Water-supply.
Duties.
Hospital.
Diet and
cooking.
32
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Diseases.
Hospital.
Diseases .—An epidemic of dengue occurred in the regiment, first case came to hospital
14th August 1872, number of cases 570. Up to the end of the year, men were now and
again suffering, principally those who had just returned from leave.
Hospital.—The hospital is ventilated by doors and windows, there is also ridge ventila
-
tion. It is abundant.
There has been no over-crowding. From the position of the hospital, there can never be
any stagnation of water around it.
Water-supply.
The lines.
Guard-room.
Water-supply .—Water supplied by a well in the compound. it is good and abundant.
The corps was inspected by Deputy Surgeon-General W. Johnston, M.D.,
who writes as follows:—
The lines .—During the year that has elapsed since reporting on the military establish
-
ments belonging to this station, a third regiment of native infantry has been added to its
garrison. The lines of this additional regiment have only very recently been constructed
and are situated to the east of those of the 38th Regiment Native Infantry, and with
reference to the inspection report of the latter corps, are consequently in the close vicinage
of the fields, in which wet cultivation is carried on, and into which the sewerage of both the
regimental lines terminates. Here the surface configuration of the ground is all but
level, thus offering a very serious impediment against the drainage of the lines. In
these lines seven rows of mud walled, tile roofed huts have been erected. Each range is
divided in the centre by a longitudinal mud wall, which meeting at right-angles with other
mud walls, sub-divide the range into a greater or lesser number of compartments, for only
5 of the 7 ranges are of the same length.
The streets separating those seven rows of huts are broad and have on either side, close
to the mud walls, which enclose each range, shallow earth ditches, to carry off sewerage and
storm water. But as above stated, so level is the ground surface here, that the purposes of
these drains are almost completely frustrated, liquid accumulations, emitting the usual
sewerage fætor, being seen by me at almost every time during the inspection of these lines,
and this, despite the assidious attention evidently bestowed on the conservancy of the lines,
by the regimental authorities. This is a very serious evil and unless remedied, will inevitably
initiate disease amongst the inmates of these lines.
Guard-room.—The guard-rooms and place of arms, are in juxta position with those of
the 38th Regiment Native Infantry. The cells, two in number, are not far removed from
the hospital which they front. All these buildings were found to be in very fair condition.
Two latrines of the same objectionable construction as described as attaching to those of the
38th Regiment Native Infantry have been erected to the east of the lines, one for the use of
the sepoys, the other for the women of the corps.
Diet.
Lavatories
and baths.
Diet.—The diet of the sepoys is the same as that in use with the natives of the
country. The staple article is rice. In the garden, cultivation of vegetables is carried on
with benefit.
Lavatories and baths .—The men, most of them, bathe in the narrow yards enclosing
their huts, though some resort to tanks and wells, in the neighbourhood of the lines.
Water-supply,—Two deep wells, one about 500 yards to the west of the lines, the other
about half this distance to the east, afford an abundant supply of drinking water.
Gardening affords sufficient recreation to many of the men of the regiment.
Duties .—The duties are those pertaining to a regiment in garrison. Not prejudicial
to health.
Hospital .—On the present occasion of its inspection, this hospital afforded satisfactory
proofs of a well-arranged interior economy, and management on the part of the medical
officer in charge. The out houses attached to the hospital were also clean and well kept.
Diet and cooking .—The usual food of the native soldier, supplemented by extras at the
discretion of the medical officer in special cases, requiring the same.
Principal dis
-eases.
Principal diseases .—The principal diseases during the year 1872, were dengue 570,
ague 64, dysentry 26, diarrhœa 39, bowel-complaints 55, skin-diseases, principally, itch
and boils 61.
Number of sick in hospital this day 14.
Vaccination.
Vaccination .—On inspection this day of the men out of a strength of 503, and exclu
-
sive of men bearing the marks of previous variolous disease and variolous inoculations, 50
were found without marks of vaccination and 91 with marks, most of these being of a very
unsatisfactory nature.
22nd Regiment Native Infantry.
Surgeon-Major J. S. Morton, M.D., held medical charge of the 22nd during
the first two quarters of 1872. He then had to proceed to Europe on sick certi
-
ficate, and was relieved by Surgeon-Major Dougall, M.D., who prepared the
report. The corps was stationed in Palamcottah throughout the year.