Water-
supply.
Conservancy.
Climate of the
station.
Natural
features of the
district.
If regiment
has been on
ship-board.
Nuisance.
Water
- s u p p l y .
State whether
on the whole
sanitary ar
-rangements
have been
properly
attended to.
109
BRITISH BURMAH DIVISION.
pain in the feet, the burning being so severe that they could not sleep clay or night; they
complained that their toes were stiff, hard, and like sticks, and the pain greatly increased by walking.
In all cases their pulse, temperature, and urine were normal, appetite good, bowels regular, and
they daily grew stout while in hospital. On carefully examining the feet nothing could be
discovered to account for the above symptoms. Medicine of all kinds, both internal and external,
proved useless, so I resorted to repeated blisterings with the best results, and in a short time they
were all cured. I am not aware that there is at the present time a single case in the regiment.
There were other men who purposely produced swelling of the legs, others sore-eyes, some dysentery,
and a number reduced themselves to a low debilitated state from pure starvation.
Deputy Surgeon-General P.G. FitzGerald, M.D., inspected this wing of the
regiment on the 3rd January 1876, and reports as follows:—
Barracks .—The barracks occupied by the head-quarter wing of the 15th Regiment N.I. are
clean and well conserved. They are ventilated by doors and windows, and by ridge and eave
ventilators. The drainage is good both from the natural slope of the ground, and also from the
excellent brick-and-chunam drains which surround each block and lead to a general drain that carried the water into the river.
Barracks.
Sanitary condition .—The principle of the latrines is good. The seats are formed of two boards
on each side to stand on with space between for an iron bucket to receive the excreta, but there
should be a separate vessel to receive the urine which is apt to be voided on the ground: there are
wooden partitions between the seats. Each latrine is 34 feet long and 13 wide; height 9 feet.
The excreta are carried out and buried in a remote part of the cantonment. The dry-earth system
is effectually carried out.
Water-supply .—The water is obtained from seven wells, and is of good quality.
Conservancy.—The conservancy of the barracks and its neighbourhood is in the hands of the
Commissariat, and is well attended to.
Santary
condition.
Surgeon J. C. Lawrenson was in medical charge of the detachment of this
regiment at Port Blair during the year, and reports as follows:—
Climate of the station .—Nothing so unusual as to call for remark occurred during the year.
The rainfall amounted 108.49 inches. Fever was most prevalent during the south-west monsoon.
Natural features of the district .—Country hilly, ranges mostly running towards the north-east,
varying in height from about 100 to 1,200 feet, and intersected by ravines and nullahs. The
uncleared land is covered by dense luxuriant jungle. The soil consists of hard greenish rock, grey
sandstone, and decomposed serpentine. Streams of clear water, agreeable in taste and of appar
-ently good quality, are found throughout the mainland during the rainy season. The chief produc
-tions are rice, cocoanuts, plantains, pumpkins, brinjal, and fish. They are all limited and
unreliable in quantity.
Medical topography .—The temperature is very equable, the highest and lowest temperatures
during the six years, 1868-73 being 96 and 67. The average rainfall for the five years 1870-74
was 102.05 inches. The nights are usually cool.
The chief diseases are fever, rheumatism, inflammatory chest affections, anæmia, the result
of repeated attacks of fever and ulcers.
If regiment has been on ship-board .—The detachment left Palaveram on the 8th January 1875
and arrived at Port Blair by steamer on the 16th of the same month.
Nuisance .—The drain of the barrack latrines on Ross smells foully, although well flushed daily.
The matter has been reported, and buckets for collecting and removing the urine will be supplied.
Water-supply .—Water supplied from wells and tanks. Quality good and quantity ample, save
in the dry season, when it is limited. Matter reported.
State whether on the whole sanitary arrangements have been properly attended to .—Yes, save at
Aberdeen, where they are crowded very much together. The want of drainage in this station
is also a local cause of disease requiring removal.
Medical topo
-graphy.
Diet .—Provisions neither cheap nor plentiful. Vegetables limited both as to variety and quantity.
Troops rationed by the Commissariat Department. Each sepoy is entitled to 4 Њ s. of mutton per
month, but during the past year has only had on an average about 2 Њ s. owing to the stock of
sheep on the station being insufficient. No mutton has been issued since the 7th of December,
the supply having run short. I consider that the men should get the amount to which they are
entitled in order to keep their health preserved. This matter has been reported.
Diet.
Ventilation of the hospital .—Ventilation ample, both natural and artificial.
Ventilation of
the hospital.
General con-
clusions.
General conclusions .—The only disease in this station worthy of notice is ague, which contributed
282 admissions out of a total of 854 for the year. This disease is contracted chiefly at the
28