Any nuisance.
Diet.
120 MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
1st Begiment Light Cavalry
The 1st Cavalry was stationed at Kamptee during 1872, but under orders
to move down to Secunderabad. Surgeon-Major J. T. Williams held medical
charge, and the following are extracts from his report :—
Climate .–The station of Kamptee has long enjoyed a most unenviable reputation for
being unhealthy ; but of late years it appears to have improved in this respect, owing,
doubtless, to sanitary arrangements being well and thoroughly carried out, September,
October, and November have been the unhealthy months during the year 1872, but on the
whole, taking the year round, health and disease have not materially been injuriously
influenced by climate, though long resident Europeans in India find the climate of Kamptee
very trying. The town and cantonment of Kamptee are situated on the right bank of the
Kanban, about the junction of Kanban with the rivers Pench and Kolar. The military lines
and bazaars are laid out on the principle of a camp, the cavalry being, however, on the
extreme left instead of the right. The soil is black cotton soil—common in the Central
Provinces. Vegetation is luxuriant. English seeds thrive well when properly looked after.
Wheat and cholum are largely cultivated, and a great trade is carried on in grain and oil
seeds, &c. The neighbouring district is flat, well cultivated, and wooded. During the
rainy season a considerable quantity of water lodges, though the lines are well drained
naturally. Ague prevails more or less all the year round, but is not generally difficult of
cure. During the hot season bowel-complaints are apt to occur. Cholera has not occurred
during the past year, nor indeed any epidemic.
A n y n u i s a n c e . @ L a t r i n e s a n d u r i n a l s o n K a m p t e e s t a n d a r d p l a n : t h e s s s h o u l d b e
r o o f e d , a n d p r o v i s i o n s h o u l d b e m a d e f o r f r e q u e n t r e n e w a l o f t h e e a r t h e n f l o o r .
Diet.—Provisions cheap and sufficient in quantity ; vegetables not abundant in hot
weather. Compensation for dearness of provisions paid to the troops every month.
Clothing.
Clothing .—The clothing of the cavalry has been sufficient and adapted to the climate.
Duty and ex.
ercises.
Drill.
Vaccination.
General con-
elusions.
Duty and exercises .— The usual duties of a cavalry regiment, which have had no
injurious effect on health ; six nights in bed.
Drill .—Drill takes place in the morning early for an hour or an hour and a half, and
stables are also attended morning and evening. They have had no injurious effects upon
health.
Vaccination .—Vaccination has been well kept up among children of the regiment.
Among men 26 were vaccinated, 25 successful, and 1 unsuccessful. Small-pox none during
the year 1872.
General conclusions .—I am of opinion that the cavalry sepoys have enjoyed very good
health during the past year.
Deputy Surgeon-General Tribe's Inspection Report on the corps contains
the following remarks :—
Regimental
lines.
Sanitary con
-
dition of all
buildings.
Conservancy
of the neigh.
bourhood.
Regimental Lines .—The cavalry lines at Kamptee are in every respect in a good
sanitary state, and present a striking contrast to those of the other native regiments. They
are clean, well ventilated, and. though roughly, well drained.
Sanitary condition of all buildings .—All the subsidiary buildings are in a good sanitary
state ; there are no cess-pools or foul drains, as all excreta are carried away. The dry system
of conservancy is partially carried out, but during the heavy monsoon at Kamptee the
system is inadmissible without a covered place to store dry earth.
Conservancy of the neighbourhood .—On the whole admirable. I am trying to get the
latrines. placed on a better footing; but it is a matter of time and up-hill work. All excreta,
however, are removed twice daily.
B e g i m e n t M a d r a s A a t i b e I n f a n t r g .
The 20th was stationed in Seetabuldee, and the following are extracts from
the report of the Medical Officer, Surgeon A. McClorg, M.D. :—
Though the drainage of the lines must necessarily be imperfect from their position, yet
they have been kept in a fair condition throughout the year, and no sanitary defect that
could be improved was allowed to remain. At the close of the rains, a small nullah was
cut between Nos. 2 and 3 Companies at the west side of the lines, and it had the
apparent effect of rendering the huts in No. 2 Company drier ; but I am inclined to
believe this was due more to the earlier cessation this year of the rains, than to the
drainage of the nullah. At present the lines are in a good state of repair, and dry on the
surface, but I am certain that huts built on the same site and soil will always be damp for
at least six months every year, varying of course with the period and quantity of rainfall.