Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
Hospital
water-supply.
Epidemic in
hospital.
Sanitary
condition of
guard-room.
Water-supply
Conservancy,
Hospital.
74
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Vaccination.
Epidemic.
Vaccination.— During the past year vaccination has been efficiently carried out, 158 cases
having been vaccinated. Two cases of small-pox occurred amongst the sepoys, both recovered.
48 cases occurred amongst the families and followers; 6 of these cases terminated fatally.
Epidemic.— During the month of January cholera made its appearance; the first case
occurred on January 12th. 10 sepoys had cholera; of these 5 died, and 5 recovered. 48 cases
occurred amongst the families and followers; 34 of these terminated fatally.
At the time cholera made its appearance here, there was cholera all over the district, so
that it was impossible to trace any individual case to importation or any other cause. There was
no particular overcrowding or defective ventilation to account for the cholera.
Hospital ventilation has been sufficient. No recommendations necessary; no overcrowding.
Ventilation good.
Hospital drainage .—Drainage good, latrine kept in good order, and dry-earth system of
conservancy is properly carried out.
Hospital water-supply is sufficient and of good quality.
Epidemic in hospital.—No epidemic disease appeared in hospital during the past year.
General
conclusions.
Sanitary
condition.
General conclusions.— The number of admissions (including detachment) has greatly
increased during the past year, 506 against 333 for the year 1876. This increase is principally
due to the large number of cases under the head of malarious fevers, 244 against 104 for 1876.
During the last quarter of the year 194 cases of ague were under treatment; these cases,
I believe, to have been principally caused by sharp cold weather setting in after the heavy
burst of rains in September and the early part of October. 10 cases of cholera occurred
amongst sepoys, 5 fatal, and 5 recovered. 2 sepoys had small-pox and recovered. 17 deaths,
including 1 in detachment at Mysore. Of these 5 from cholera, 4 from ague, 1 from apoplexy,
2 pleurisy, 1 colic, 1 general debility, 1 valvular disease of heart, 1 peritonitis in detachment
hospital, and 1 man died suddenly in his house in the lines. Cause of death unknown.
Deputy Surgeon-General P. G. FitzGerald, M.D., inspected this corps on the
13th November 1877 and reports as follows:—
Sanitary condition.— I found the lines very clean; the huts are all in good repair, and all
tiled.
Sanitary condition of guard-room.— The guard consists of 1 Havildar, 2 Naigues, and 18
Privates. Of these 6 are always on sentry duty at night, leaving 15 to be accommodated in
the guard-room. Only 3 men, however, actually sleep in this room, the rest lying either in the
verandah or in the defaulter's room when not otherwise occupied.
Water-supply.—The
water is obtained from wells, one of which in the parade ground is
exclusively used for drinking, and is very pure.
Conservancy.— The conservancy of the neighborhood of the lines and officers' houses is well
attended to. Indeed this is one of the cleanest stations I have seen anywhere.
Hospital clean and in good repair. The latrines are very clean, and are plentifully supplied
with dry earth and coal tar.
Detacbment 30th Regiment Aatibe Infantry.
STATION—MYSORE.
Climate of
the station.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts.
Climate of the station.— There was complete failure of the early rains and of the south
-
west monsoon. The north-east monsoon rains set in early and saved the crops. The health of
the population has been bad, and the mortality immensely increased on account of the famine,
and that of the troops has also been affected from similar causes. The admissions to hospital
during 1877 have been double that for the previous year, and the greatest increase has been due
to ague.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts.— The ventilation and drainage in the new
barracks are good, the latter by reason of the natural configuration of the ground. In the old
barracks the ventilation is not satisfactory; the buildings are ancient and with small windows
high up in the walls and above side only.
Nuisance.
Water-supply
Nuisance. —The means for conservancy in the previous year continued and answered well.
Water-supply .— Owing to the general drought the water-supply was scarce.
Diet.
Diet. —Provisions were obtainable in sufficient quantity, but only at famine prices; vegeta-
- b l e s t h e s a m e . T h e s e p o y s r e c e i v e d c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r d e a r n e s s o f p r o v i s i o n s a t r a t e s v a r y i n g
from Rupees 4-4-0 to Rupees 6. On account of the famine prices which prevailed during the