Water-
supply.
Sanitary
arrangements
Diet.
Foot sore-
ness.
Duty.
Vaccinati
on.
Epidemic.
Hospital
Ventilation. Hospital
drainage.
24
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Water-supply. —Up to May last there was a great scarcity of water; people had to deepen
their wells to get water, but after the cyclone in May there was abundant supply of water of
good quality.
Sanitary arrangements as far as applicable to the men who live in the lines have been care-
fully attended to.
Diet.—Provisions have been very dear. Rice was sold as high as 3 measures for a rupee.
Vegetables also were dear and difficult to be procured. The men received compensation
on account of dearness of provisions. The men have fallen off a good deal since their arrival
from Burmah. On considering the dearness of provisions I don't think their diet could have
been of a very nutritive character.
Foot soreness. —During the year under review there were 253 cases of shoe-bite. Badly-
fitting boots is the principal cause of so much foot soreness among the men.
Duty.—Usual garrison duties, not prejudicial to the health of the men.
Vaccination.—Eighty-four cases were vaccinated during the year; out of this number
59 were successful, and 25 unsuccessful.
Epidemic. —No epidemic disease.
Hospital ventilation has been perfect.
Hospital drainage is in good condition, and dry-earth system is efficiently carried out.
No representations were necessary.
Hospital
water-supply.
Hospital water-supply is obtained from a well near the hospital, and is of good quality.
General
conclusions
Sanitary
condition of
lines.
General conclusions. —During the year under review there were 280 admissions into
hospital and including 15 remaining gives a total of 295 treated. The principal diseases
which caused admissions were the following in their order of frequency: ague, dysentery,
general debility, and rheumatism.
Deputy Surgeon-General W. J. vanSomeren, M.D., inspected this corps on the
18th January 1878 and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition of lines. —The lines are clean, much more too small for the regiment
of course than it was for the wing only! most of the men have billets in the bazaar. The
western face of the lines may be made to look neater by weeding, and the judicious use of the
spade and shovel.
Condition of
lavatories.
Water-supply.
Condition of lavatories. —Water for washing ample in the wells already reported on.
Water-supply. —Water for drinking, clear, potable, and sufficient now, but scarce in May
last.
Hospital.
Hospital is beautifully neat and clean in all its parts and arrangements.
NORTHERN DISTRICT.
Average strength
2,747
Do. do. present
2,649
Total admissions
...
2,244
...
...
Daily sick
101
Deaths in hospital
18
Do. out of do.
14
Pensioned
102
Sick leave
6 3
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding, as
contrasted with previous years:—
Rate per Cent. of
Years.
Average Strength Present.
Av e r a g e S t r e n g t h .
Admissions.
Daily Sick.
All Deaths.
Pensioned.
Sick Leave.
1874
94.36
4.80
1.07
3.47
2 . 0 3
1875
95.85
4 . 3 6
1.30
2 . 7 2
2 . 5 1
1876
89.22
3.73
1.51
2 43
2 . 2 3
Average
9 3 . 1 4
4.29
1 . 2 9
2 . 8 7
2 . 2 5
1877
84.71
3.81
1 . 1 6
3 . 7 1
2.29