Water-supply.
Conservancy
of the neigh
-bourhood.
Climate.
Natural fea
-tures.
March.
Position of
barracks.
Duty.
Drill.
72
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
too small for the guard, and has no accommodation for the Native Officer. The room is
20x17 feet, which gives a superficies of 340 feet. The guard, exclusive of sentries, to be
accommodated at night consists of 12, so that each man has only 28 superficial feet, which is far
too little. Prisoners in jails have a minimum of 36 feet, and native troops should certainly
not have less. Neither is there a prison-room attached to the guard-room, Consequently
p r i s o n e r s h a v e t o b e a l s o a c c o m m o d a t e d i n t h e g u a r d - r o o m t o t h e f u r t h e r r e d u c t i o n o f s p a c e .
Water-supply .—Water is derived from several wells, but principally from two large
wells on the margin of the Ulsoor tank. These wells are marked 6, 7, 8, and 9 in the Analyst's
list, and the quality of the supply is represented by the figures 2, 3, and 4 representing from
" v e r y g o o d " t o " f a i r . " T h e E u r o p e a n s u s e t h e o r d i n a r y b a r r a c k f i l t e r .
Conservancy of the neighbourhood .—The conservancy of the immediate neighbourhood
of the lines, the locality known as St. John's Hill, is good. The drainage from natural fall
of the ground is excellent. The general sanitary condition of the cantonment I have
referred to in my report upon the Garrison Hospital. It may safely be said that few, if any,
native towns in Southern India are better drained, or have a better or more efficient system
of conservancy. The principal question is the disposal of house refuse, and the abolition
of cess-pit privies and manure-pits, a difficult and delicate one to be dealt with, only with
caution and circumspection ; still it is being dealt with as far as possible, and in course of
time the practice of keeping these accumulations within the great centres of population will
be put a stop to.
CEDED DISTRICTS.
Average daily strength present during the year . . .
1,534
Do. sick per cent. to average strength . . .
1.89
Ratio of mortality per cent. to do . . .
0.71
This district forms part of the Mysore Circle of supervision, and Deputy
Surgeon-General Ranking has recorded his remarks regarding the health of the
troops, &c., in the general report on the circle.
4th Regiment Light Cabalry.
This corps formed part of the garrison of Secunderabad during the greater
part of the year, having only reached Bellary on the 4th December 1872.
Surgeon-Major J. FitzGerald held medical charge, and wrote the annual report :—
Climate .—The climate for the period under consideration has been cool and pleasant in
the morning and evening, with a hot and sometimes clouded sun during the day. Does not
appear to influence disease.
Natural features .—General features of the district is flat, with a range of low hills in
the vicinity of the station, ranging in a north-west and south-easterly direction. The soil
is chiefly black, disintegrated basalt with red earth, varying in depth, and overlying a mass
of granite (gniess). The water is generally rainfall collected in tanks and wells scattered over
the district. Vegetation scanty : cotton, raggy, maize, coriander, croton oil, gingely oil, castor
oil, and ginger, and in some places wheat.
March.—Marched from Secunderabad on the morning of the 13th November 1872, and
arrived at Bellary on the 4th December 1872. Regiment healthy and in good condition.
Position of barracks .—The huts occupied by the regiment are in blocks of half a troop
each, built in parallel rows running north and south, and each block is separated from its
fellow by a narrow street. These huts are one-storied, built of black mud, with generally a
low thatched roof, and each hut is separated from the one next it and the street by the
usual yard or mud enclosure, a portion of which is partitioned off in the usual way for
washing and other purposes. The position seems to me low, but I am unable to state as to
t h e i r b e i n g h e a l t h y o r o t h e r w i s e .
Water-supply
Water-supply.—From wells and tanks. Quality stated to be generally good, and amount
at present sufficient.
Duty .—The duties have been the usual guards, drills, and parades. Do not appear to
exercise an unfavorable influence on health. Average number of nights per week the men
have had in bed 6¼.
Drill .—Mounted parades, generally twice a week, between the hours of 5-30 and 7-15
A.M., with stable duties in the morning and always in the evening. Does not appear to
exercise any unfavorable influence on health. No recommendation made.
Vaccination.
Vaccination .—Vaccination kept up as far as practicable. No cases or deaths from small
-pox within the period under report, and had no occasion to re-vaccinate.