Climate of
the station.
If regiment
has been on
the march.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, &c.
Nuisance.
Drill.
Vaccination.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital drainage.
40
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Water-supply
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding, as
contrasted with previous years :—
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths.
Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1874
... Trichinopoly ...
...
73. 67
1.36 .71
3
.86
3
.45
1875
...
Do.
...
...
72.61
2.34
1
.28
4.42
3.85
1876
. . .
Do.
...
...
51.51
1 . 96
.90
3.02
2.26
Average
. . .
65.93
1.88
.96
3.76
3.18
1877
... Trichinopoly ...
...
62.40
2.28
1.67
.76
1.35
Surgeon E. Fawcett was in medical charge of this corps during the year and
reports as follows :—
Climate of the station.— The rainfall during the first eight months of the year was very
scanty and below the average for the same period in previous years; however, on the 13th
September the regular north-east monsoon set in and the rain was almost continuous up to the
end of the year ; total rainfall 37 inches, 90 cents.
If regiment has been on the march.— One wing of the regiment was sent down to
Madras for six months on special famine duty.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, on the whole, satisfactory.
Nuisance.
—The dry-earth system is carried out as far as possible in the two public latrines,
but till the new latrines which were sanctioned three years ago are built, the present unsatis-
factory state of things will exist.
Water-supply .—During the earlier part of the year the wells in the lines were almost dry,
and water had to be carried from the Wyacoonda Channel. The matter was brought to the notice
of the military authorities, and after some delay the wells were deepened and thoroughly
cleaned out, with the most satisfactory results.
Sanitary arrange-
ments.
Diet.
Foot soreness.
Duty.
Epidemic.
Sanitary arrangements
. — Satisfactory.
Diet.— All the necessaries of life were very scarce and only procurable at famine prices ;
owing to the continued drought it was difficult to procure vegetables of any description.
The sepoys received compensation on account of the dearness of provisions.
Throughout the year provisions were selling at exorbitant prices and far beyond the
limited pay of the sepoy, who has, as a rule, a large family and several relations depending
upon him ; his health suffered accordingly from want of proper and sufficient food.
Foot soreness . —The boots worn by the men are defective both in construction and material,
and till these are remedied and socks supplied, the number of men temporarily incapacitated
from foot soreness will be very large, especially if sent on active service.
Duty . —The troops perform the usual regimental and garrison duties, which are not
excessive, neither have they had any injurious effect on the health of the men.
Average number of nights in bed 3.79.
Drill .—The drills are not excessive, and no representations were made.
Vaccination . —There were 147 individuals vaccinated during the year ; of these 102 were
successful and 45 unsuccessful, and the greater number of the latter were cases of re-vaccination.
There were 5 cases of small-pox among the men, but no deaths from this cause ; in all
instances they bore marks of either vaccination or small-pox.
Epidemic .—During the year small-pox and cholera were raging in cantonment and
surrounding districts, but there were only 5 admissions from the former and seven from the
latter, of which one proved fatal. Diarrhœa was also prevalent, and in almost all instances
it could be traced to the inferior quality of food consumed by the men.
Hospital ventilation .—Satisfactory ; no overcrowding.
Hospital drainage .—The dry-earth system is efficiently carried out in the hospital
latrine, and it is kept clean and free from smell.