Water-
supply.
Conservancy.
86
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Sanitary
condition of
all buildings.
Hospital.
Principal
diseases for
the last year.
The huts are small, low and damp in the rains as the floor of many of them is much below
the outside level. No changes or improvements have been effected since last report.
Sanitary condition of all buildings.— The guard-room is clean and sufficiently ventilated. The
cells are in good condition, with ventilation at the top and near the floor suitable for the climate.
Two public latrines have been built at a convenient distance from the lines on the north
and south sides, but as the walls have fallen in from the heavy rains the latrines do not appear
to be made use of now. This is to be regretted as the plan they are built on is good, and as long
as they are unused there is a possibility of the ground around becoming polluted.
At present all the sepoys appear to avail themselves of the domestic latrines in the huts,
which, in the general want of good drainage and sanitation of the lines, is not desirable.
Water-supply.--The chief source of water-supply is three wells in the vicinity of the lines.
One, No. 114, is cut in rock about 500 yards from the lines to the south-west. No complaint is
made of the quality of the water from the drinking wells.
Conservancy.—The conservancy of the neighbourhood has been much improved during the
past year or two by discontinuing the practice of depositing the town collections of filth at no
great distance from these lines. The principal defects are due to the irregular ground on which
the lines are built and the total absence of any system of drainage.
Hospital.—The hospital is well raised from the ground and the conservancy of the ground
and building is excellent. The water-supply for the hospital is furnished by puckallies. There
are no cess-pools or foul drains around or about the hospital.
Principal diseases for the last year.— The principal cause of sickness is intermittent fever, and
more than half the admissions into hospital are from this disease. This regiment suffers most
from sickness of any in the station, and doubtless the unhealthy position of the lines has an
important influence.
Climate of
the station.
29th Regiment Native Infantry.
STATION— SECUNDERA BA D .
Arrived from Hong-Kong 10th February 1871.
Average strength
..
..
..
..
..
. . .. 676
Do.
do.
present
. .
..
. .
..
..
..
.. 655
Admission
..
..
. .
. .
..
..
..
.. 572
Daily sick ..
..
..
..
. .
. .
..
..
. .
18
Deaths in hospital
..
..
..
. .
. .
..
..
18
Do. out of hospital
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
2
Pensioned
..
..
..
..
. .
. .
. .
..
3
Sick leave
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
..
. .
2
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding, as
contrasted with previous years :—
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths.
Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1875
..
.. Secunderabad
. .
68.27
2.63
.72
4.47
1.01
1876
..
. .
Do.
..
. .
92.15
2.47
1.44
2.01
2.01
1877
..
. .
Do.
..
. .
108.38
3.29
1.83
6.48
.98
Average
. .
89.60
2.79
1.33
4.32
1.33
1878
. .
.. Secunderabad
..
8 7 . 3 2
2.74
2.95
.44
.29
The following officers were in medical charge of this corps during the year :
Surgeon-Major Gerald deWilton, M.D.,
Surgeon W. H. Thornhill, B.A., M.D.,
Surgeon A. N. Rogers Harrison,
the last-named of whom reports as follows :-
Climate of the station.— The south-west monsoon was unusually heavy this year. As usual
the months of July, August and September were most sickly owing to the greater prevalence of
ague at that time.