Sanitary
condition of
the lines.
Water-supply
90
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
General
conclusions.
General conclusions. —The regiment is in good health.
Deputy Surgeon-General W. Williamson inspected this corps on the 5th
October 1876 and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition of the lines —The lines are very clean, in good order, and well-sheltered
from the influence of the south-west monsoon. Drainage is natural by configuration of the
ground aided by open side channels cut in the soil. Average number of occupants of each hut
according to regulations 3½.
Water-supply .—There are six wells in the lines, all numbered; Nos. 99, 100, 101, in the garden
north of the lines, good drinking water-supply at times very scanty; 102 north of the lines
and close to them, water good.
Hospital.
Hospital. —Drainage is natural and sufficient. The latrine is clean and large, well
ventilated and in excellent order, dry earth and coal-tar being in free use. Water of good quality
is brought by puckallies from the wells in the lines. There are no cess-pools or foul drains.
30 Regiment Light Infantry.
S TATION —S ECUNDERABAD .
Arrived from Madras 7th and 8th February 1871.
Average strength ...
... ... ... ... ...
...
...
687
Do. do. present ...
...
...
...
. . . . . . . . . . . . 657
Admissions ...
...
...
...
...
...
. . . . . . 452
Daily sick
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
22
Deaths in hospital ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
4
Do. out of do. ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
3
Pensioned
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
. . . . . .
28
Sick leave
...
...
...
...
...
....
...
...
...
...
15
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.
1873
...
... Secunderabad ...
...
164.62
4. 94
1.16
2.62
1.45
1874
...
...
Do.
...
...
157.59
10.63
1.51
8.66
3.19
1875
...
...
Do.
...
...
92.61
4.87
.89
1.19
2.68
Average ...
138.27
6.81
1.18
4.15
2.40
1876
...
... Secunderabad ...
...
68.79
3.34
1.01
4.07
2.18
Surgeon C. J. McNally, M.D., was in medical charge of this corps during the
year and reports as under :—
Climate of
the station.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's huts,
&c.
Water-supply
Climate of the station. —Malarious fevers have been less prevalent than usual during the
monsoon months. There can be little doubt that this is due to the failure of the rains.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, &c. —The ventilation, sewerage and drainage are
bad, and they are overcrowded.
Water-supply has been muddy and deficient.
Sanitary
arrangements.
Diet.
Sanitary arrangements have been as well attended to as the very small grant for
conservancy and the bad construction of the lines would admit. The numerous ordure pits
south-west and north-east of the lines, and the dirty tanks at Chilkalgudum, are local causes of
disease requiring removal.
Diet.—Provisions have been scarce and dear, especially towards the end of the year. The
diet of the troops has not been sufficiently nutritive and varied, nor even sufficient in quantity
to preserve good health.
Vaccination.
Vaccination.—The children in the lines and the recruits are regularly vaccinated.
Epidemic.
Epidemic. —There were two cases (both fatal) of cholera in the month of January, and
towards the end of the year a case of small-pox occurred. None of these cases could be traced
to any more evident cause than atmospheric infection.