Sanitary ar-
rangementsin
the barracks.
Diet
.
Drill.
Vaccination.
129
BRITISH BURMAH DIVISION.
Sanitary arrangements in the barracks.—The sanitary state is satisfactory. No cause
of disease requiring removal.
Diet.—The Government rations are supplied to the men; they consist of rice, dholl,
ghee, turmeric, salt, and tobacco; they are of good quality. The men provide themselves
with extras, such as meat, vegetables, &c.
Sufficient to preserve the health of the troops. No change advised.
Clothing.—The clothing of the men is sufficient; they wear woollen in the cold and
rainy seasons, and cotton in the hot.
Clothing.
Duty.—Ordinary garrison duties, not interfering with the health of the men.
Each man on an average has three nights in bed.
Duty.
Drill .—Generally once or twice a week from 5-30 or 6 to 7-30 A. M., and occasionally
of an evening from 5 to 6 o'clock; it does not interfere with the health of the men.
Vaccination.—Not generally practised in the regiment as the families of the men are
in India, and the men have all been vaccinated. Recruits are vaccinated as soon as enlisted.
Diseases.—I consider the great number of cases—dysentery, diarrhœa, rheumatism,—
due principally to the excessive humidity of the climate. There have been 40 cases of
dysentery, 39 diarrhœa, and 52 rheumatism. Seven deaths have occurred amongst the
men; 1 from dysentery, 1 ague, 4 bronchitis, and 1 from other causes. One Native officer
died from fatty degeneration of heart.
Dengue fever made its appearance in the town of Rangoon some time before any cases
occurred in the regiment. I am of opinion that it was brought to Rangoon from Calcutta,
and also by the river steamers, as the crews of these vessels were suffering from the disease
on their arrival at Rangoon from their trips up-country. The disease was thus communicated
to the inhabitants of Rangoon. The first case that occurred in the regiment was on the
18th of May 1872, and from that date to the 20th of August 336 cases were treated in the
hospital. I have reasons to believe that many slight cases occurred amongst the men that
never came to my notice, as they did not report sick. Six cases occurred amongst the Euro-
pean officers and five amongst the Native officers. All the ladies, with one exception, suffer-
ed from the fever, and all the children of the Europeans connected with the regiment had the
fever, with the exception of the four children of the Serjeant-Major. The disease made its
onset with severe pains (of the nature of rheumatism) in the back, knees, and ankles and
feet, also in the arms and hands, accompanied immediately by strong fever and frequently
very severe head-ache. After the disease continued for a day or two the room or ward had
a peculiar pungent smell characteristic of the disease. About the second day an eruption
appeared somewhat like that of scarlatina, which gradually faded up to the fifth day, when, in
many instances, a second eruption appeared, which, as soon as it was fully developed, began
to pale, and 24 hours afterwards had disappeared. The patients from the first onset of the
disease almost, without an exception, complained of an inability to taste anything they took;
in many instances even the water they drank tasted bitter. During the epidemic I saw
several cases amongst children when the attack was ushered in with brain symptoms
accompanied by fits. I had no case of death from the disease either amongst any public or
private patients, though many of the cases were very severe. The digestive system, as a
rule, continued to be disordered for a very considerable time after the fever, pains, and
eruption had disappeared; in some instances the pains remained for a long time after all the
symptoms had disappeared. The urine in all the cases was scanty and high-colored, and
its specific gravity increased. I had some difficulty in determining the best course of treat--
ment, never having had any previous experience of the disease; the alkaline salts seemed to
offer the most likely means of causing relief. I, however, used aconite, belladona, and
Indian hemp. I am of opinion that the disease ran its course independent of all the treat-
ment adopted, though, in many instances, I was satisfied that the severe symptoms were
relieved by saline purgatives and afterwards alkalines continued in smaller doses.
Diseases.
Hospital ventilation.—The hospital, like the barracks, is a wooden building with
shingled roof raised six feet from the ground on posts. The ventilation is good. The
hospital is provided with six doors 8+5 feet and two windows 5+5. There is a space
between wall plate and roof for upper wall ventilation. The inner wall of the hospital has
been lime-washed.
There has been no overcrowding.
Drainage. —Drainage imperfect. The latrine is a small pucka building to the north
of the hospital. Coal-tar and dry earth are freely used, and excreta removed nightly by
conservancy carts.
Hospital ven--
tilation.
Drainage.
Water-supply .—Water-supply good and abundant. It is supplied as required by the
regimental puckallies.
General conclusions.—The sanitation of the regiment is satisfactory. The average
daily sick for the year 19.661. Seven deaths occurred in hospital among the privates of the
regiment—4 bronchitis, 1 ague, 1 dysentery, and 1 from colic One Native officer died from
fatty degeneration of the heart; 22 men were transferred to the Coast on sick certi--
ficate—1 from ague, 1 rheumatism, 1 dementia, 2 bronchitis, 7 diarrhœa, 3 dysentery,
1 dyspepsia, 1 ulcer, 4 general debility, and 1 for synovitis. The Serjeant-Major of
the corps was also sent on sick leave for inflammation of the ear.
Water-supply.
General con
-
clusions.