Drainage and
latrines.
Hospital
water-supply.
General con
-clusions.
Barracks.
Sanitary con-
dition of all
buldings.
14
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Epidemic dis
-eases.
Ventilation of
the hospital.
Epidemic diseases.—With the exception Of dengue, which made its appearance during
the months of June, July, August, September, October, November, and December, but not
in a severe form and readily amenable to treatment, none of the diseases alluded to pre
- v a i l e d e p i d e m i c a l l y .
Ventilation of the hospital.— The hospital still continues in the defective condition
alluded to in last year's Sanitary Report, with the exception that a door has been opened,
leading from the ward to the hospital latrine.
It is difficult to avoid overcrowding, owing to the accommodation of the hospital being
insufficient.
Drainage and latrines.—The drainage of the hospital is quite satisfactory; the dry-
earth system obtains in all the latrines; and the poudrette daily removed to a distance and
buried.
Hospital water-supply.— The hospital water-supply is good and abundant, and is
obtained from the fort and from the compound of the Government House.
General conclusions.—The health of the men generally has been very good throughout
the past year. No deaths have occurred in hospital, and nothing has taken place with
reference to the health of the corps to call for any special remark.
The late Deputy Inspector-General A. Blacklock inspected the Body Guard
and reported as follows:—
Barracks.—The Body Guard place of arms and hospital were described and a ground
plan given in the Annual Inspection Report, dated 13th October 1871. No alteration has
been made in the place of arms and out-buildings since that date. The men still reside in
huts of their own choice in Triplicane and its neighbourhood, as there are no Government
lines for them.
Sanitary condition of all buildings.—The latrines, guard-room, school-room, and the
only cell open for prisoners are in excellent sanitary condition. There are no foul drains
or cess-pools anywhere. The latrines for the men and for the families of the Non-commis
-sioned European Officers, who reside close to the place of arms, are well asphalted, and coal-
tar is used when necessary. Cleanliness is the rule everywhere. The horse lines are remark
-ably free from the horsey odor which formerly prevailed in them. All the drains are flushed
daily, the impurities passing into the Cooum river. The dry-earth system is carried out
in the latrines, and coal-tar is freely used. Excreta are removed to a distance and buried.
Conservancy.
Hospital.
Conservancy. —The conservancy of the neighbourhood is particularly objectionable in
two quarters—first, the near proximity of the Cooum on the southern aspect, with a wide
filthy drain from Chintadripettah projecting from the bank directly opposite the lines, and
emptying itself into, and polluting the water of the river. When the wind blows from that
direction the lines are pervaded by a most offensive odor. On the western aspect in close
contiguity to the wall which separates it from the Body Guard lines, there is in the adjoin
-ing compound of the Camp Equipage Depôt a large tank, which is used periodically for
steeping tent pegs and bamboos for the purpose of hardening them. These vegetable
substances are allowed to remain in the water till their albumen is decomposed, when they
emit a most disagreeable odor, which permeates through the Precincts of the Body Guard.
Hospital.—There has been no overcrowding. A window in the rear of the hospital
ward was converted into a doorway at the beginning of this year, to allow the patients an
easier access to the latrine. The one ward affords sufficient accommodation. All the points
requiring notice in this paragraph are in excellent order. The latrine is particularly clean.
Climate.
Barrack-
rooms, huts,
guard -rooms,
&c.
7 t h B e g i m e n t N a t i v e I n f a n t r y .
This corps was located in the Royapooram lines, Madras, during the
year, and Surgeon S. B. Hunt, who held medical charge, reports as follows:—
Climate .—There has been an unusual amount of rain during the past year, but its
effects have not been very injurious to health. The number of chest affections treated in
hospital were greater by two only than in the preceding year, and the number of cases of
rheumatism were increased by 14. The men have been very much weakened by the
enidemic of dengue, which prevailed extensively amongst them.
Barrack-rooms, huts, guard-rooms, &c.—There are no barrack-rooms. The means of
ventilation and warming for the guard-rooms are sufficient, but the huts of the sepoys are
Duly ventilated through their doors, which cannot, I think, be sufficient, although the men
do not complain. The drainage is good.
Nuisance.
Any nuisance.— The drain leading from the hospital became stopped up twice with
sand owing to the rains; but, on representing the matter to the regimental authorities, it
was at once cleared and put to rights.