Clothing.
Foot soreness
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Hospital
drainage and
latrines
Hospital
water-supply.
General
conclusions.
128
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Epidemic.
Hospital
ventilation.
Clothing.— With the exception of boots the regimental clothing has been sufficient and
adapted to the climate. The undress clothing is not sufficiently warm for the cold season.
Foot soreness.— There have been only six admissions from toot soreness, but, on an average,
about one-third the regiment has been excused the wearing of boots for various periods.
Duty.— Duties did not seem to have exercised any unfavorable effect on the health of the
men. Average number of nights per week in bed was 4.44.
Drill.—On an average the regiment was drilled three times a week throughout the year.
These drills, I believe, act very beneficially on the men's health.
Exercises.—There are no games or sports in connection with the station in which the
sepoys join.
Vaccination .—Every sepoy bears either vaccination or small-pox marks. Vaccination is
strictly carried out amongst the children and all recruits who bear neither vaccination nor
small-pox marks.
Epidemic.—Thirty-two cases of measles occurred in the 16th Regimental Lines during the
year, the first occurring on the 8th March and the last on the 12th April. Of this number 9
were sepoys, 6 pension boys, and 17 children of either sepoys or camp followers. All were of
a mild type.
Chicken-pox.—In the month of February 5 cases of chicken-pox occurred amongst the
families of the men of the regiment.
Ague.—During the last five months of the year ague prevailed to a serious extent amongst
the men and families of the regiment. About the first week of September there was a case
of fever in almost every hut in the lines, and in some huts whole families were fever-stricken.
I attribute the great increase in the admissions from ague in August last to a great extent
to the then insanitary swampy state of the bed of an old tank which lies close to, and west of the
lines. I recommended the thorough draining of this ground; but the Officer Commanding Tanjore
District remarked that the matter was under his consideration, but that it did not appear urgent.
Hospital ventilation.— The state of ventilation was highly satisfactory, and no representations
respecting it were called for.
Hospital drainage and latrines.— The drainage was remarkably good, and the latrines at all
times cleanly kept.
Hospital water-supply.— There is at all times an abundant supply of water in the hospital well.
General conclusions.— The health of the regiment during the year under report compares
most unfavorably with the previous year, the total number of admissions being 547 against
380, or a daily average sick of 17.76 against 12.63. Of the total admissions in 1877, all
diseases excluding ague contributed only 172 cases against 203 in 1876. These figures show
that ague is the sole cause of the great difference in the health statistics of the regiment during
the past two years. Under the head of Epidemic Diseases I have endeavored to explain the
causes of the great prevalence of ague ; and in support of my opinion, that the insanitary
swampy conditions of the bed of the old tank in August last contributed in a great measure to
the causes of admissions from this disease, I here note the following important and, to me, at
least conclusive fact.
In the Detachment, 3rd Regiment M.L.C., whose lines are about half a mile distant from,
and east of the tank, the ratio per 1,000 for the ten months they have been here for all diseases
is only 596.53, and that for ague alone in the 16th Regiment 571.91.
20th Regiment Native Infantry
HEAD-QUARTERS AND LEFT WING STATION—BANDA.
Arrived from Seetabuldee on the 15th January 1874.
RIGHT WING STATION—NOIVGONG.
Arrived from Seetabuldee in January 1874.
Average strength
...
...
...
...
... 705
Do. do. present
...
...
...
...
...
... 665
Admissions
...
...
...
...
...
...
... 787
Daily sick
...
...
..,
...
...
.
. .
24
Deaths in hospital
...
...
...
...
...
...
... 10
Do. out of do.
.-.
.-.
...
...
...
...
...
2
Pensioned
...
...
...
. . .
25
Sick leave
...
...
6