Climate of the
station.
Ventilation
of the men's
huts, &c.
Water-supply
Sanitary
arrange-
ments.
Foot soreness.
Vaccination
Epidemic.
Ventilation
of the hospi
-tal.
Hospital
drainage.
Water-supply
SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
43
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
...
... Palamcottah... ...
121.31
3.09
.43
...
.86
1874
...
...
Do.
... ...
50.17
2.81
1.01
.86
1.01
1875
...
...
Do.
...
...
51.40
2.81
.45
.76
.30
Average . . .
74.29
2.90
.63
.54
.72
1876
...
... Palamcottah...
...
51.58
1.99
1.68
.92
.46
Surgeon G.F. Bevan was in medical charge of this corps during the year
and reports as follows :—
Climate of the station. —The peculiarity of the climate during the past year has been the
partial failure of the north-east monsoon.
Ventilation of the men's huts, &c.—The means of ventilation in a sepoy's hut is not by any
means sufficient to preserve the air in a state of purity.
Water-supply from the wells was sufficient in quantity and of very fair quality.
Sanitary arrangements. —The sanitary arrangements have been well attended to and there
are no local causes of disease.
Diet. —Provisions are always dear in this station, and during the last four months they
have become unusually so, owing to the failure of the north-west monsoon. I have no doubt
but many of the sepoys, particularly those having large families depending on them, are under-
fed. It is impossible that out of their poor pay they should be able to obtain sufficiently varied
and nutritive food to preserve them in a state of health compatible with the duties they may on
occasion be called upon to perform.
Diet.
Foot soreness has been somewhat prevalent during the past year.
Vaccination. —All the men in the corps have marks of vaccination or small-pox.
Epidemic.—Through the months of October, November and December cholera prevailed
to a considerable extent throughout the neighboring district and in the towns of P a l a m c o t t a h
and Tinnevelly. On the 25th October the first case occurred in the lines, how introduced could
not be ascertained ; and up to the 12th of November 23 cases were noted, with 11 deaths. In
the beginning of the outbreak the cases were malignant, the seizures being for the most part
sudden and preceded by no premonitory diarrhœa, collapse quickly set in, leaving little or no
time for treatment, and death took place in four cases in from five to ten hours from the time of
seizure. Towards the decline the cases began to get milder and were, as a rule, preceded by
diarrhœa.
Ventilation of the hospital. —During the high winds which occur in the rainy seasons the
patients complain occasionally of the cold as the ventilation is draught, owing to the numerous
doors and windows. No overcrowding.
Hospital drainage, on the whole, good.
Water-supply. —Good water.
General conclusions. —The health of the troops has been on the whole good during the past
year. It is true that owing to an outbreak of cholera in the lines the death-rate shows an increase
as compared with last year. The outbreak could not in any way be attributed to defective
sanitation in the lines. The disease disappeared two days after the troops were placed under
canvas. The first few cases were very malignant, but previous to the subsidence of the
epidemic the cases declined in severity.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. Wilson inspected this corps on the 30th October
1876 and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition of the lines as to cleanliness, ventilation, &c. —The lines are well built and
better than the generality of sepoy huts. There is good natural drainage, and wide and deep
drains for removing surface-water. The lines are remarkably clean, and the drainage is so good
that although heavy rain fell last night there is no lodgment of water whatever.
General
conclusions.
Sanitary
condition of
the lines as
to cleanliness
ventilation,
&c.