate of Trichinopoly, where the regiment was stationed during
the first eleven months of the year, was very similar to that of average years, viz., high temperature
with little range. The rainfall was pretty good. In December the regiment was quartered at
Calcutta. During the month the temperature ranged from an average of 76.5 highest to an
average of 58.4 lowest. A few light showers fell. The climate of either station had no percep
-
tible influence on health or disease.
Whether regiment has been on the march.—The regiment left Trichinopoly by rail on 1st
December and arrived at Madras on the 2nd ; on the 7th it embarked on board steamer and arrived
at Calcutta on the 12th, and was quartered at Fort William. The troops enjoyed excellent health
during the whole period.
General.
conclusions.
Lines.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, &c.— The guard-room and cells are excellent in
every respect. The drains are constructed of stone and are carefully looked after by the Barrack
Department. They are always very clean ; drains exist wherever required.
Water-supply.—Water, which is of excellent quality and supplied abundantly, is obtained
through pipes from the water-works at Barrackpore, a distance of about ten miles. Pipes are laid
on to all the barrack-rooms.
Sanitary arrangements.— The sanitary arrangements in the barracks are most efficiently
carried out. They are under the supervision of a large staff with good subordinates.
Diet .—Provisions of all descriptions and of excellent quality can be obtained either in the
Fort bazaar or in Calcutta. They are however dear, but the troops will receive compensation for
the excess of price. The men seem to live very well and consequently to enjoy good health.
The food they purchase is nutritive and varied.
Clothing.— The clothing the troops wear is sufficient, and in every respect suitable to the
climate.
Foot-soreness.— There were but few cases treated in hospital for foot-soreness, and they were
soon discharged.
Epidemic diseases.— No epidemic disease existed in the regiment during the year. One sporadic
case of cholera, which proved fatal, occurred in January at Trichinopoly at a time when cholera
was slowly dying out in the district.
Hospital.—The regimental hospital which is at Alipore, about two miles from the fort, is a lofty
spacious well-ventilated building. There has been no overcrowding in the wards, and indeed
such would be impossible except under extraordinary pressure. There are no hospital drains, but
the ground slopes outwards all round the building. A drain however runs from the latrine to
a distance of several yards and then terminates abruptly where a chatty . is placed under it to
receive the contents. The dry-earth system is carried out and everything is kept very clean and
in good order.
General conclusions.— The health of the regiment during the year was very good. The
number of admissions in 1878, viz., 427, was slightly in excess of those in the year preceding,
but this is only an apparent gain, as this year there has been a considerable falling off in all the
serious diseases, viz., cholera, ague, dysentery and chest complaints, with an increase in diseases
of minor importance. Again the daily average number of sick was 1.45 less than in 1877,
which proves the mildness of the ailments treated this year. The diseases which formed the
chief part of the admissions were, in order of their greater frequency, ague, ulcer, conjunctivitis,
debility, rheumatism and abscess.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. Wilson inspected this corps at Trichinopoly on
the 2nd October 1878 and reports as follows :—
Lines.— The lines were built in 1871 as a temporary measure ; they are clean, and with fair
natural and artificial drainage. The huts are miserable structures, badly thatched and not raised
above the ground.
Sanitary
condition of
all buildings.
Water-
supply.
Conservancy
of the neigh-
bourhood.
Hospital.
Sanitary condition of all buildings.— The drains (and lines generally) and latrines are
cleaned daily and the rubbish, &c. removed to a tope a mile distant, where it is covered with
earth, but is immediately utilized by gardeners. No suggestions given. Drainage is effected
by trenches aided by natural slope of the ground. They are kept very clean and work
satisfactorily.
Water-supply.—From eight wells in the lines, the water of which is pure.
Conservancy of the neighbourhood.—Very good.
Hospital.— The building is unaltered since last report ; it is clean, with good natural and
artificial drainage ; ill-ventilated by doors, windows and roof-ventilators ; not crowded, with a good
water-supply from a well in the compound. The latrines are clean ; the dry-earth system
carried out and coal-tar freely used.