Ventilation
of the men's
guard rooms,
&c.
Nuisance.
Water-
supply.
Sanitary
arrangements
Provisions.
Clothing.
Foot
soreness.
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
Climate of
the station.
20
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
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
Vellore
39.97
1.58
1.40
2.53
2.39
1875
Do.
37.95
1.13
1.27
. . .
.91
1876
Do.
30.94
1.16
.72
2.88
1.29
Average
36.28
1.29
1.13
1.80
1.53
1877
Vellore
48.40
1.59
2.90
2.34
.82
The following officers were in medical charge of this corps, the last-named of
whom reports as follows:—
Surgeon W. S. Fox.
Surgeon W. Price, M.D.
Surgeon-Major J. E. Dickinson.
Climate of the station.—During the past year the seasons have been unfavorable, and
famine. cholera. and small-pox have prevailed in the station and neighborhood.
Ventilation of the men's guard rooms, &c.—The "guard rooms" consist of three rooms of a
large building, situated on an open plain, ventilated by windows and verandah; rooms small; in
the hot weather the men often sleep in the open or verandah.
Nuisance.— None.
Water-supply. —In ordinary seasons, the water-supply is ample, but for want of rain last
year, was very deficient.
Sanitary arrangements of the lines are strictly attended to, and no local cause of disease
has existed.
Provisions of all kinds have been unexceptionally dear. Compensation on account of
dearness of provisions has been given.
Clothing suited to climate and season of the year.
Foot sorenesss.—But few cases of foot soreness occurred from wearing boots without socks,
which were met with a few days' exemption from wearing boots, successfully.
Duty. —The duty performed by the sepoys has been very heavy, but has not appeared to
influence health unfavorably. Average number of nights in bed 2.99 to which attention has
been drown
Drill.—These drills appear to have had no unfavorable influence on health.
Exercises.—The " taleemkhana" is used by the sepoys, but more frequently by the
recruits.
Vaccination.
Epidemic.
Vaccination has been carried on by Hospital Assistants and Government Vaccinators,
male and female. No deaths from small-pox. 38 cases have conic under treatment: 14 sepoys,
and 24, followers.
Epidemic. —Cholera and small-pox have prevailed during the greater portion of 1877 and is
attributable to the abnormality of the season. Not to any overcrowding, want of ventilation
or sanitation in the station or its vicinity.
Hospital ventilation.:—The accommodation and ventilation of the hospital has been ample;
the building is rather dark owing to the verandah. There has been no overcrowding.
Hospital drainage good. Dry earth and coal-tar freely used in the latrines; no defects.
Hospital
water-supply.
Hospital water-supply.— There has been no lack of water-supply to hospital.
General
couclusions.
General conclusions.—On the whole there has been more sickness and mortality in the
regiment during the past year than usually obtains, no doubt owing to the unhealthy seasons
that have characterised the year. The average daily sick has been 10.62, and deaths in hospital
for the year 16; besides 5 deaths out of hospital.