Vaccination.
Epidemic.
Hospital
water-supply.
General
conclusions.
Sanitary con-
dition of the
lines.
Sanitary
condition of
guard-room,
&c.
Position of
huts.
92
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
The following medical officers have been in charge during the year,
Surgeon A. N. Rogers-Harrison,
Surgeon E. Levinge,
Surgeon W. J. Butler,
Surgeon-Major Jacob Wilkins, M.D.,
the last-named of whom reports as follows :—
Position of huts. —Huts are built on the plan laid down in Madras Army Regulations, but
do not afford efficient ventilation in the double blocks owing to there being no windows or
efficient means of admitting air except by the door-way. The huts are, for the most part, too
small for the accommodation of the men and their families, amounting in certain cases to nine individuals.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men’s
huts, &c.
Nuisance.
Water-supply.
Ventilation and drainage of the men’s huts, &c.— T h e
m e a n s o f v e n t i l a t i o n i n t h e h u t s o f t h e
men are very defective in consequence of the absence of windows. It was attempted to remedy
this defect by the construction of air-holes, but this could not be effected in consequence of all
the front of the houses being shut in with a wall to form a cook-house, the door-ways only being
left open. In the double block rows the ventilation is consequently defective, being dependent
only on the door-way and defects in the roof. The ventilation of the guard-rooms and cells is.
good, Natural drainage is good, aided by brick- drains running along each row of huts.
Nuisance. —The sanitation and conservancy of the lines have been well maintained.
Water-supply. —The water-supply has been scanty in consequence of the failure of the
monsoon.
Diet.
Foot soreness.
Diet.—The necessaries of life, grain, &c., have reached famine-prices. Owing to the
dearness of grain and articles of diet, the health of the men, especially those supporting a large
number of followers has in some instances suffered, and rendered them unfit for their duties.
Foot soreness. —The cases of foot soreness produced by defective boots have been few in
n u m b e r ; t h e m e n h a v e b e e n d i r e c t e d t o r e n d e r t h e l e a t h e r m o r e s u p p l e b y g r e a s i n g t h e i r b o o t s ,
and also recommended to envelop their feet in oiled rags when required to march any distance.
Vaccination. —Ninety-five cases have been vaccinated, principally young children and
pension boys and recruits.
Epidemic. —Fever of an intermittent type prevailed during the months of August and
September, the predisposing causes being malaria and exposure at this (the rainy) season of the
year, favored by the exposed position of the lines and the prevailing high winds. Three cases
of cholera occurred in July as follows :—
Date.
Company.
House
Number.
19th July 1876
...
... ... . . .
. . .
A
73
24th
do.
... ... ... . . .
. . .
F
484
27th
do.
...
...
...
... . . .
A
68
The disease had been and was prevailing in the vicinity. No direct communication or other
known causes of production could be discovered. Of these cases one only was of a sepoy, the
other two being followers.
Hospital ven-
tilation.
Hospital
drainage.
Hospital ventilation. —Good. No overcrowding.
Hospital drainage good.
Hospital water-supply.— Water of good quality.
General conclusion.—The
health of the regiment has not been satisfactory, and may be
said to have been indifferent. The number of cases of admissions for ague of a comparatively
mild type has been large. The total admissions from all causes amounted to 634 up to 29th
December 1876.
The following were the admissions in pr evi ous year : —
1871
...
... ...
...
...
...
... 410
1872
...
... 303
1873
...
...
...
...
410
1874
...
...
......
...
... 963
1875
...
...
...
...
...
...
... 467
Deputy Surgeon-General W. Williamson inspected this corps on the 9th
October 1876 and reports as follows :—
Sanitary condition of the lines. —The lines of this regiment are in excellent order. Average
number of occupants to each hut 3.24. The ventilation of all the huts has of late been
improved by the introduction of a small window in the rear of each hut; the drainage has also
been improved.
Sanitary condition of guard-room, & c.—The guard-rooms, cells, and school-rooms are clean
and in good repair.