Ventilation
of the men’s
huts.
Water-supply
Foot soreness.
Vaccination.
Epidemic.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital
drainage.
Hospital
water-
supply.
General
conclusions.
Sanitary
condition of
the lines as to
cleanliness,
ventilation,&c
Sanitary
condition of
the latrines,
&c.
Rations.
Water-
supply.
Hospital.
48
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
The following officers were in medical charge of this corps during the year,
Surgeon-Major J. A. Cox, M.D.,
Surgeon-Major J. FitzGerald,
and the last-named reports as follows :—
Ventilation of the men’s huts .—There are small holes in the walls of the huts to answer for
windows, notwithstanding which the ventilation is defective.
Water-supply .—Water is obtained from the wells in the lines; it is both plentiful and
good.
Sanitary
arrangements.
Sanitary arrangements good.
Diet.
Diet .—Rice, fish and vegetables are the chief ingredients of diet. I do not consider the
sepoy’s pay sufficient to support himself and family, and I believe the want of sufficient and
proper food often induces sickness, and to be the cause of slow convalescence. Their diet is
principally of a vegetable nature, combined with fish, and very rarely with meat.
Foot soreness.—Such cases occur frequently, chiefly from the men wearing boots made of
bad leather and of improper size without socks.
Vaccination is performed regularly. Number vaccinated, 113.
Epidemic .—No epidemic disease of any consequence prevailed among the sepoys and
their families during the year, except a few cases of measles and chicken-pox of a very mild
nature.
Hospital ventilation .—The hospital is fairly ventilated. There was no overcrowding
during the past year.
Hospital drainage .—The working of the hospital latrine is good. Dry earth is used.
Hospital water-supply .—Water is brought to hospital by puckallies from wells in the
lines, and kept for use in earthen vessels.
General conclusions .—Notwithstanding an increase in the number of admissions by 24,
the health of the regiment has been very favorable during the year under review. Skin
affections, abscesses and accidents were the most common diseases which gave the largest number
of admissions, while those of the general system were comparatively less than the past year,
and with a few exceptions were of a mild nature.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. Wilson inspected this corps on the 19th January
1877 and reports as under :—
Sanitary condition of the lines as to cleanliness, ventilation, & c.—The lines are clean,
with good natural drainage, but they are of very inferior construction and only thatched; the
average to each married sepoy’s hut would be about three, exclusive of himself.
Sanitary conditions of the latrines, &c .—There are no cess-pools or foul drains connected
with latrines. The excreta are conveyed to a distance and buried, and the dry-earth system is
carried out as far as practicable.
Rations .—Fish abundant and cheap ; rice is plentiful, but dear.
Water-supply.—Water pure.
Hospital .—The hospital is clean, with good natural drainage and well ventilated by doors,
windows, wall and ridge ventilators. It is calculated for 22 patients, and is therefore seldom
overcrowded. The water-supply is ample from wells in the lines ; the latrine is clean, the
dry-earth system effectually carried out, and coal-tar freely used.
34th Regiment Native Infantry.
STATION—MANGALORE.
Arrived from Bellary, 30th December 1870.
Average strength ...
...
...
...
... ... ... ... ...
677
Do.
do.
present ...
...
...
... ... ...
...
... 624
Admissions ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... 269
Daily sick
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
10
Deaths in hospital ...
...
...
...
... ... ... ...
... ...
Do. out of do.
...
...
...
...
...
... ...
...
. . . . . .
Pensioned
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
. . . . . . . . . . . .
23
Sick leave
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
12