20
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Vaccination.
Diseases.
Ventilation of
the Hospital.
Hospital
wards.
Drainage and
latrines.
Hospital
water-supply.
Gneral con-
clusion.
Vaccination.—Vaccination has been regularly kept up in the regiment, and 52 children
were vaccinated successfully (including every child from six months old and upwards)
during the year, out of the number of sepoys revaccinated it was successfully done in two
instances. No cases of small-pox occurred during this period.
Diseases. —None of the diseases mentioned have prevailed in an epidemic form.
During the months of July, August, and September, numerous cases of dengue occurred
amongst the sepoys and families in the Lines, although not to the same extent, as with
other corps in Madras. Its occurrence may be reasonably attributed to the prevalence of the
disease in the immediate neighbourhood and the sanitary condition of the Lines in general,
previously alluded to. None of the cases were of sufficient interest to merit a seperate
report, owing to the attacks in every instance being very mild ones.
Ventilation of the Hospital. —The defective ventilation of the Hospital has been the
subject of correspondence, but it still continues in the same state.
Hospital wards—The Hospital wards are frequently over-crowded on account of the
insufficiency of the accommodation.
Drainage and Latrines. —The Hospital Latrine is in pretty good order, but the
drainage from it bad. The dry earth system has been efficiently carried out.
Hospital water-supply. —The supply is obtained from tanks in sufficient quantity and
of fair quality.
General conclusion. —The defective condition of the Lines occupied by the 37th
grenadiers at Vepery has been sufficiently detailed in the replies to the various queries of
this report. The corps arrived from Burmah in a sickly state, but notwithstanding the
sanitary condition of the Lines occupied by the regiment since its arrival at Madras, and the
duty during the early portion of the year not being light, the men have somewhat improved
in health, although it will take sometime for them to thoroughly regain it.
NORTHERN DISTRICT.
Average daily strength during the year
...
...
... 2,764
Do.
sick per cent. to the average strength
...
...
4.08
Ratio per cent. of mortality to the average strength
...
0.79
As already stated, Deputy Inspector-General Blacklock was in administra-
tive charge of this Circle during the year, but died without submitting any
report.
Climate.
Medical topo-
graphy and
diseases of
the district.
On tho march
or on ship
board.
Water-supply
Sanitary ar-
rangements.
Diet.
Clothing.
2nd Rgiment Natibe Infantry.
This corps served at Waltair during 1872. During the early part of the
year, Surgeon-Major Ogg was in medical charge, but was transferred to Chittoor.
He was succeeded by Surgeon-Major J. Massy Miller, but his health failing, he
was obliged to go on sick leave. Surgeon K. J . Hazlett then assumed charge,
and wrote the Annual Report : —
Climate. —The weather was very hot during the months of May and June, until the
commencement of the monsoon about the 20th of the latter month. The rainfall during the
months following was very heavy, it probably was the cause of the increased number of
admissions into hospital from fever and dysentery.
Medical topography and diseases of the district. —The principal diseases are those which
are common to other parts of India, such as malarious fevers, cholera, dysentery, small-pox,
ophthalmia, beri-beri,&c; elephantiasis is common amongst the civil population, but none
of the sepoys suffered from it, and they also enjoyed an immunity from cholera and small-pox.
.0n the march or on ship board —The left wing marched for Sumbulpore on the 17th
December, and the right wing on the 23rd of the same month, for Berhampore, where it
arrived on the 9th January 1873.
Water-supply.—The water-supply from the numerous wells was abundant, and of good
quality.
Sanitary arrangements. —The sanitary arrangements were good.
Diet. —Provisions of all kinds were dear, on account of the partial failure of the preced-
ing harvest. Vegetables were tolerably abundant. The sepoys received compensation on
account of the dearness of provisions.
Clothing.—The clothing was suitable, and varied according to the time of the year.