Nuisance.
Water
-supply.
Sanitary
arrange
-ments.
Diet.
Liquors.
Clothing.
VaCeillation.
Epidemic.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
Hospital
water-supply.
Ge neral
conclusions.
Conservancy.
Hospital.
114
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Nuisance.— A cess-pool in the drain from right wing barracks was complained of by the
residents in the vicinity; a report was made, and directions given for its removal.
Water-supply has been sufficient in quantity; it is obtained from wells in the vicinity of the
barracks, and is of good quality.
Sanitary arrangements have been attended to.
Diet .—Provisions have been plentiful; the rations are supplied by the Commissariat Depart
- m e n t , a n d a r e o f g o o d q u a l i t y . V e g e t a b l e s a r e a b u n d a n t w h e n i n s e a s o n ; p r o v i s i o n s h a v e n o t
been dearer than usual.
Liquors.—Arrack is the principal liquor used, and no complaints have been made as to its
quality.
Clothing is sufficient and adapted to the climate. In the hot months white clothing is
worn, and during the rains and cold season cloth clothing.
Foot soreness.
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
Foot soreness .—There have been a few cases of foot soreness.
Duty .—The average number of nights in bed has been 2.71.
Drill.—The health of the men has not suffered from drills.
Exercises .—There are no special arrangements for gymnastic exercises.
Vaccination.—There have been 18 cases vaccinated during the year successfully. No cases
of small-pox have occurred. No cases have been revaccinated.
Epidemic
.—No epidemic has occurred in the regiment. There were 41 cases of cholera
with 38 deaths in the town, but none occurred in the entire regiment. There were also 12
cases and 7 deaths among the European troops.
Hospital ventilation is very good. The wards are not overcrowded; when the regimental
ward is fully occupied, any additional cases are accommodated in the detail ward.
Hospital drainage has been sufficient by masonry drains all round the hospital. The
latrines are kept clean, and excreta removed twice daily. Dry earth is used, and coal-tar
applied where necessary.
S a n i t t a r y c o n d i t i o n
of lines.
Hospital water-supply .—Good water is obtained in sufficient quantity from a well.
General conclusions .—The general health of the regiment has been good. There has been
no sickness among the European officers or their families, and no epidemic has occurred in the
regiment during the year.
Deputy Surgeon-General H. R. Oswald, M.D., inspected this corps on the 19th
and 20th. November 1877 respectively and reports as under:—
Sanilary condition of lines. — T h e
b a r r a c k s a r e s w e p t o u t d a i l y a n d a r e t o l e r a b l y c l e a n
except the one occupied by the drummers and their families which was not clean. The ventila
- t i o n i s p r e t t y g o o d , a n d i s e f f e c t e d b y 4 d o o r s , e a c h 7 '×
4 ' , a n d 1 5 w i n d o w s , e a c h 3 '×
3 , i n e a c h
right wing barrack, and 8 doors and 24 windows in each left wing barrack of the same size
as those in the right wing. There is also ridge ventilation in all the barracks. The site is very
favorable to drainage, and there are excellent masonry drains surrounding all the barracks.
Rations.
Water-supply.
Rations are good, and the men can vary their diet if they have the means. But in con
- s e q u e n c e o f t h e b a d v e n t i l a t i o n i n t h e c o o k - r o o m s , t h e Q u a r t e r m a s t e r o f t h e R e g i m e n t , w h o
accompanied me at my inspection, said it was difficult for the men to cook their food properly
us they could not remain in the cook-rooms, being blinded by the smoke. I believe bad cook
- i n g i s a f r u i t f u l s o u r c e o f s i c k n e s s a m o n g t h e s e p o y s i n B u r m a h . O f f i c e r s t e l l m e t h a t m e n
come off duty fatigued and exhausted, and prefer satisfying their hunger with a few plantains,
or some cold rice, or some thing of the sort, to setting to work to prepare their breakfast, which
many do not know how to do properly when they first come over at all events. It appears
to me that it would be a great improvement if two or three men from each company could be
told off to cook for the company. The men would then find a good meal ready for them, and
would have no excuse for starving. Stores could be introduced and cleanliness and economy
prevailed.
Water-supply from four excellent wells near the barracks. The supply is abundant and
good; no filters are used.
Principal
diseases.
Conservancy of the ground round the barracks and in the station appears well attended to.
Excreta and rubbish are previously removed from the compounds of the houses in the station.
Hospital .—Each ward is 116'× 22'× 16, and is ventilated by 7 doors on each side, each 7' × 4',
and there is likewise ridge ventilation. Excellent masonry drains surround the building, and
the site is very favorable to drainage.
Principal diseases.—Fevers, chest affections, dysentery and diarrhœa, general dropsy, and
chronic rheumatism, mostly attributable to the climate, neccessitating transfer to the "Coast"
where recovery does not soon take place. There has been no special mortality.