16
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
General con
-
clusions.
ance, and nothing in the vicinity of the station to which the occurrence of the above diseases
may be attributed.
General conclusions.— The proportion of admissions to strength during the past year
has been very large, chiefly owing to the prevalence of dengue, from which disease there
were 389 admissions. Fevers, rheumatisms, and beri-beri contracted in the Straits helped
also very materially to swell the number of admissions to hospital.
Owing to these cases the regiment has been in a weakly condition throughout the year,
but many of the men have improved very much in health from the beneficial effects of the
Madras climate, and were it not for the occurrence of dengue in the corps before the men
had quite recovered from the releasing influence of the Straits, I have no doubt but that the
health of the regiment would be in a very satisfactory condition.
Climate dur
-ing the year.
Position of
barracks.
1 7 t h R e g i m e n t A a t i b e F u f a u t r g .
This regiment garrisoned the Perambore lines, Madras, throughout the year.
Surgeon-Major J. M. Joseph, M.D., &c., held medical charge, and writes the
annual report, from which the following extracts are made:—
Climate during the year. —The climate of the station has, on the whole, been pretty
good; but the air of a great portion of Perambore, and especially that portion of it in which
the regimental lines, hospital, barracks, and guard-rooms, and some of the officers' houses
are situated, has been, and is very much vitiated from unwholesome emanations from
nuisances which abound in the station, viz., sewage farm, burning and burying grounds,
stagnant pools, bad drainage, open sewers, brick-kiln, &c., which must necessarily have
exercised a detrimental influence on health and diseases.
Position of barracks.— The barracks and regimental lines are situated on sufficient
elevation, and their position would doubtless be healthy, if they were freed from the nuisances
which abound in their neighbourhood. As enumerated above, open drains and stagnant pools
are situated in the immediate vicinity of these lines. To the south of the left wing lines
are a number of dirty streets, the drainage of which is extremely defective. The rooms are
well constructed, as regards light, doors, windows, and ventilation.
Ventilation
and drainage,
&c..
Water-supply.
Sanitary ar
-rangements.
Diet.
Ventilation and drainage for huts, guard-rooms, &c.— The ventilation of men's huts is
defective, but that of the barracks and guard-rooms is sufficient. The drainage of the lines,
barracks, and guard-rooms is good; but, considering where they are situated, it is impossible
for the air to be pure. The defective ventilation of the lines has been pointed out by me to
the regimental authorities, but without any result.
Water-supply .—The water-supply for the past year has been sufficient, owing to the
heavy rains. The source is from two tanks situated in the vicinity of the lines; the water of
which is impure, and is used by the men for all purposes. Two drinking fountains are being
constructed for supply of water from the Red Hill tank. When finished, the supply will be
good and abundant.
Sanitary arrangements.— The sanitary arrangements in the barracks and lines have
been properly attended to, and great care and vigilance have been exercised by the regimen
-
tal authorities in keeping them clean. There are no local causes of disease in the lines
themselves with the exception of insufficient ventilation.
Diet.—Vegetables were abundant during the year. The men received compensation for
dearness of rice monthly.
Clothing.
Clothing.— The clothing has been sufficient and adapted to the climate.
Footsoreness.
Duty and ex
-ercises.
Foot-soreness.— The men frequently appear at the hospital suffering from foot-soreness
from defective boots, and in consequence of the feet not being protected by socks.
Duty and exercises.—The nature and amount of duty has not been severe nor prejudicial
to their health. The average number of nights in bed has been four per week.
Drill.
Exercises.
Drill .—The usual drills take place morning and evening, with occasional parades during
the week. Holidays every Saturday. They have not exercised any unfavorable influence
on health.
Exercises.—There is a gymnasium open to all ranks in the regiment, and its use has been
conducive to health.
Vaccination.
Epidemic dis
-eases.
Vaccination.— Vaccination has been duly kept up in the corps. No deaths have occurred
from small-pox. 122 men, who had unsatisfactory marks of vaccination, were re-vaccinated;
out of this number, 75 were successful, and the rest unsuccessful.
Epidemic diseases.— Dengue fever appeared in an epidemic form in the corps, and
700 were attacked. No deaths occurred. The fever was caused by some epidemic influence
which prevailed all over Madras. There was overcrowding during the epidemic, but means
were adopted for ventilation and cleanliness.