Water-supply.
Sanitary
arrangements
Diet.
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
Hospital
water-supply.
General
conclusions.
Sanitary
condition of
lines.
Sanitary
condition of
all buildings.
42
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Ventilation of
the men's
huts, &c.
Ventilation of the men's huts, &c. —The ventilation of the men's huts is on the whole good.
Nuisance.
Nuisance.—There have been no nuisances during the year ; the lines and latrines are kept
well cleaned.
Water-supply. —The water-supply is derived from numerous wells situated in and in the
neighborhood of the lines. The water is of good quality and the supply abundant.
Sanitary arrangements. —The sanitary conditions and conservancy of the lines, hospital, and
other public buildings are carefully attended to.
Diet.—During the first half of the year provisions were cheap and plentiful, but the famine
which was raging in other parts of the Madras Presidency has told indirectly in these localities,
so that provisions of all kinds, but more especially rice, became very dear, and the quality
deteriorated. Since the dearness of provisions prevailed compensation has been allowed to the
men, so that each man has received besides his monthly batta of 2 Rupees, compensation varying
from 8 Annas to 2 Rupees.
Clothing.
Clothing. —Sufficient, and fairly well adapted to the climate.
Foot soreness.
Vaccination.
Foot soreness. —Foot sores from defective ill-fitting boots, are very prevalent among the
men. They are constantly running to hospital with small open sores on their feet or raised
corn-like painful protuberances on the skin.
Duty performed by the troops is light. The average number of nights in bed per week
ranges from 3½ to 5.
Drill.—The drills have no detrimental effect on the health of the men.
Exercises. —There is a small gymnasium in the lines, which is used chiefly by the recruits
and younger men of the regiment. The majority of the men have small gardens belonging to
them, where they rear country vegetables of sorts, and at the same time affords them occupation
in their spare time.
Vaccination has been duly carried out. There have been no cases of small-pox among
the men or their families.
Epidemic.
Epidemic. —Cholera in an epidemic form raged in the town, bazaars, and suburbs of the
station from the 25th January to nearly the end of March. Four women and 3 sepoys took the
disease, attacked at intervals, and more in a sporadic form; of these one sepoy succumbed to its
effects.
Hospital ventilation has been very good ; there has been no overcrowding of the ward
during the year.
Hospital drainage. —The latrine has been kept clean. The solid and fluid excreta are
separated as much as possible and are daily removed. The dry-earth system is carried out,
with the exception that sand is used instead of earth, the latter not being procurable.
Hospital water-supply.—The water is of good quality and the supply plentiful.
General conclusions. —The general health of the regiment is good. As before noted, the long
residence of the regiment, namely for a period of five years, in a relaxing, moist climate, and
where there is no distinct and definite cold weather appears to be telling on the general consti
-
tution of the men.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. Wilson inspected this corps on the 19th November
1877 and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition of lines. —The lines are clean with good natural drainage and built on a
low flat plain close to the sea ; it is well wooded in parts. Water, plentiful and good, obtained
in most cases from wells.
Sanitary condition of all buildings. —There are two large public latrines within the canton
-
ment, the excreta of which are removed every day. They are used by males. Every sepoy's and
native's hut within the cantonment, by an order recently issued, has a small tatty latrine in a
corner of its compound. From these the solid excreta is daily removed, while the urine and fluid
excreta are absorbed by the soil.
Conservancy.
Conservancy. —The conservancy of the neighborhood is good.
Hospital.
Hospital. —The hospital is a good one, clean, with excellent natural drainage, and well
ventilated by doors, windows, and ridge ventilators.