Natural
features of
the district.
Diseases of
the district.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
barrack
-rooms, huts,
&c.
Nuisance.
Sanitary
arrangements.
Diet.
Foot soreness.
Duty.
Vaccination.
Ventilation
of the hos--
pital.
Drainage of
the hospital.
Hospital
water-supply.
General
conclusions.
33
NORTHERN DISTRICT.
Natural features of the district.— On the land side of the town of Vizagapatam there is an
extensive swamp caused by the backwater, which, during flood tides, overflows to a great extent
the low land in that direction. Attempts have been made to reclaim this portion of the swamp,
but during the cyclone in October 1876 great damages were done to the embankments, &c.,
and the work will probably remain incomplete. There is very little vegetation about; the
greater part of the red sand ridges are barren or partly covered, like the neighboring hills, with
low scrub jungle. There is a good supply of water to be had in Vizagapatam, but in Waltair it
is not so plentiful. The products of the district are rice, maize, millet, oil-seed, pulse of various
kinds, sugarcane, indigo and cotton.
Diseases of the district.— The principal endemic diseases appear to be elephantiasis, leprosy
and beri-beri, and besides these you have the ordinary tropical diseases, fever, rheumatism
and bowel-complaints.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's barrack-rooms, huts, &c .—The accommodation inside
the huts is very limited, and no doubt in many of them there must be overcrowding to some
extent. The drainage of the lines is very bad; there are three masonry drains passing through
the main streets between the line of huts and leading into the main street drain. All the
sewage and impurities must naturally percolate into the loose sandy-soil on which the huts
are built.
Nuisance .—There has been no nuisance during the year from latrines, &c., but the sanitary
condition of the vicinity of the lines is not very satisfactory. On account of there being no
public latrine near, the people of the neighboring village resort to a piece of ground situated
close to the lines, which they make use of as a latrine.
Water-supply.— Drinking water is obtained from Dhobies' pettah, not far from the Regi--
mental lines; the water is sweet and good. Water for ablution purposes is obtained from wells
in the lines; it is brackish and is not used for drinking.
Water-supply.
Sanitary arrangements.— The latrines and urinals attached to the guard-rooms are kept
clean; there are no public latrines for the men. Each hut has its own private latrine, which is
kept clean.
Diet.— The men purchase their own provisions from the bazaar, which is always well
-supplied with all kinds of articles. Provisions during the early part of the year were cheap, but
since the storm in October, the prices have risen very much owing to the raggy and other crops
being entirely destroyed, and the young rice-plants being washed away by the bursting of tanks
from the heavy fall of rain.
Clothing.— The clothing has been sufficient and adapted to the climate.
Clothing.
Foot soreness.— A few cases of foot soreness, all of which got well on being excused from
wearing boots for a short time.
Duty.— The duties performed by the men have been the usual parades and guards, and has
had no ill-effect on the health of the men.
Vaccination.— Vaccination has been carried out to some extent during the year. There
have been no cases of small-pox during the year.
Epidemic.— There has been no epidemic during the year.
Epidemic.
Ventilation of the hospital.— The hospital is a spacious building and well ventilated, having
accommodation for 30 beds in both wards. There has been no overcrowding in the hospital
during the year.
Drainage of the hospital.— The drainage is good, and dry-earth system is carried on in the
hospital latrines and coal-tar freely used.
Hospital water-supply.— Water-supply obtained from Dhobies' pettah. Water good and
plentiful.
General conclusions.—The total number of admissions during the year was 678, being 129
more than the previous. There were 7 deaths in hospital from the following causes: ague 2,
remittent fever 1, hæmatemesis 1, phthisis pulmonalis 1, valvular disease of heart 1, and
dysentery 1. Ague has been the most prevalent disease during the year. This great increase in
this single disease is entirely due to the exposure the men had to undergo while on their
march to Bustar. The three following months after the return of the wing from Bustar, the
admissions into hospital for ague were—May 128, June 52, and July 26 cases.
Deputy Surgeon-General W. J. vanSomeren, M.D., inspected this corps on the
18th October 1876, and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition of lines .—The lines have been very much damaged throughout by the
recent hurricane, and their present condition consequently is both abnormal and unsightly,
The litter of cadjan leaves and the debris of huts in all directions have not yet been entirely
carried away, although considerable progress has been made in the process of restoration. The
drainage of the lines continues as defective as it was, and it would be well, now that they have
Sanitary
condition
of lines.
9