Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, &c.
Nuisance.
Foot soreness.
Duty.
Drill.
Vaccination.
Epidemic.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
General
conclusions.
70
Cl ima te of
the station.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding as
contrasted with previous years :—
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths.
Pensioned.
Sick Leave.
1874
... Bangalore
...
...
45.70
2.02
1.01
4.20
1.45
1875
...
Do.
... ...
39.13
1.86
.29
4.82
1.02
1876
...
D o .
... ...
27.21
1.37
.61
3.97
1.37
A v e r a g e . . .
37.34
1.75
.63
4.33
1.28
1877
... Bangalore
...
...
60.86
1.73
1.59
.14
1.73
The following officers were in medical charge of this corps during the year,
Surgeon-Major J. M. Joseph, M.D. ,
Surgeon S. Borah, M.D. (Bengal Medical Establishment),
the former of whom reports as follows :—
Climate of the station.—The climate of Bangalore owing to the almost total failure of
rain has been very unhealthy. The total number of admissions into hospital was 421, being an
increase of 243 over that of the previous years. Water was scarce until towards the latter end
of the year, when a plentiful fall of rain took place and filled up all the wells and tanks. Food
of all kinds was sold at famine prices. All these circumstances told on the public health of the
station.
Ventilation aml drainage of the men's huts, &c.— The men's huts occupied by the right wing
of the regiment are large and well ventilated. Similar huts for the left wing are now in course
of construction. Drainage on the whole fairly good.
Nuisance.— None.
Water-supply.
Water-supply.—The scarcity of rainfall caused great dearth of water.
Diet.
Diet. —Food-grain of all kinds was very dear ; vegetables were also scarce. The men have
received compensation.
Clothing.
Clothing .— According to regulation laid down for Native troops.
Foot soreness.—Men occasionally come to hospital with blistered feet caused by country and
ill-fitting boots. Such men are excused from wearing boots for a few days until the blisters heal.
Duty.— The duty has been that ordinarily performed by Native troops in garrison, and not
prejudicial to health. Average nights in bed 3 in 4.
Drill.—The health of the men in no way injuriously affected.
Vaccination.—Hut-to-hut vaccination has been carried out during the year. One case of
small-pox occurred amongst the men ; ho recovered. 15 cases amongst the camp-followers ;
only one case out of these proved fatal.
Epidemic.—Only one case of cholera occurred among the men, which proved fatal. 198
cases of ague, principally of the quotidian and tertian types ; were treated, and30 dysentery were
also admitted.
Hospital ventilation good. No overcrowding.
Hospital drainage good; has been carried out efficiently.
General conclusions.— The majority of admissions into hospital during the year was caused
by ague, principally of the quotidian and tertian types. There have been 12 deaths: 7 in hospital-
2 from disease of heart, 1 from general debility, 2 from ague, 1 from obstruction of the
bowels, and 1 from apoplexy ; 5 out of hospital—cholera 2, (1 in Bangalore and 1 on detachment
duty) heart disease 1, 2 died on furlough away from Bangalore ; cause unknown. The health
of the regiment has not been so good as it was during the year 1876, owing to the unhealthiness
of the seasons and want of rain.