If regiment
has been On
the march.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, &e.
68
Climate of
the station.
Nuisance.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
2 3 r d R e g i m e n t L i g h t I n f a n t r y .
STATION— BANGALORE.
Arrived from Quilon, 15th October 1872.
Average strength
...
...
...
... ...
...
...
659
Do.
do. present
... ... ... ...
...
...
648
Admissions...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
780
Daily sick
... ... ... ... ... ...
...
...
19
Deaths in hospital
...
...
...
...
... ... ...
6
Do. out of do.
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
2
Pensioned
... ... ... ... ...
...
...
...
47
Sick leave
... ... ... ... ...
...
...
...
10
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
...
...
59.18
1.95
.85
4.43
2.00
1875
...
D o . ...
...
7 8 . 5 8
3.22
.15
4.36
.30
1876
...
Do.
...
...
77.77
2.46
.59
2.07
.73
Average ...
71 84
2.54
.53
3.62
1.01
1 8 7 7
...
Bangalore
...
...
120 . 37
2.93
1.21
7.13
1.51
The following officers held medical charge of this corps during the year,
Surgeon-Major W. H. Rean,
Surgeon-Major W. H. Morgan,
the latter named of whom reports as under :—
Climate of the station.—The early half of the year was remarkably dry and hot, and these
conditions most unfavorably influenced the public health. Since rain has fallen there has
been an improvement in many respects, though as is well known 'the want of rain and consequent
famine have depopulated the province. The regiment has suffered more from fever during the
past than in any previous year of its stay in Bangalore.
If regiment has been on the march .—With the exception of a detachment (strength 60)
to Mercara, and the usual relief to Oossoor on alternate months, the regiment has been at
Bangalore.
Ventilation, and drainage of the men's huts, &c.—The quarter-guard room has been described
in former reports, and in reply to an inquiry from the commandant, I stated that with a mini-
mum superficies of 50 feet it could accommodate 6.5 men. At present it is, I am informed,
occupied by 13 men who have 25.7 superficial feet per man. The drainage of the huts permits
of a ready flow of wash into the gutters outside of them, and as the medical officer who was in
charge of the regiment last year has mentioned that with a fair amount of rainfall much of the
dirt would be washed away, it remains for me to add that as the station is without rain for nine
months out of every twelve, much cannot be expected.
Nuisance.—The drains throughout the lines are a standing nuisance despite the oxidyzing
process which was mentioned in last year's report.
Water-supply
Sanitary
arrangements.
Water-supply.--Water was scarce during the early half of the year, but the supply has been
sufficient though not abundant since I rejoined.
Sanitary arrangements.— Two new wells have been sunk in the lines during the year ; but
as periodical reports as to the hutting and drainage have been disregarded since the regiment
has been at Bangalore, the sanitary arrangements cannot be said to have been properly
attended to.
Diet.
Diet.—The past year has been one of famine, and provisions have neither been cheap nor
plentiful. The sepoys on the whole have been better off than the agricultural population, as
they received compensation for the dearness of rice to the extent of Rupees 4G-13-6 per man