Sanitary
arrangement.
Diet.
Huts.
Nuisance.
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises.
CEDED DISTRICTS.
79
Huts .—Some of the huts are tiled, some thatched, and others are flat-roofed. The
walls are built of mud ; and, as there are but few holes in these for the passage of air,
the ventilation is very bad ; and, as the huts are small and the roofs low, the cubical con-
tents are limited. The main streets are 16 yards, and the subsidiary ones are 5 yards in
width.
Nuisance.—None, except from the small latrine which was brought to notice in the last
annual sanitary report. This latrine, which is still a great nuisance, and might at any time
become dangerous as a medium of contagion, as it is resorted by the men on the barrack
guards of both regiments, and it is imperfectly cleaned, no steps have as yet been taken to
have it removed, although it has been complained of on several occasions.
Water-supply. —Water is obtained from a tank and a well, which are situated near the
lines. The water in the tank was abundant in quantity and of good quality during the year,
as it was replenished twice by the surplus water from the Alipoor tank. That in the well
had become contaminated by percolation into it through deep beds of decomposing prickly-
pear, which is buried near and around it. The sepoys were advised to boil and strain the
water before drinking it.
Sanitary arrangement .—The sanitary arrangements for all removeable filth are not
carefully carried out, but the latrines in the yards will always continue to remain
dangerous.
Diet .—Provisions are dear; compensation, as rice money, is given to the men. Vegetables
are scarce and dear, and there are no sepoys' gardens, as the water-supply is barely enough
for drinking purposes.
Water-supply.
Duty .—The ordinary garrison and regimental duties which do not seem to have had
any bad effect on the health of the regiment. Average number of nights in bed 3.22.
Drill .—One hour's drill a day between 5 and 7 A.M., regulated according to the season.
No injurious effects from drill.
Exercises. —Gymnastic exercises for recruits twice a week, and cricket for those who like
it. A little benefit appears to have been derived from these exercises, but I am of opinion, as
stated in my last report, that the quantity and quality of the daily food they take is not
adequate to the exercise taken. There are no sepoys' gardens, as the water-supply is scarce.
Vaccination .—Of the 395 cases vaccinated during the year, 214 were successful ; many
of the unsuccessful cases were amongst those who were re-vaccinated. Two cases of small--
pox were admitted from amongst the men of the regiment, and of these one died of
diarrhœa ; the man was not vaccinated. With the permission of the Officer Commanding the
whole regiment was examined, and every man who was found to have had faint marks of
previous vaccination was re-vaccinated. Of the 395 cases vaccinated during the year, 150
were campfollowers and families of the men of the regiment.
Epidemic diseases.—None of these diseases prevailed epidemically except dengue, of
which 94 cases were treated during the year. The disease was evidently introduced into
the lines during the Depavali festival, as up to that time a strict system of quarantine
was kept up in the regiment, and no cases occurred, although the disease was then pre-
-vailing in the town and pettah.
Two cases of small-pox were treated, admitted into hospital from amongst the men.
One of these proved fatal. The attack was severe, but the eruption was greatly suppressed,
and difficulty of breathing and oppression of the chest ensued : he died suddenly. The
patient said he was not vaccinated, and he had no marks.
General conclusions.— With the exception of the prevalence of dengue and the few
cases of small-pox treated during the year, the health of the regiment was very satisfactory.
I am of opinion that had we been able to maintain the system of quarantine we had
established in the regiment before the Depavali festival came on, dengue might have been
effectually prevented entering the lines.
The following are extracts from the inspection report of Deputy Surgeon-
General Ranking on the corps :—
Vaccination.
Epidemic
diseases.
General con-
clusions.
Regimental Lines. —The lines of this regiment have undergone no changes since last
inspection. They are kept in very good order, though the nature of the soil of which the huts
are constructed makes it difficult to keep them in good repair. The drainage from natural
configuration of the ground is good. I inspected the lines just after very heavy rain, and
no water had lodged. Indeed I was surprised to find that storm waters flow off so readily.
The conservancy of the lines is well attended. The sepoys employ private sweepers to
remove the night-soil from their privies, and the courtyards I inspected I found clean in
other respects, The drainage of many of them (courtyards) is, however, defective from their
being in parts below the level of the outlet drain. This is the great defect of sepoys' huts
generally, but it is remedied as far as possible. Recently the system of removing the drainage
and sewage of huts into chatties, which the sweepers remove and empty daily, has been tried,
but it is found possible to continue it ; altogether the sanitary condition of the lines when
Regimental
lines.