If regiment
has been on
the march.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts. &c.
Nuisance.
Water-supply
Sanitary
arrangements
Diet.
Clothin
g.
Foot soreness.
Duty.
Drill.
112
Climate of
the station.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
4th Regiment Natibe Infantry.
HEAD-QUARTERS STATION—MOULMEIN.
Arrived from Rangoon on the 25th February 1877.
Average strength...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . . . . 753
Do. do. present
...
...
...
...
...
... 691
Admissions ...
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . ...
... 653
Daily sick
...
...
. . . ...
...
. . .
...
... 20
Deaths in hospital
...
...
...
...
...
....
...
7
Do. out of do. ...
...
...
...
...
...
... 13
Pensioned...
...
...
. . .
...
...
. . . ...
1
Sick leave
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... 47
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding a
contrasted with previous years :—
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1874
... Balasamudrum
...
47·34
1·66
·71
·71
2·43
1875
... Rangoon and Palaveram
76. 13
3·40
·56
...
...
1876
... Rangoon
...
...
143. 96
4·32
1·40
. . .
4·78
Average ...
89·14
3·12
·89
·23
2·40
1877
... Moulmein
...
. . .
94·50
2·89
2·65
·13
6·24
surgeons C. H. Dantra (Bengal Medical Establishment) and J. Hunter were
respectively in medical charge of the Head-quarters and Right Wing of this corps,
both of whom report as under :—
Climate of the s t a t i o n . — D u r i n g t h e m i d d l e a n d l a t t e r p a r t o f t h e r a i n y s e a s o n , f e v e r a s w e l l
as diarrhœa was prevalent to rather an unusual extent, and both of these have not entirely
subsided as yet. The cases of fever were not well-marked cases of ague, but they resembled
more to simple febricula, though somewhat of a severe character, the temperature in the axilla
having often risen to 103° Fahrenheit.
I f r e g i m e n t h a s b e e n o n t h e m a r c h .—
T h e H e a d - q u a r t e r s a n d L e f t W i n g o f 4 t h R e g i m e n t
M.N.I. embarked from Rangoon on the 26th of March 1877 in good health. The health of the
troops, &c., was good during the voyage. They disembarked at Moulmein on the 28th following.
Nothing in particular had happened during. the voyage.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, &c .—Means of ventilation are quite sufficient.
There is a pucka-built drain all around the barracks, and, it being on a slope, it is kept in
excellent condition as regards cleanliness is concerned.
Nuisance.—There has been no nuisance of any kind during the year.
Water-supply.—The quality is good and quantity abundant.
Sanitary arrangements have been properly attended to, and no local causes requiring
removal exist.
Diet.—Provisions have been plentiful, but not cheap. The supply of vegetables is pretty
good. The dieting is sufficiently nutritive, but it is not varied on account of dearness of meat,
fish, vegetables, &c.
Clothing has been sufficient and adapted to the climate.
Foot soreness.— After the monsoons some account of foot soreness was complained of. It was
not due to boots being defective, but being neglected during rains they had become hardened.
Duty.—There has not been any thing unusual in the nature and amount of duty performed
by the troops.
Drill.—The influence of drills on health has been good ; no recommendations have been
made.