Water
-supply.
Dress.
10
Huts and
lines.
32. Huts and lines.— Of late years the efforts to improve the sanitary condi
-tion of the huts and lines of native troops have been unremitting, and to the
results of these may, in a great measure, be attributed the comparatively favourable
state of health enjoyed by the native army during an unhealthy year. Scavenging,
drainage, water-supply, ventilation of huts and lines, have all received careful
attention; and although much remains to be done, nearly all has been effected that
could possibly be carried out with the available means, and under existing circum
-stances. In some cases the sites of the lines are naturally bad, and so long as
financial exigencies prevent the construction of proper drains, it is quite impossible
to entirely prevent the pollution of the ground by sewage. Again as to the huts:
it is quite easy to describe what a sepoy's hut ought to be, but the native soldier
cannot afford to erect a more perfect and, therefore, more expensive dwelling, than
the one which he now inhabits. It would be a matter of economy were the State
to provide quarters for the native as it does for the European army, but till that
be done we can only try to reduce the unhealthy features of native lines and their
surroundings to a minimum. The lines now occupied by the 37th Grenadiers in
Vepery, Madras, have, on account of the nature of their site and its surroundings,
been long regarded as insalubrious, but since the end of the year under report
money has been sanctioned to form new lines in a better locality. During the
year new lines were under construction for the accommodation of the regiment at
Mercara, so that the old ones, which were so unfavourably noticed in the last
annual report, will shortly be abandoned.
Vaccination.
Hospitals.
33. Water-supply .—Great attention was paid to conservancy of wells, and the
water-supply was generally favourably reported on.
34. Dress.— The dress of the sepoy was generally reported on as suitable and
sufficient, but some officers are of opinion that the head-dress worn in certain
corps does not afford sufficient protection for the head and neck. The boots, too,
of the sepoy have not been favourably reported on, as they are apt to cause
foot-sores. This is due, in a great measure, to their being often badly fitted and
worn without socks. The men of Madras Corps are accustomed to walk bare
-footed or to wear sandals when young, but the native soldiers from the provinces
of Northern India are used to shoes from their infancy, and in my opinion for
actual field service the sepoy of the Madras Army should either have his boots or
shoes made in a suitable manner and have socks, or revert to sandals.
35. Vaccination was carefully attended to both amongst the troops and
followers.
36. Hospitals.— As a rule, the hospital accommodation was sufficient, and the
condition of the buildings satisfactory. The latrines were worked on the dry-earth
system, with the addition of coal-tar, and on a representation by me a consider
- a b l e n u m b e r o f l a t r i n e s w e r e e n l a r g e d . T h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d E x e c u t i v e M e d i c a l
Officers have conducted their duties to my satisfaction.
The usual extracts from the reports of Administrative and Executive Medical
Officers and tabular statements are appended.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
E. G. BALFOUR, Surgeon-General,
Surgeon-General, I.M.D.