Natural
features of the
district.
Diseases of
the district.
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Epidemic.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
29
NORTHERN DISTRICT.
a great increase in the price of rice for some time after. Rainfall of year was 67 inches, a fair
average, but 50 inches of this fell in three months.
Natural features of the district. —The station itself consists of a small plain on the right
bank of the Mahanuddi with several small elevations and intersected by numerous small nullahs ;
these overflow in the rains and for a time place the principal roads of the station under water.
Diseases of the district.—The prevailing disease of the district is malarial fever of an
intermittent quotidian type generally, usually readily amenable to treatment. It occurs with
increasing frequency from July to January, i.e., during the south-west monsoon and the colder
months. Small-pox is seldom now seen. Measles has been rather prevalent this year both
amongst the civil population and in the wing. Rheumatism, conjunctivitis, and worms are the
other ordinary diseases. Elephantiasis of the leg, so very common in Cuttack is not seen here.
Position of barracks. —The site of the barrack is good on elevated ground. The lines
are built on the slope of this same small hill and consist of two single and four double rows of
huts running east and west and quite apart quarter of a mile from the native town.
Construction of rooms. —The general construction of huts is such as exist in most native
lines. The average number of persons to a hut is 4.00, there being 316 huts occupied by 1,267
persons. This is a somewhat high average for a sepoy's hut, so that ventilation and cubic space
would be decidedly insufficient in most huts.
Position of
barracks.
Construction
of rooms.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, &c.—The ventilation and drainage of the guard
-
rooms are good, and the drainage of the solitary cells, naturally good, has been improved by a
trench dug at one side to carry off rain water. The conservancy of the lines is fairly attended
to ; in the private latrines a freer use of dry earth is required, and the junction of the V -shaped
drains require repair to prevent soakage in front of houses.
Nuisance. —There are no regimental latrines, consequently the private latrines are in
excessive use. Dry earth and ashes are used here, but very imperfectly, and the limited number
of toties cannot perform efficiently the whole work of conservancy in the lines. The drains
remain in the same unsatisfactory state that has been noted for several years past. The
particular defects are given above. The building of public latrines, better dust-bins, the
removal of about twenty huts forming a small but very dirty village adjoining the north-east end
of the lines, but not in cantonment, and the general state of the lines were referred to the
Commandant, but negatived on the score of expense.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, &c.
Water-supply from four wells in the lines is sufficient in quantity and good in quality, with
the exception of one that I think is suspicious with regard to its character as a drinking water ;
it is said only to be used for washing purposes.
Sanitary arrangements. —Sanitary arrangements generally have been as well attended to as
was possible.
Water
-supply.
Sanitary
arrangements
Diet. —Rice, the chief article of food amongst the sepoys, has been very dear at times,
especially in September and October, partly on account of the famine in Madras and partly from
a partial failure of the south-west monsoon in those months in this district. Vegetables are
plentiful in the cold months. A regimental garden supplies the sepoys with a fair quantity of
vegetables.
Clothing of the men when on duty has been sufficient and adapted to the climate. The
cold mornings and nights during the cold weather are trying to the men when protected by
their own scanty clothing and prove, I have no doubt, often the exciting cause of fever
(intermittent).
Foot soreness from defective boots has been more prevalent than in 1876. No socks are
worn, and so long as this is the case with boots of the description generally worn, i.e., often
ill -fitting and unyielding, foot soreness must occur.
Duty. —The duties of the troops have been the usual parades, drills, guards, &c. No pre
-
judicial effects on the health of the men has been noticed.
Drill. —The amount of drills and other duties has had no injurious influence on the men.
Diet.
Clothing.
Foot soreness.
Exercises. —No provisions for games have been made. Gymnastic exercises are practised
by many of the men. The regimental garden also affords profitable recreation to the men.
Vaccination.— As regards vaccination this may be said to be satisfactory. No cases of small
-
pox have occurred in this year or in the four previous years that the wing has been stationed here.
Epidemic. -Intermittent fever, usually of a mild quotidian type, is the chief prevalent disease,
causing 42.6 per cent. of the total admissions ; after the rains these fevers are less amenable to
treatment, as was also noticed in the previous year. The situation of the station, a rainfall
above the average of Indian stations, and a deficient sub-soil drainage are the chief causes
conducing to this.
Hospital ventilation is good.
Hospital drainage. —The condition of the drainage and latrines is good. The dry-earth
system of conservancy has been efficiently carried out. 8