34 MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1874
Cuttack
125·63
4·61
·57
5·02
1·00
1875
Do.
195·62
8·59
·56
4·11
3·81
1876
Vizianagram
146·53
6·42
2· 03
3·55
2·70
Average
155·92
6·54
1·05
4·22
2·50
1877
Vizianagram
170·59
7·19
1·76
8·54
4·71
The following medical officers were in charge of this corps during the year,
Surgeon R. Warder, M.B.,
Surgeon-Major J. S. Ridings, M.D.,
the latter-named of whom reports as under:—
Climate of
the station.
Diseases of
the district.
Climate of the station. —The hot season has been unusually prolonged owing to the almost
complete failure of the south-west monsoon, but four or five short heavy showers having fallen
during the months of June, July, August, and September; but fortunately there were a couple
of days of heavy continuous rain, which filled all the tanks in the beginning of May, when the
edge of a cyclone passed over the district.
Diseases of the district. —The most prevalent diseases of the district are intermittent
fever, chronic rheumatism, obstinate indolent ulcers. Cholera has of late years appeared
regularly in epidemic form, and may now be almost considered to be endemic in the town; the
same may be also said of small-pox. Leprosy and elephantiasis are endemic and syphilis is
widespread.
Ventilation
and drainage
of men's huts
, &c.
Nuisance.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, &c. —Barrack-rooms none; guard-rooms and
cells are well ventilated and drained. Regimental lines are very old and out of date, conse--
quently the huts are below regulation both as regards cubic capacity and superficial area,
lighting and ventilation. The V-shaped system of drainage has been completed with great
advantages, and the drainage is now admirable.
Nuisance..—None .
Water-supply
Water-supply .—Good and sufficient from numerous deep wells.
Diet.
Diet.—Food has been dear and scarce owing to the enormous, export to the southern ports
and to immediate rise in prices, consequent upon the failure of this year's south-west and north
-east monsoons; the prices of the staple articles have been for the different quarters of the
year—
—
Measures per Rupee.
Rice Compensation.
Rice.
Ghee.
Dholl.
Ragi.
Madras Mrs.
Seers.
Seers.
Seers.
Rs. A. P.
1st Quarter
6·63
1 ½
8½
12
2 1 9
2nd do.
6·80
”
8
10
1 15 6
3rd do.
5·66
”
7
10
2 15 4
4th do
4 · 5 8
”
8
13
3 8 7
Clothing.
European and Native vegetables plentiful in the cold season, and the latter generally to be
had all the year round.
Supply of fish, though so near the coast, scarce. The diet has neither been sufficiently
nutritive, varied, nor plentiful (especially the latter) to preserve health.
Clothing has been adapted to the different seasons as well as circumstances permitted.
The costume of the Madras sepoy is, however, altogether unsuitable in the following respects.
The Madras forage cap affords no protection against the sun, and. should be, if retained,
fitted with a quilted cotton drop curtain behind; the red tunic is too heavy in texture and too
close fitting in cut; it should be loose and collarless; the trowsers are invariably ill-fitting,
always draggled about the feet in wet weather; they would be much more suitable and smart-
looking, short, drawn in below the knee and supplemented with gaiters. A stout waterproof