Sanitary
arrangements.
Diet.
Conservancy.
Hospital.
98
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Principal
diseases.
Water-
supply.
Principal disea ses .—There are 7 in hospital : ague 3, febricula remittens 2, hordeolum 1, blister
of feet 1. There were 426 admissions into hospital with 2 deaths from date of last inspection,
" 25th October 1874, " to the 5th November 1875; of which no less than 245 were from ague,
9 from febricula, 5 remittent fever, acute and chronic rheumatisms 16, conjunctivitis 22, syphilis
secondary 16, diarrhœa, 6, dysentery 4, ulcer 9, and general debility 28. The remaining diseases
do not number more than 4 or 5 "of each disease." The deaths were 1 from secondary syphilis
and 1 under the head of observation.
Surgeon H. Allison was in medical charge of the right wing at Kamptee
during the year, and reports as under :—
Water-supply .—The water-supply is obtained from wells situated in the lines; a special well
at a short distance from the lines is set apart for drinking water, and is of very good quality and
abundant; the other wells yield very fair water, and the quantity is abundant.
Sanitary arrangements .—The sanitary arrangements have been properly attended to, and there
has been no local cause of disease requiring removal.
Diet .—Provisions have been plentiful during the past year and less in price than during the
previous year. Vegetables have been abundant. Compensation has been given monthly to sepoys.
Duty and
exercises.
Epidemic
diseases.
General
conclusions.
Lines.
Sanitary
condition.
Duty and exercises .—Number of nights in bed weekly 5.
Epidemic diseases.—No epidemic disease has appeared among sepoys under my charge or
followers. Cholera prevailed to a slight extent amongst the civil population in the bazaar during
August and September; during this period all strangers were prevented from entering the regi
-mental lines, and, as far as possible, from having any communication with the sepoys and with
favourable result.
General conclusions .—During the past year the health of the Right Wing of the 22nd Regiment
has been good. No epidemic disease occurred in the wing. The total number admitted amounted
to 136; 3 deaths occurred in hospital, viz., 1 from valvular disease of heart, 1 from beri-beri,
and 1 from diarrhœa. One death occurred at Rajahmundry, the man having been sent on sick
leave twelve months previously. As usual ague furnished the greatest number of admissions
during the year. The climate has been favourable for native troops. The amount of duty
has not been excessive. The wing remained in cantonment during the whole year.
Deputy Surgeon-General W. Williamson inspected this corps on the 7th
October 1875, and reports as follows:—
Lines .—The regimental lines are built on undulating ground immediately to the north of the
ridge on which the hospital stands. The huts are in fair order, and many of them are white
-washed, which gives them a neat, clean, and comfortable appearance; the walls of a few were washed
down by the late heavy rains, and are in course of repair. Some are uninhabited, and have been
allowed to get into disrepair. The streets are very clean and well kept, and the surface channels
at their sides are in most cases in good order, but in others are silted out. The drainage from the
natural configuration of the ground is good. The large ghurrahs or chatties sunk in the ground
opposite each hut for the reception of waste Water were found not to answer, on account of the
difficulty there was in keeping them clean, so were removed some time ago.
Sanitary condition .—There are two public latrines near the lines, but still not sufficiently near
for the men to resort to at all times, so they almost all use the privies in the enclosures of their
own huts, "all the families do so," the excreta from which are removed daily to pits at a distance,
"wood-ashes being used previous to removal." There are no cess-pools or foul drains; dust-bins
for the sweepings of the lines are to be seen here and there throughout the lines; these sweepings
are removed daily. The sanitary condition of all the subsidiary buildings in connexion with the
lines is good.
Principal
diseases.
Conservancy .—In no military station is the conservancy better attended to than in Kamptee.
That of the lines and its neighbourhood is very satisfactory. No suggestions for its improvement.
Hospital.—The hospital is a tiled building in very good repair, clean and well kept up, and
affords ample accommodation for the sick of the wing. The latrine is a pucka built one in good
order, and always clean and free from all smell; in fact it is one of the best-kept ones in Kamptee.
Dry-earth conservancy fully carried out.
Principal diseases .—Six sick in hospital on date of inspection : 1 chronic rheumatism, 1 chronic
pneumonia, 2 conjunctivitis, 1 splenitis, and 1 hernia. There have been since the 22nd Septem
-ber 1874. "date of last inspection," to 6th October 1875 139 admissions into hospital against
153 of the previous year. The most prevalent diseases have been ague 65, febricula 6, rheumatism
9, conjunctivitis 10, and debility 6; all other diseases are in small numbers. There have been 4
deaths : 1 beri-beri, 1 phthisis pulmonalis, 1 valvular disease of heart, and 1 diarrhœa.
Percentage of sick admitted to strength . . .
49.66
Do. of deaths to sick . . .
2.87