Sanitary
condition.
Water
-supply.
Conservancy.
Hospital.
Sanitary
condition.
Water-
supply.
Cons er vancy.
Hospital.
117
BRITISH BURMAH DIVISION.
Hospital drainage.—The condition of the drainage and latrines has been satisfactory, and
the earth-sewage system has been efficiently carried out.
Hospital
drainage.
Hospital water-supply.—The supply of drinking water is ample and the quality good.
Hospital
water-supply.
General conclusions.—The average strength of the detachment throughout the year has
been 407·5 men. The total admissions to hospital amounted to 784 men, equivalent to
192·39 per cent. of average strength. Five deaths took place, and the proportion of deaths to
admissions is ·63 per cent. The causes of death were as follow:—Remittent fever 1, pulmonary
phthisis 1, ascites 1, Bright's disease 1, gastro-enteritis 1 ; the proportion of deaths to strength
per 1,000 is 10·22. Intermittent fever prevailed to an unusual extent, there being 448 admissions
from i t al one, a proporti on of 57· 14 per cent. of the total admi ssi ons and 109· 93 per cent. of the
average strength; this disease is contracted chiefly at the Nicobars and Aberdeen, the residents
on the other stations enjoying immunity from it. In 1876 the proportion of admissions to
strength was 119·14 per cent. for ague alone. Ten Native officers were treated ; of these 4
were for ague. One death took place from anæmia and general debility, the result of paludal
fever acquired at the Nicobars.
Deputy Surgeon-General H. R. Oswald, M.D., inspected the detachment at
the Nicobars on the 27th February 1878 and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition.— The site is highly favorable for drainage, and the barrack is sur-
rounded by a good brick and chunam drain.
Water-supply. —There are two wells. In one the water is said not to be good, and the
men only use it for washing. In the other the water is good. Supply sufficient.
Conservancy of barracks and station is well carried out by convict labor. The surround-
ing hills have been entirely cleared of jungle for some distance, and the process is still going on.
Deep drains have been dug in many places ; more are required.
Hospital which was formerly a Public Works Department Overseer's house is a neat
bui l di ng consi sti ng of three wards, each 16' X 16' X 14' =768 superfi ci al square feet and 10, 756
cubi c feet vent i l at ed by 20 doors, 7½' X 4' and 9 wi ndows 3' 9" square ; t he accommodat i on
therefore at the regulated space of 99 square feet per patient is for 7 sick. The average enjoyed
by each was 153 square feet. The hospital was very clean and in good order.
Principal diseases.— With a strength of 59·8 last year the total admissions amounted to
385, of which no less than 358 were for ague, leaving only 27 from other causes. In 1876
with the same strength the total admissions were 355, of which 319 were ague cases, There
does not appear to be any improvement therefore in the health of the sepoys, though the local
authorities say that the place is less feverish, and that they themselves and the convicts have suffered less.
Deputy Surgeon-General H. R. Oswald, M.D., inspected the detachment at Port
Blair (Navy Bay and Viper Island) on the 25th February 1878 and reports as
follows :—
General
conclusions.
Principal
diseases.
Sanitary condition.— The drainage both at Viper and Navy Bay is excellent, the sites being
very favorable, and good brick and chunam drains running all round the barracks.
Water-supply from a well at Navy Bay and from the tank, and a natural spring on
side of hill at Viper which however dries up soon after close of rains. Quality of water is
supply pretty good.
Conservancy good, carried out by convicts.
Hospital.—There is no hospital at Navy Bay ; the sick are sent to Viper hospital in a boat.
The Viper hospital was empty at my visit, the sick having been removed to Ross to be ready
for embarkation to Madras.
The latrine was in pretty fair order. Dry earth is not used. Excreta are emptied into
the sea. No cess-pools or foul drains. The latrines require tarring.
Principal diseases.—Ague is the only disease worth recording, but the men suffer less at
Navy Bay and Viper, which are said to be comparatively healthy than at the other stations.
Deputy Surgeon-General H. R. Oswald, M.D., inspected the detachment at Port
Blair (Ross and Aberdeen) on the 24th, 25th, and 26th February 1878 respectively
and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition o f the lines (Ross).— There has been no change at Ross, except that the
sea-side barrack has been evacuated, being no longer required it is said.
(Aberdeen).— Four barracks have been in occupation here. They were clean and well
ventilated. The total number that can now be accommodated at Aberdeen therefore at the
Principal
diseases.
Sanitary
condition of
the lines. 3 0
30