Drainage of
the lines.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, &c,
Sanitary
arrangements
Diet.
Clothing.
Epidemic.
Ventilation
of the
hospital.
Hospital
drainage.
Hospital
water-supply
General
conclusions.
78
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
The following medical officers were in charge during the year,
Surgeon A. N. Rogers-Harrison,
Surgeon J. North,
Surgeons F. M. Rickard and J. Lancaster, M.B,
and the last-named reports as follows :—
Drainage of the lines.— The drainage is fair and for the most part superficial.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, &c.— The ventilation and accommodation of a
sepoy's hut are as a rule bad, but the men here are apparently not affected by their living in
them, they being to a certain extent the greater part of their time out of doors. Drainage
good.
Water-supply.
Water-supply .—Supply and quality good.
Sanitary arrangements.— The sanitary condition of the lines, &c. has been properly
attended to.
Diet .—During the early part of the year provisions were tolerably cheap : from the failure
of rain prices have considerably increased.
Clothing.—The small black cap of the sepoy is a bad one, and it affords no protection from
the sun.
Epidemic. —On the 23rd February a single case of cholera occurred in the lines among the
men. It was that of a native officer, and proved fatal in twelve hours. There was no cholera in
the lines at the time ; it had most probably been brought in by communication with the bazaars,
where it was then very prevalent. The second and third appearances were in June and
November. These cases were also brought in from the bazaar and from the famine relief
depôts, where cholera was then raging. Every precaution was taken to stamp out the
disease in the lines ; the cases were treated in the cholera camp, and all communication between
it and the lines was strictly forbidden. The lines were cleaned and white-washed. The spread
of the disease was by these measures controlled.
Ventilation of the hospital is remarkably good. There has never been any over-
crowding.
Hospital drainage .—The sanitary condition of the latrines as regards ventilation and
drainage is good.
Hospital water-supply.— The water-supply for the hospital has been good as to quality
and fair in quantity.
General conclusions.— There were 6 cases of cholera, of which 3 proved fatal. The health
of the men during the year was satisfactory.
Deputy Surgeon-General P. G. FitzGerald, M.D., inspected this corps on the 2nd
February 1877 and reports as follows :—
Sanitary
condition of
the lines.
Sanitary con-
dition of
latrines, &c.
Sanitary condition of the lines.— The drainage is natural, only scratch drains along the
sides of the streets and roads, into which the wash from the huts flows ; the fœcal wash is
however received into a chatty placed outside and connected with a spout formed of a curved
tile or pipe.
Sanitary condition of latrines, &c.—There are no regimental latrines. In the domestic
latrines dry-earth or ash is used ; these are emptied daily and the contents carted away to a pit
about a mile distant, where they are buried.
Hospital.
Climate of
the station.
Hospital.—The hospital is the counterpart of that of the 27th Native Infantry, and under
the same roof. It is very clean, surrounded by a wall, and elevated three feet above the level
of the ground.
Surgeon J. F. Fitzpatrick,
was in medical charge and reports as under :—
Climate of the station.— The climate of the station was unusually trying. Rainfall was
almost nil in comparison with other years.
Water-supply
Sanitary
arrangements.
Water-supply has been excellent and of good quality.
Sanitary arrangements of the camp have been good.
Diet.
Diet .—Provisions have been at famine-prices. In November there was a scarcity of rain
experienced. There has been an abundant supply of vegetables. The troops have received
compensation on account of the dearness of provisions.