Hospitals.
Drainage.
Wa t e r - s u p p l y .
Conservancy
of the neigh
-bourhood.
116
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
were not admitted into the building. None of these eases proved fatal. Including followers
there were 11 admissions and 7 deaths from cholera at the camp, which shows that the disease
was virulent. The immediate cause of cholera could not well be determined, but there was
no doubt that some of the patients attacked had been eating a short time previously badly-boiled
rice and some unwholesome vegetables.
Hospitals .—The ventilation has been in every respect good. The wards were not over
-crowded.
Drainage .—The drainage was good. The dry-earth system of conservancy was carried out,
but nevertheless sometimes an unpleasant smell was noticed from the latrines which are in a
portion of the hospital building and not detached from the hospital, which would have been a
better plan.
Hospital
water-supply.
Hospital water-supply .—The water-supply was good and abundant.
General
conclusions.
Barracks.
Sanitary
condition of
all buildings.
Hospital.
Climate of the
station.
Natural
features and
productions
of the district.
General conclusions .—The regiment was considered to have been in indifferent health prior
to embarking owing to the effects of the famine and to a number of men having contracted bad
fever in Bustar country, where a detachment from it was sent in 1876. The past year and the
above conditions being considered, the regiment may be pronounced to be in better health than it
was at the commencement of 1878.
Deputy Surgeon-General H. R. Oswald, M.D., inspected this corps on the 16th
December 1878 and reports as follows :—
Barracks .—The barracks, of which there are seven, were perfectly clean and in neat order.
The dimensions of each barrack are 201' x 21' x 16' = 4,221 square feet and 675,336 cubic feet,
which is supposed to afford accommodation for 100 men. The average space per man during the
year has been 46 square feet and 738 cubic feet. Shallow earth drains surround each block.
Sanitary condition of all buildings .—The guard-room, which is rather small, and the prison
cells, of which there are two, were clean and in good sanitary condition. There are two latrines,
and they were also quite clean and very free from bad smells. There are no cess-pools or foul
drains, and excreta are removed daily in the regimental conservancy cart. The dry-earth system
is not practically carried out though there is a supply of dry earth in each latrine. Coal-tar is
freely used.
Water-supply.—Obtained from wells; of good quality and abundant.
Conservancy of the neighbourhood.—The conservancy of the neighbourhood of the barracks
and of the cantonment is very good. Excreta are removed from private compounds by conse
r-vancy carts beyond the boundary road. The conservancy of the native town is well attended to
by the Municipality.
Hospital .—The ward requires whitewashing, which was just going to be done, otherwise it
was clean and in neat order. The average superficial area per man has been 78.75 square feet,
but there has been overcrowding at times. There is a good latrine underneath the ward; it was
clean and quite free from bad smells. The dry-earth system is in force. Excreta are removed
daily to a distance. There were no cess-pools or foul drains. Coal-tar is freely used. The
hospital is surrounded by an excellent pucka drain.
Climate of the station .—The only deviation from the normal climate of the station to be
noticed is the diminished rainfall, which has been unprecedentedly low, being only 92.09 inches
against 157 inches in 1877, and 55.96 inches below the average of preceding five years. The
decrease in the rainfall gave rise to an increase of ague.
Natural features and productions of the district .—The north and north-eastern portions of the
district are hilly and densely wooded. The south, south-eastern and western parts consist of
large plains and marshy lands, partly under cultivation and partly covered with weeds and
long grass. The soil is porous, with an upper layer of loam and an underlying stratum of
laterite and gravel. Vegetation is luxuriant. Productions, teak and other valuable timbers in the
uplands, and paddy and garden cultivation in the lowlands.
Diseases of
the district.
Diseases of the district .—The diseases common to the district are ague, dysentery, diarrhœa
and rheumatism, the first two being due to malaria from the low jungle lands in the neighbour
-hood and the last two to the humidity of the climate and to alterations of temperature.
On the march.
Ventilation
and drainage.
On the march .—The detachment arrived at Shoaygheen on the 8th February, having
journeyed by boat from Rangoon. The 41st Regiment N.I. arrived at Rangoon by sea from
Bimlipatam on the 20th January 1878.
Ventilation and drainage .—Ventilation and drainage of barracks, guard-rooms, &c., have been
sufficient to preserve the air pure.
Nuisance.
Water
-supply.
Nuisance .—No nuisances nave come under notice in the ca
ntonment. A cess-pit in civil jurisdiction near the stockade was found offensive, and on representation to the civil authorities
it was removed.
Water-supply .—The water-supply is derived from wells, and is good and abundant.