74
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent to Average Strength
present of
Admissions.
Daily Sick.
Deaths in
Hospital.
1876 . . .
Baroda . . .
97.9
3.4
0.9
1877 . . .
Do. . . .
122.9
5.6
2.3
1878 . . .
Ahmedabad, Bombay, and Belgaum . . .
211.3
6.1
0.5
Average . . .
144.0
5.0
1.2
1879 . . .
Belgaum . . .
225.3
6.8
0.3
Location and movements.
1. The Regiment has been stationed in Belgaum during
the past year.
2. The lines have been described in previous reports. They are kept clean by doing
away with covered drains and keeping down rank vegetation
and thinning trees.
The ventilation of the men's huts is good. Towards the east of the lines the ground is
quite flat, and for some distance from them towards the Khanapur Road during the rains there
was a perfect swamp, and in some places the ground was under water, the water reaching
close to the latrines.
The lines, &c.
Conservancy.
3. The same as last year. The latrines are kept clean,
and McDougall's powder is freely used.
4 . T h e w a t e r i s o b t a i n e d f r o m s e v e r a l w e l l s s i t u a t e d i n a n d n e a r t h e l i n e s . T h e
quality is fair, and there is always a plentiful supply through
-
out the year.
5. Food is decidedly cheaper, and the price of grain is going down. The supply
is good. Country vegetables are abundant in the bazaar.
There is no change made in the clothing, except that two pairs
of woollen socks have been issued to each sepoy.
6 . T h e d u t i e s c o n s i s t o f t h e o r d i n a r y p a r a d e s , g u a r d m o u n t i n g , a n d e s c o r t i n c h a r g e
of stores, treasure, &c. There is a "Talimkhana" in the lines.
The duties have had no bad effect on the health of the men.
The average number of nights in bed was during the past
year 6.5.
7 . N o c h a n g e s h a v e b e e n m a d e i n t h e h o s p i t a l a n d i t s s u r r o u n d i n g s . T h e s i n g l e
ward was often found to be insufficient, so that the front and
back verandahs had to be utilised on several occasions.
8. The general health of the Regiment showed no improvement on that of the previous
year. The lowest number of sick at one time in hospital was
26 and the highest 60. The sickness can only be attributed to
the heavy rainfall, viz., 53 inches during the year, to the before-mentioned swamp near the
lines, which existed during and some time after the rains, and to the ground or subsoil water
towards the east of the lines being so near the surface. With regard to the physique of the
men it is on the whole good.
9. The geological formation of the station exercises a healthy effect on the climate.
In most places the formation being "laterite," there is a ready
escape of rain water. The atmosphere, however, is at times
very chilly, and during the monsoon months it is damp and
cold. About November until February an east wind prevails, giving rise to much sickness,
viz., malarial fevers, rheumatism, neuralgia, liver and bowel complaints, and chest affections.
10. There were 1,343 admissions during the year. Of this number 659 were from
malarial fevers, lung disease 69, venereal 52, scabies, which is
very common in Belgaum, 40. There were only two cases of
dysentery. There were two deaths in hospital, one from chronic
diarrhœa and the other was a case of ague, which became complicated with severe broncho
-
pneumonia.
Water-supply.
Food and clothing.
Duties, exercise, and amuse-
ments, &c.
Hospital and its immediate sur
-
roundings, &c.
General health and phsique.
Influence of climate or local
circumstances on health.
Details of treated.