Exercises.
Vaccination.
Epidemic.
Ventilation of
hospital.
Drainage of
hospital.
Hospital
water-supply.
General
conclusions .
100
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS
.
there is one at some distance from the lines which is used for drinking purposes and supplies
fairly good water.
Diet
Diet.—As a rule provisions are cheap and plentiful. Native vegetables are abundant.
The troops have received rice-money, and during the late scarcity extra compensation.
Clothing.
Clothing.—The clothing of the troops has been sufficient and adapted to the climate. No
recommendations have been found necessary.
Foot sore
-ness. Foot soreness.—Foot soreness has been very prevalent, several cases requiring admission
into hospital. All others were excused from wearing boots until their feet were healed.
Duty.
Duty.—The average amount of nights in bed has been four.
Exercises.— There is a weekly gymkhana held every Saturday; it is well supported by the
residents, and there is generally a good attendance of sepoys.
Vaccination.—Every recruit who does not show vaccination or small-pox marks is
vaccinated on enlistment. All children are vaccinated. No small-pox has occurred.
Epidemic.—Four cases of cholera occurred during the year, 3 of them ending fatally.
The first occurred in June and died the same day, the next appeared in July and also ended
fatally after a few hours' illness. The disease did not appear again till September, when 1
case occurred, the patient dying next day. Four cases appeared in November, 3 being
amongst followers. Out of all these cases only 1 recovered. Ague has been very prevalent,
160 cases having occurred, being an increase of 69 against last year. Nine cases of pneumonia
occurred as a sequelæ to ague, 3 proving fatal. Of dysentery 11 cases, and of diarrhœa
13 cases occurred; all of these recovered. The cholera cases nearly all occurred in one
end of the lines, and two houses have been knocked down to ensure better ventilation.
Ague and fever followed by pneumonia is common, and will exist as long as the lines are
in their present situation, as there is not sufficient fall for drainage.
Ventilation of hospital.— The ventilation of the hospital has been good and no recommend--
ations have been found necessary. No overcrowding has occurred.
Drainage of hospital.— The drainage of the lines is very indifferent. The latrines have
been well looked after and the earth system has been efficiently carried out.
Sanitary
condition of
&c.
Hospital water-supply.—The supply of water has been sufficient and of fair quality.
General conclusions.— The general retrospect of the regiment is not so satisfactory as
last year, the total number of admissions being 364 against 241 for 1875. There was an
increase of 69 cases of ague, but a decrease of 5 cases of general debility.
Nine cases of pneumonia occurred as a sequelæ to ague, and 3 of them proved fatal.
Eleven cases of dysentery and 13 of diarrhœa occurred, but all recovered. Seven cases
of cholera occurred, 4 being amongst sepoys, 3 proving fatal; the other cases were amongst
followers and proved fatal.
Deputy Surgeon-General J.R. Theobalds inspected this corps on the 4th
December 1876 and reports as follows:—
Sanitary condition of lines, &c.—The private latrines are mud-walled enclosures built up
in one corner of the front compound; the excreta and urine are passed on the earth and soak
into the soil; some of the urine and washing water escape into the drains cut on both sides
of the road outside. The streets are about 46 feet in breadth and 420 in length. The ventilation
of the huts is indifferent, chiefly through the tiles and where the poles rest on the mud walls;
the roofs are low and doors very small, so that during the hot weather the temperature inside
must be very high. The drainage is indifferent, through open drains cut along both sides of the
streets, which convey the water into the larger nullahs and so into the Bagdurrah river on
the southern boundary of the parade ground. I found the sepoys' lines clean.
Sanitary
condition of
guard-room,
&c.
Sanitary condition of guard-room, &c.—The guard-rooms and cells are all in good order;
the latter are sufficiently ventilated.
Water-supply.
Water-supply .—Abundant supply of drinking water.
Hospital.
Hospital.— The ventilation is very good. The latrines are very clean, well kept, and
worked on the dry-earth system, with tarred chatties arranged in double rows along the side
walls, sunk in an embankment of dry earth; the chatties in the rear are filled with dry earth
for the ordure, and the tarred chatties are kept in front for urine. The floors are well tarred
and then covered with dry earth, except at the further end near the drain, which is kept for a
lavatory. The excreta is carried away and buried in baskets at Anjeevee.