Water-supply.
Sanitary ar
-rangements.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty.
Drill.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Ventilation
and drainage.
Ventilation and Drainage .—The rows of huts run east and west, and as the prevailing
winds are also east and west the currents of air are free, the company and main drains
are masonry built. The fall of some of the drains is too little for effectual flushing without
the use of much water, so that the slightest defect in their finish increases the difficulty very
greatly.
Water-supply .—The water-supply for all purposes is obtained from about 15 miles in
or near the lines, that from only two or three is good and used for drinking purposes.
Sanitary arrangements .—The sanitary arrangement in the Barracks and Lines have been
Properly attended.
Diet.—The rice used by the sepoys has averaged 10.95 measures for a rupee, and the
compensation money has averaged 15 annas and 1 pice ; raggy, the only other grain used
in any quantity by the 38th sepoys has averaged 24.5 measures for a rupee ; vegetables have
been tolerably abundant and cheap.
Exercises.
Clothing .—The ordinary cap of the sepoy offers no protection to the back of the head
from the sun, otherwise the clothing seems suitable.
Duty .—As there are three regiments at present in the station, the sentry work is light,
there have been the usual drill exercises.
Drill.—The sepoys have been out to drill every morning except Thursday and Sunday,
but there have been many other exceptions; morning drill from 5½ A.M. to 6½ or 7 A.M.
Occasionally and at certain seasons, evening drill also 5 P.M. to 6 P.M. During the epidemic
of "Dengue" all drills were stopped at the recommendation of the Medical Officer.
Exercises .—There is a room in the lines, where the young sepoys and recruit boys
wrestle and use dumb bells, &c. Have made no suggestion on the subject.
Sanitary Con
-dition of lock
- u p r o o m s .
Vaccin ation.
Epidemic Dis-
eases.
Hospital.
Hospital
water-supply.
Lines.
Sanitary con
-
dition of all
buildings.
Sanitary condition of lock-up rooms .—They have been sufficient for the demands
made upon them as regards cubic space. The ventilation is good and they have been kept
clean. No defect noticed.
Vaccination.—Twenty cases have been vaccinated, this is much under the number, but
the list having been mislaid, correctness cannot be obtained.
Epidemic diseases .—An epidemic of "Dengue" occurred, which has been fully reported
on elsewhere.
First case occurred on the 16th August 1872.
Last case do. 7th November 1872.
Total number admitted under this head 540.
T o t a l d e a t h u n d e r t h i s h e a d 1 .
Hospital.—The hospital has six doors, six windows, eight pigeon holes, and a ridge ven
-
tilation, it will hold 14 patients, allowing. 99 superficial feet to each man.
There has been no overcrowding,
The sepoys use chatties with earth in them for latrine purposes and chatties with
water in them for urinals. The latrine is thereby kept clean.
Hospital water-supply .—Water is obtained from the adjoining compound, the well.
there, contains very good water.
The Deputy Inspector-General gives the following report of the results of
his inspection :—
Lines .—One change it is necessary to record here, the work namely recently entered on
to cause the prolongation of the regimental drain further towards the east, so as to divert
sewerage, and storm water, to a point where liquid accumulations shall no longer be per
-
mitted to be the dangerous nuisance they once were, and so productive of' injury to the
health of the inmates of these lines. On the occasion of the inspection of these lines they
were found to be scrupulously clean, the street drains free from liquid accumulations or
refuse matter. The huts were found in very fair condition, considering that it is not so
long ago that their structure was tried by a severe monsoon weather and prolonged rainfall.
Sanitary conditon of all buildings .—The observations on the defective conservancy
arrangement which obtain in this regiment are still to be repeated here. Two quadrangular
walled-in roofless spaces form the latrine in use in this regiment, one for the sepoys, the
other for their wives and female retainers. The ground surface, receives the fæeces, while the
urine, soaking into the ground and carrying with it much of the ordure, causes a stench
which is to be perceived far and wide. No doubt every effort on the part of the regiment
authorities is made to keep these places clean, but the attempt is vain, for despite of every
care, these places are little else than dangerous nuisances. It is often a question with me,
whether it would not be better to level these pest centres and permit a resort by the men
as heretofore to the fields. The regimental buildings pertaining to this regiment were all
found in very fair condition and so too are the guard rooms and cells.
Diet.
Diet.— The usual articles of diet as those used by the natives of the country, rice being
the staple article of food.