10
of grave danger. Nothing has yet been done beyond making surveys and elabo
-rating schemes towards improvement in the supply. At Bellary also the water-
supply was a source of anxiety, the rainfall for the year at that station having
been only 7 inches, the average being about 19. The water at Cannanore is
obtained from wells and is ordinarily very good, but about the beginning of the
south-west monsoon, the water from the two much used wells near the sea contains
too much chlorine as if from percolation of sea water through the laterite. When
this is the case the water from these wells is condemned.
COOKING AND RATIONS.—In consequence of the want of water, vegetables were
not so good and abundant as usual in Bangalore. At Bellary there is great want
of variety in the vegetable ration, which is stated to consist of potatoes and onions
only. New
cook houses for the European Regiment at Kamptee were opened
during the year. They are built on the Bengal standard plan and serve their
purpose well. Fruits and vegetables are fairly abundant at this station, and the
Administrative Officer reports that" No diseases of a scorbutic character occur
here." The beef has been reported tough at some stations, but on the whole the
quality of the rations has been considered good, and the cooking is such as to
please the soldier.
CANTEENS.—Surgeon-General Madden inspected Port Blair in the Andamans
towards the close of the year, and found that two men were in the habit of sleeping
in the canteen there. Having represented the matter in the proper quarter, the
practice was put a stop to. The beer and porter supplied at Wellington and
Bangalore are manufactured on the Nílgiris. They are not liked by the men so well
as the English malt liquor, but their quality is improvin. A barrack committee
have recommended the enlargement of the canteen at Kamptee, and, as the alter-
- a t i o n w i l l n o t c o s t m u c h , t h e r e i s a p r o s p e c t o f i t s b e i n g m a d e a t a n e a r l y d a t e .
COFFEE SHOPS.—These institutions are universally approved of supplying, as
they do, a great variety of useful articles at moderate rates.
CLOTHING has been generally approved of.
DUTIES AND EXERCISE.—The duties have, in no case, been reported excessive.
Games of various kinds are encouraged as much as possible.
No. 1.
RETURN showing the SICKNESS, MORTALITY, and INVALIDING in Her Majesty's BRITISH TROOPS in the
MADRAS PRESIDENCY for 1884.
Years.
A v e r a g e S t r e n g t h .
A d m i s s i o n s i n t o H o s p i t a l .
DEATHS IN HOSPITAL
T o t a l D e a t h s i n a n d o u t o f H o s p i t a l .
I n v a l i d e d .
RATIO PER 1, 000 OF STRENGTH.
F r o m C h o l e r a .
E x c l u d i n g C h o l e r a .
F r o m a l l C a u s e s .
D e a t h s o u t o f H o s p i t a l .
Admissions.
Deaths in Hospital.
D e a t h s o u t o f H o s p i t a l .
T o t a l D e a t h s i n a n d o u t o f H o s p i t a l .
I n v a l i d e d .
F r o m C h o l e r a .
E x c l u d i n g C h o l e r a .
F r o m a l l C a u s e s .
1883 . . . 10,612 10,517
10
84
94
14
108
347 991.05 0.94 7.92 8.86 1.32 10.18 32.70
1884 . . . 10,812 11,960
10
66
76
17
93
350 1,106.18 0.92 6.10 7.03 1.57
8.60 32.37