Water-supply from seven wells. Quality good. No filters.
Water-supply.
Duties.
Conservancy.
BRITISH BURMAH DIVISION.
115
General conclusions.— Nothing occurred calling for special remark. The total admissions
into hospital during the year were 156 and the total deaths 4. There were four men recom
-mended for sick leave and five for pension.
Deputy Surgeon-General H. R. Oswald, M.D., inspected the head-quarters
of this corps on the 6th November 1876 and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition of barracks, &c.— (a) clean, (b) ventilation sufficient, by doors and
windows, by eaves and ridges. There are 22 doors and 40 windows in each barrack, of which
there are eight blocks built parallel to each other on four feet piles ; being built on sloping ground,
each block is divided into three compartments on separate levels ; the
doors are as per margin and the windows 3 feet square. ( c) The
barracks are lighted by the doors and windows by day and by five oil
-lamps by night, three for the sepoys and two for the Native officers.
(d) Each barrack is 258 feet long by 20 feet broad and 12 feet high to
wall plate giving a superficial area of 5,797 square feet and a cubic space of 62,004 cubic feet.
The superficial space per man during the year was 82.8 square feet and the cubic space 972.3
cubic feet. ( e) The drainage is excellent (the slope being 1 in 9) both by natural means and
good brick-and-chunam drains surrounding each barrack, the water running into the road-side
drains and ultimately into the river. In addition to above dimensions, there are four corner
-rooms in each barrack measuring 15'×10½' by 12' giving a superficial area of 630 square feet
and 6,064 cubic feet ; these rooms are occupied by the Native officers. The external dimension;
of each block are 260 feet long by 20 feet broad by 27 feet from ground to the ridge top.
Sanitary condition of latrines, &c.— There are four latrines, each containing 12 partitions:
they run parallel to each other with a dry-earth room in the centre. In each partition there is
a board on each side for the man to stand on and a bucket underneath in the centre to receive
the excreta. The dry-earth system cannot be carried out satisfactorily in a latrine of this
construction ; they were very clean, however, and perfectly free from smell at the time of my
inspection. The excreta are carted away to a distance ; there are no foul drains or cess-pools
. Coal-tar is freely used.
Rations.— The rations are supplied by the Commissariat and are good. They consist of rice,
ghee, dholl, salt, tobacco, and turmeric. Some of the men supplement these by buying meat,
fish, and vegetables in the bazaars. Each man cooks his own food in the cook-rooms, of which
there are five, each caste having its separate cook-room.
(a) Only four barracks are
occupied with an average of
70 men in each barrack.
2 doors 8' X 7'.
20 doors 6' 10" X 3' 10".
General con
-clusions.
sanitary con
-dition of
barracks, &c.
Sanitary con-
dition of
latrines, &c.
Rations.
Duties are not prejudicial to health. They consist of ordinary drill, &c. The men appear
in good health.
Conservancy.— The conservancy of the barracks is good, that of the cantonment might be
better, and that of the town of Moulmein very bad. In the latter the road-side drains are very
foul and badly built. Cess-pools exist, I believe, in every house, and intramural grave-yards
have not been closed. These matters have not escaped the attention of the Health Officer, but the
removal of excreta and filth seems surrounded with difficulties in this country on account of the
paucity of toties and their drunken habits. The closure of the grave-yards is meeting with
great opposition.
Hospital.— There are two hospitals, but only one is occupied. They are teak-built, shingled
roof, on 4-feet piles. The buildings and neighborhood are very clean and well ventilated ;
the drainage is excellent, being the same as the barracks. The hospital is 120'×20'×13',
giving a superficial area of 3,505 square feet and a cubic space of 42,526 cubic feet. The
average space Der Patient has been superficial area 501 souare feet cubic space 6,075 cubic feet.
Principal diseases.— Of a total of 131 admissions to date, ague stands first with 30; dysen
-tery next with 14 ; rheumatism, general debility, and itch give 9 each ; diarrhœa 8 ; bubo 3 ;
orchitis 2 ; phymosis 1 ; primary syphilis 1 ; cholera 1 ; dislocation of hip 1.
surgeon J . C. Lawrenson, M.D., was in medical charge and reports as follows :—
Climate of the station.— The rainfall for the year amounted to 129.79 inches against 108.49
for the previous one, and against an average of 102.05 for the five years, 1870—1874. This
excess most probably accounts for the excess of ague, this disease contributing a percentage to
strength of 120.03 against 90.15 for the previous year. There was no other unusual feature in
the climate during the year.
Natural features.— Country hilly, ranges mostly running towards the north-east, varying
in height from about 100 to 12,000 feet, and intersected by ravines and nullahs. The uncleared
land is covered by dense luxuriant jungle, and swamps are numerous. The soil consists of hard
greenish rock, grey sandstone, and decomposed serpentine. Streams of clear water, agreeable
to taste and of apparently good quality, are found throughout the mainland during the rainy
season. The chief productions are rice, cocoanuts, plantains, pumpkins, brinjals, and fish ;
they are all limited and unreliable in quantity. The temperature is very equable, the highest
Hospital.
Principal
diseases.
Climate of
the station.
Natural
features. *