Drainage and
latrines.
Hospital
water-supply.
17
CENTRE, OR PRESIDENCY, DISTRICT.
Condition of the ventilation of the hospital.— The ventilation of the hospital is good
There was overcrowding during the epidemic of dengue fever, but most of the patient
were placed in other buildings also, in consequence of the hospital having one ward only
and the space limited.
Condition of
the ventila
-tion of the
hospital.
Drainage and latrines.— Good. The dry earth system has been efficiently carried
out.
Hospital water-supply.— The hospital water-supply is obtained from a fountain situated
in the compound of the hospital, the water of which is from the Red Hill tank, and is of
excellent quality and abundant in quantity.
General conclusions.— The defects in the sanitary condition of the station of Perambore
have been sufficiently detailed with various queries of this report. With the exception of the
outbreak of dengue fever in an epidemic form above alluded to, the health of the regi
-ment has been good in spite of the insalubrity of the air which is always in a viciated state.
I have been informed by the Commandant that almost all the men are of sober habits, and
spend their pay in supplying themselves with good, sufficient, and nourishing food and
proper clothing, and to this I chiefly attribute the preservation of their health. As regards
the nuisances of the station, they have been represented by me to the regimental authorities,
and by them to the Municipality and Government, but, as far as I am aware, without any
beneficial results.
General con
-clusions.
The late Deputy Inspector-General A. Blacklock inspected the corps and
made the following remarks on the sanitary condition of the lines, &c. :—
Condition of the regimental lines.—The places of arms, the barrack-guard, and the
two school-rooms are clean and well ventilated by doors and windows. The places of arms
and school-rooms have recently been whitewashed inside. Accommodation is everywhere
ample. The drainage of the lines, by brick and chunam drains, is very good. The lower
grounds on which the places of arms and school-rooms stand, are drained chiefly by very
slight slope of ground, leading partly into road-side drains, partly into tanks.
Conservancy.—Very good about the lines, but the neighbourhood cannot be well con
-served, owing to the low level of the ground. To the south of the left wing lines, there are
a number of dirty close streets, the drainage of which is very defective. Representations
on this subject have repeatedly been made to the authorities without any good result, as
the site is too low for proper outward drainage. No suggestions can be offered for the
improvement of the neighbourhood. The corps does not suffer from the insanitary state of
the neighbourhood.
Condition of
the
regi-mental lines.
Conservancy.
Hospital.—The building and neighbourhood are in very good condition in every
respect. The drainage near the hospital is by natural configuration of ground, slightly
assisted by drains. The ventilation is very good by doors and windows (see plan
appended.) The hospital buildings were minutely described in the Annual Inspection Report,
dated 12th October 1871. The accommodation (16 cots) is almost always sufficient for the
very small daily number of sick. The water-supply has hitherto been derived from wells
at some distance from Perambore, and the puckalies have not been allowed to bring tank
water or water from wells in the neighbourhood. The Municipal Commission has recently
erected an excellent tap between the rear of the hospital and the rear wall of the com
-pound. The conservancy is on the dry earth system. Coal-tar is freely used. The latrine
is very clean.
Hospital.
13th R egiment Aatibe Infantry.
This corps was stationed in Hong-Kong during the first part of the year ;
but, having been re-called, reached Palaveram on the 20th May, at which place
it remained during the remainder of 1872. Surgeon R. V. Power, M.D., was in
medical charge, and the following are extracts from his Annual Report :—
Causes of sickness and mortality. —Small-pox of a very mild type, closely resembling
chicken-pox, appeared in the regiment at Hong-Kong on 17th March 1872, and the last
case occurred on the 15th April 1872. Not a single death resulted from it. The men were
treated in a small-pox hospital at Stone-cutter's Island, to which they were removed, with
as little delay as possible, after the disease appeared. In consequence of small-pox, the
regiment was ordered into camp at Kowloon, which is on the main land of China. As soon
as possible steps were taken to vaccinate the whole regiment, while thus, including private and
public followers. After vaccination was completed the disease ceased. One case occurred
Causes of
sickness and
mortality.
5