Nuisance.
Water
-supply.
Sanitary
arrange
-ments.
Diet.
Clothing.
Foot
soreness.
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
Hospital
water-supply
General
conclusions.
Sanitary
condition of
lines.
Conservancy.
18
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, &c.
Epidemic.
qualities of grain-food, and sickness, diarrhœa, dysentery and other diseases resulted. Such
however was not generally the case among regularly-paid sepoys, though there have been a
few cases among men who had to make provision for the many members of their families.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, &c .—The ventilation of the barrack and
guard rooms is good, and with them there can be taken no objection, but as stated that of the
houses, especially where the number of inmates is large is very insufficient. Drainage is very
good by means of brick and tile open drains on each side of all the streets, which lead to and
open into the main drain running transversely to the line of huts. All the drains are flushed
with water twice daily, and at the same time thoroughly swept.
Nuisance .—None to complain of.
Water-supply obtained from the Red Hills cisterns and supply channels was in the
beginning of the year exceedingly limited in quantity, and sometimes very turbid and muddy'
until after liberal rain in May the supply became more copious, and since then it has continued
abundant.
Sanitary arrangements have been carefully attended to, and there are no local causes of
disease in the lines requiring removal.
Diet .—During the year 1877, a year of great famine and scarcity, grain and all other
provisions have been exceedingly scarce and of very high price. Vegetables also have been
equally scarce and dear. Compensation, on account of general high prices, to the extent of
Rupees 33-10-10 was afforded to the men during the year.
Clothing has been sufficient, and as well adapted to the climate as it can be.
Foot soreness .—There has been much and frequent foot soreness among the men, and will
continue to be from the use by Natives of heavy English boots worn without stockings to guard
the feet.
Duty has consisted of the usual guards and parades, which have seldom appeared to
exercise an influence on the health of the men, except, it must be stated in the cases of a few
who have been underfed, by reason of the numbers in their families to be provided for.
Drill .—The duties have not exercised an injurious influence on the health of the men, and
no representations have been necessary.
Exercises .—Games and gymnastic exercises have for the past six months been carried out
in a taleemkhana.
Vaccination has been carefully kept up during the year. Six cases of small-pox occurred,
only one of which had not been previously vaccinated, and this case died in the small-pox
hospital, whither all were sent on the first appearance of the disease.
Epidemic .—Six cases of cholera occurred among the sepoys during the year, 3 in the
month of January, 1 in February and 2 in May, and of these 3 were fatal. There were
besides 12 cases among the families of the men, of whom three died. These were all treated
in tents erected outside the hospital enclosure.
Hospital ventilation .—The hospital is well ventilated.
Hospital drainage .—The drainage of the hospital and compound is good. The latrine is
kept very clean, and dry-earth conservancy is well carried out.
Hospital water-supply .—It had been scarce and turbid in the beginning of 1877, but now it
is, as everywhere else, abundant and good.
General conclusions .—The health of the regiment during the year must be considered
favorable, the sanitary condition of the families and lines also is satisfactory.
Deputy Surgeon-General W. J. van Someren, M.D., inspected this corps on the
31st May 1878, and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition of lines .—The lines are clean and free from offensiveness. Its drainage
fair, if not good.
Conservancy .—The neighborhood of the lines is fairly conserved by the Municipality,
and the lines themselves very creditably by the same Regimental Conservancy Establishment
as that mentioned in last report. At the south-east angle, outside the lines, the ground is
much less uneven than it used to be, and its appearance much improved.