6
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT.
Movements of
corps.
the largest ratio of daily sick in 1878 are the 4th Light Cavalry quartered at
Bellary, the 8th Regiment at Seetabuldee and Saugor, the 27th at Bellary, the 7th
at Vizagapatam, the 23rd at the Andamans, the 16th at Raipore and Jubbulpore,
the 41st at Toungoo and 28th at Mercara. As regards the 23rd Regiment the
detachment at the Nicobars suffered severely, as usual, from malarial fever, and
this complaint was also very prevalent at Port Blair. The disease was most common
and severe during the heavy rains, and although the men are quartered in most
comfortable barracks they are inevitably much exposed to wet. They were more-
over in an enfeebled state on arrival at the station, from previous service in a
famine district. Mercara is also a trying climate for the Madras sepoy owing to
its cold climate and heavy rainfall, and the 28th Regiment there had a large amount
of sickness, chiefly ague, dysentery and diarrhœa, and the heaviest death-rate of any
corps in the force. It will also be observed that it was in a low state of health
and lost a good many men by death in the years 1875 to 1877. It is difficult to
connect the unhealthiness of the 4th Regiment Light Cavalry and 27th Regiment
with local influences, as Bellary has always been considered a healthy station for
Native troops. The chief cause of sickness in both regiments was fever, and both
also suffered from cholera, the Cavalry having lost 6 and the Infantry 8 men
from this disease. The 27th also suffered from dysentery and diarrhœa. The only
reasonable explanation of such unusual sickness at Bellary is, that there were
abnormal climate conditions in operation, following severe and prolonged drought,
and that the health of the men was reduced below par by the scarcity and dearness
of provisions during the famine. The 8th Regiment which was serving at Seeta-
buldee suffered severely from ague, which is endemic at that station. Dysentery
and diarrhœa also prevailed amongst the men, and there were 14 cases of small-
pox. The chief ailments in the 7th Regiment at Vizagapatam, usually a very
healthy station, were ague, dysentery, diarrhœa and bronchitis. I infer therefore
that the health of this corps also was reduced below par by dearness of provisions.
In the 16th Regiment stationed at Raipore and Jubbulpore no less than 806
admissions were due to ague, and the Medical Officer of the corps attributes its
prevalence to sudden changes of temperature and inferior and insufficient diet.
The 41st Regiment was in indifferent health before leaving Vizianagram for
Toungoo, the physique of the men having been impaired by previous service in
the Bustar country and by insufficient food in 1877. In Toungoo the chief
ailments were simple fevers, dysentery, diarrhœa and beri-beri, which last was also
prevalent amongst the civil population. The regiments showing the largest
mortality in 1878 were the 28th Regiment, the 4th Regiment Light Cavalry, the
41st Regiment, the 29th Regiment, the 27th Regiment, the 33rd Regiment and the
22nd Regiment. In the Body Guard of His Grace the Governor there was not a
single death during the year. The " Queen's Own" Sappers and Miners were more
healthy in 1878 than during the preceding three years.
13. Movements of corps.—The movements of regiments in connection with
annual reliefs were more numerous than usual, and the year was also signallized by
a contingent of Madras troops having been sent to Malta during the war between
Turkey and Russia, and another to the North-West during the Afghan campaign.
The various movements are specified in the annexed tabular statement.
Table of the Movement of the Native Troops of the Madras Presidency during the Year 1878.
Corps.
From
To
How moved.
Right Wing 4th Regiment N. I.
..
.. Toungoo ..
.. Rangoon
. . By boat, by sea and by
rail.
Do.
..
..
.. Rangoon ..
.. Bangalore ..
Head-Quarters 4th Regiment N.I.
..
.. Moulmein ..
..
Do.
..
..
Do.
6th Regiment N.I.
.. ..
..
.. Thayetmyo
. . Trichinopoly
.. By sea and rail.
15th Regiment N.I.
..
..
..
.. Port Blair ..
.. Madras
..
.. By sea.
17th Regiment N.I...
..
Toungoo
.. Rangoon ..
By boat, by sea and by
march.
Rangoon
.. Vizianagram
23rd Regiment W.L.I.
..
..
..
.. Bangalore
. , Andamans ..
.. By rail and by sea.
32nd Regiment N. I.
..
..
..
.. Trichinopoly
.. Thayetmyo
.. By march, by sea and
by rail.
Head-Quarters and Left Wing 33rd Regiment
N. I.
Madras
..
. . Moulmein ..
.. By sea.