Ventilation of the men's huts, &c. —The huts are badly ventilated, the usual means being by
one door about 4½ x 2½ feet. Some huts have additional ventilation in the shape of an aperture
or two in one of the walls. The guard rooms and other buildings are well ventilated.
Sanitary
arrangements
Diet—.Famine was more or less prevalent throughout the district during the year, and
provisions were consequently very dear. Vegetables were scarce, and the men received compen-
sation accordingly. Food sufficiently nutritive, but limited in its vegetable constituents, has been
obtainable in the bazaar.
Ventilation
of the men's
huts, &c.
Diet.
Water-supply .—Water supplied from three wells and one tank ; quality good, and supply
ample during the last quarter of the year ; scarce during the rest of the year.
Sanitary arrangements.— The sanitary arrangements on the whole have been properly
attended to. There are no local causes of disease requiring removal.
Foot soreness
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Epidemic
Hospital
drainage
and latrines,
Hospital
water-supply.
General
conclusions.
78
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
The following officers were in medical charge of this corps during the year,
Surgeon B. H. Williams,
Surgeon P. deHaig (Bengal Medical Establishment),
Surgeon J. C. Lawrenson,
the last-named of whom reports as follows ;—
Climate of
the station.
If regiment
has been on
the march.
Climate of the station.— There was an excess of nearly 10 inches over the average rainfall,
and to this was most probably due a large number of the cases of ague, which disease was most
prevalent during the last quarter of the year.
If regiment has been on the march .—The right wing consisting of 2 European Officers,
8 Native Officers, 36 Non-Commissioned Officers, and 271 privates, &c., returned from Kurnool on
the 27th of June, having been stationed there from the early part of the previous November.
Surgeon Rickard, while in charge of this wing, died in Kurnool of heart disease in January.
Clothing.
Hospital
ventilation.
Clothing—Red
clothing is worn by the men during the cold, and white clothing during
the warm weather ; neither is suitable for the Native.
Foot soreness.—There were 27 admissions for 'shoe-bite' during the year. Recommended
that the men should be provided with socks. None provided as yet.
Duty .—The ordinary station and regimental duties; four drills per week, morning from 6 to 7,
evening from 5 to 6. No prejudicial effect on health. Average number of nights in bed 3¾.
Drill.—Daily from 6 to 7 A.M., and from 5 to 6 P.M., four times a week. No unfavorable
effect on the health of the men perceived.
Exerciscs.— A gymnasium and cricket club used so as to be conducive to health.
Vaccination carried on when the season and state of health permit. No vaccination
during the last quarter of the year owing to the prevalence of ague.
Epidemic.—There were 4 cases of cholera with 2 deaths among the men during the year.
There is no record of type or peculiarity. There was 1 case of enteric fever among the men,
attributed by the then medical officer to the dilapidated and general insanitary condition of the
lines and the impure water of a tank.
Hospital ventilation ample by means of 16 doors, 12 windows, and 16 special ventilators ;
over ventilated if any thing. The general ward accommodates 25 men at the regulation allot--
ment. It was overcrowded on several occasions from the prevalence of ague and shoe-bite, but
was not overcrowded on the whole.
Hospital drainage and latrines.— There are no artificial drains to the hospital nor are they
much wanted. The latrine is kept in a satisfactory condition, and the dry-earth system is
efficiently carried out, and coal tar freely used.
Hospital water-supply obtained from one well ; quality good and quantity ample, save in
the dry season. The usual three-chatty filter in use.
General conclusions.— Taking the general unhealthiness of the year into consideration, the
health of the regiment has not been so bad as might have been expected. The famine must
have affected the men in a greater or less degree. Many of them appear to me to be below par
as regards condition, but as I was not acquainted with their general appearance before the
famine, I am unable to give a definite opinion on the subject. There were 484 admissions
during the year with 7 deaths, viz., cholera 2, anæmia 1, general debility 1, dysentery 1, enteric
fever 1, and bubo 1.
Sanitary
condition of
lines, &c.
Deputy Surgeon-General P. G. FitzGerald, M.D., inspected this corps on the
10th January 1878 and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition of lines, &c. —The huts are of the usual description with mud walls, and
each having a small court in front where the domestic latrine and bathing-place arc located.