Water-
supply.
Sanitary
arrange-
ments.
Diet.
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Epidemic.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
Hospital
water-supply
General
conclusions.
100
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Climate of
the station.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, amp;c.
Clothing.
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1874
... Kamptee
... ...
64.95
2.80
1.24
.82
1.24
1875
Do.
...
57.21
2.48
.48
13.94
. 4 8
1876
...
Do.
... ...
80.86
2.87
...
7.37
1.84
Average...
67.67
2.71
.57
7.37
1.18
1877
... Kamptee
. . .
78.81
1.73
1.02
2.04
. 3 4
Surgeon-Major B. T. Suffrein was in medical charge of this corps during the
year and reports as under :—
Climate of the Station.—The temperature during the hot season was very moderate; the
rainfall was considerably above the average and secured good crops and a consequent absence
of the distress from famine which was so severe in Southern and Western India. The
temperature during the cold season was very enjoyable, but never low enough to cause distress
among the native population.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, amp;c.—
I have already stated, the ventilation
•
of the huts is defective. The barracks are only used as store-rooms for arms and accoutre-
ments. The guard rooms, cells, and other pucka buildings are well ventilated. The situation
of the lines on elevated ground affords good natural drainage, but there is only one pucka
drain between the houses, the cost of which appears to have -prevented others being constructed.
Water-supply.—The water-supply has been good both as to quantity and quality.
Sanitary arrangements have been carefully attended to.
Diet .—Provisions have been both cheap and plentiful; vegetables were plentiful during
the rains and the cold season, but were, as usual in this part of India, rather scarce in the hot
season. The men, as is always the case, have received compensation for the dearness of rice,
which is always clearer here than in a rice-growing country. The men buy their own provisions,
and as their pay is sufficient to allow of their feeding themselves adequately, they have nothing
to complain of with regard to their food.
Clothing suitable to the climate and season of the year ; but, as recommended in last year's
report, white cotton tunics and trowsers would be better suited for wear in the hot season than
the cloth clothing now used.
Duty .—The large accession of recruits during the year has thrown a great deal of drill
work on the officers, but the duties of the men have not proved in any way detrimental to their health
Drill.—The men have not suffered in health from the nature or extent of the duty they
have had to perform.
Exercises .—There is a public gymkhana in Kamptee kept up by subscription among the
European officers of the garrison, and the troopers sometimes take an active part in the sports.
Vaccination has been carried on regularly throughout the year; no cases of small-pox
have occurred among men properly vaccinated.
Epidemic.—No epidemic disease has prevailed in the station, but a few cases of measles
occurred in the lines in April and May, and 4 sepoys were admitted with this disease. It proved
mild and soon died out.
Hospital ventilation is now all that could be desired, as the already free ventilation by
numerous doors and windows has been still further improved by placing a "Louvre" on the
roof and so securing ample ridge ventilation. The hospital is a lofty roomy building with
ample accommodation, and there has been no overcrowding during the past year.
Hospital drainage.—The surface drainage is good.
Hospital water-supply has been good and abundant, and derived from the same wells
that supply water for the lines.
General conclusions.— The health of the regiment during the past year has been good and,
though the number of admissions into hospital was much larger than in the previous year, the
causes were, as a rule, of a trivial character and unconnected with climate. Thus the admissions