Hospital.
Principal
diseases.
106
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Sanitary
condition.
Conservancy.
Sanitary condition.— There are two good latrines on the dry-earth system, besides smaller
ones for the native officers. The seats which are separated by low partitions are of tarred wood,
and consist of two supports for the feet joined together in front by a cross piece. This cross piece,
which serves no useful purpose, would be better away, as it must be constantly fouled by urine. I
recommended its removal, and that a chatty or iron bucket well tarred inside be placed in front of
each seat to receive the urine ; these to be emptied into a tub fitted with a cover, which could be
removed daily in the scavenger 's cart. Dry earth and coal tar are freely used. There are no foul
drains or cess-pools.
Conservancy.—Between the cook-room of the right wing barracks and the Staff Serjeants'
quarters and close to the latter there is a collection of pens or fowl-houses, which the sepoys have
been allowed to put up, and which, being crowded together without order or arrangement, are
difficult to keep clean. If the men were required to erect them in regular lines with suitable
intervals, it would facilitate both the cleaning and inspection o f them, and would obviate the chief
objection to which they are open in their present unsightly and uncleanly condition. The
general conservancy of the station appears to be well attended to. The excreta from private
bungalows are removed daily by Commissariat carts, and the rubbish also on payment; the
hedges are kept clipt. The natural drainage is favoured by the configuration of the ground.
Hospital.—The
hospital
is situated on high ground north-west of the barracks in an open
and spacious compound surrounded by a wooden railing. It consists of three blocks raised on piles
8 feet 10 inches from the ground, and forming a range from east to west.
Principal diseases.— The principal diseases have been fevers, diseases of the respiratory
organs, bowel-complaints, and general dropsy ; the last-named is most prevalent during the rains.
General dropsy with anæmia is common among sepoys in Burmah, and is generally, when not
due to malaria, the result of poor diet and not enough even of that, as they are said to sell their
rice and to grudge the expense of animal food and condiments.
1 5 t h R e g i m e n t A a t i b e I n f a n t r y .
HEAD-QUARTERS AND WING— STATION—MOULMEIN.
Arrived on the 5th February 1875 from Palaveram.
WING—STATION—PORT BLAIR, ANDAMANS .
..
. . . . • .
Average strength ..
..
• •
. .
. .
1,029
Do.
do. present ....
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
620
. .
. .
. .
..
Admissions ..
..
. .
..
..
1,307
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
Daily sick ....
..
.
.
.
.
36
..
..
. .
Deaths in hospital ..
. .
• .
. •
. .
. .
5
..
..
..
Do. out of do. ....
..
. .
7
. .
. .
. .
Pensioned ...
.
. .
. .
. .
- .
15
..
Sick leave ..
• .
..
..
..
. .
..
. .
8
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding as
contrasted with previous years:—
Years .
Stations .
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. D aily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1872..
.. Nowgong
93.53
2.72
.85
.28
2.00
1873 . . ..
Do.
..
..
100.66
2.65
..
1.12
1874 . .
.. Palaveram
..
..
86.41
2.10
1.31
12.03
. .
Average ..
93.53
2.49
.72
4.10
1.04
1875
• .
Hd. - Qrs., Moulmein.
Win A n
.
Wing, Andamans.
210.80
5.80
1.16
1.45
.77
Surgeon J. P. McDermott was in medical charge during the year, and reports as
follows:—
Climate of the
station.
Climate of the station.— The climate of Moulmein I consider decidedly healthy when
compared with most stations in India ; and although the admissions into hospital may not corro-
borate my statement, it is nevertheless true, because I believe a large number of the admissions