Epidemic
diseases.
Ventilation of
the hospital.
107
BRITISH BURMAH DIVISION.
are quite independent of climatic causes, and would occur in any station in the Madras Presidency
if the men were similarly situated as they are in Moulmein. In my remarks at the end of this
report I give some of the reasons which I think induce men to report sick much more frequently
here than they would otherwise do if stationed with their families in Madras.
If the regiment has been on ship-board .—The left wing and head-quarters of this regiment
marched at 1 A.M. on 28th January 1875 from Palaveram and arrived at Madras about 6 A.M.
They shortly afterwards embarked on board the S.S. Abyssinia and left the Madras roads
about 11 A.M. On 2nd February the steamer arrived at Port Blair, where she anchored for about
24 hours and landed 121 men for the Andaman detachment, and on 5th February arrived
at Moulmein. No sickness occurred during the voyage, except the usual sea-sickness; and as the
sea was tolerably calm during the voyage, most of the men were all right after the third day.
Ventilation and drainage for the men's barrack-rooms, huts, guard-rooms, &c .—The barracks
are situated on the western slope of a small hill, having the Salvun river to the west, but separated
from it by the northern portion of the town. The slope on which they are built is very consider
-able, viz ., about 1 in 30, and the natural drainage is consequently excellent. Each build
-ing is surrounded by a pucka-brick built drain plastered over, which communicates through other
drains with the main drains opening into the river. The barrack drains are uncovered and
always clean, especially during the rains, owing to the great rainfall and considerable slope in
their construction. The barracks consist of eight blocks, running east and west, parallel to each
other, and supported on a number of wooden piles, each about 5 feet high. This form of
construction is of great advantage here, where the rainfall is so heavy, in maintaining the build
-ings constantly dry; in increasing the ventilation; and especially in diminishing one of the most
fruitful causes supposed to generate malarial diseases. Each block is built of wood with shingled
roof, and consists of one long room having at each end two small rooms, usually occupied by
native officers. On the side of each block there are eight doors and sixteen windows, and one
door and two windows at each extremity. The cubic space of each block is 60,016 feet and the
superficial area 4,800 feet. The floors of the barracks are washed every Saturday and swept daily.
They were limewashed twice during the year. The barracks are made to accommodate two
regiments, but at present there is only half a regiment occupying them; so that the space allowed
to each man was much more than that considered by regulation to be sufficient.
Nuisance .—All the filth from the latrines was put into a piece of ground situated between
the magazine, barracks and hospital, and only a few yards from each. This piece of ground was
very small, surrounded by buildings, and consequently incapable of being extended. It had been
the receptacle of all the filth from the latrines and barracks for a number of years, and the earth
was therefore so thoroughly saturated that it could not possibly absorb or neutralize any more filth;
and was gradually being converted into a large shallow pit which at all times gave rise to an
abominable odour. On my recommendation the officer commanding had trenches dug at the
extreme end of the cantonment, where there is plenty of space, and an absence of buildings; and
here now all filth is buried and covered over.
Water-supply .—The water-supply is derived from a number of covered wells in cantonment,
each well on an average being about 40 feet deep, and the quantity of water in each well varies
according to the time of the year and the elevation of the well above the level of the river.
Excepting for about six weeks or two months during the year, the quality is good and the
quantity sufficient. It is for some time before the rains that the supply becomes extremely scarce
and very muddy, and for days even unfit for bathing purposes. I consider that during this latter
period all water used by the men, for drinking purposes at least, should be filtered.
Diet .—The rations supplied by the Commissariat require constant looking after, as they are
very frequently adulterated, and sometimes so much so, and so inferior in quality, as to be decid
-edly unfit for use. The milk supplied to hospital was often found to be mixed with an equal
quantity of water, and the ghee supplied to time men out of hospital on some occasions really filthy.
This state of things will always continue as long as the contractor is not deterred from supplying
bad rations; and to deter him, when food is pronounced by a committee as really inferior or unfit
for use, it should have the power to inflict a suitable fine on the spot, or destroy the food declared
inferior or unfit for use. At present when rations are condemned the contractor is only obliged
to exchange them, which simply amounts to no punishment whatever; and he therefore on every
possible occasion supplies inferior rations in the hope that they may not be objected to.
If the regi
-ment has been
on ship-board.
Ventilation
and drainage
for the men's
barrack
-rooms, huts,
guard-rooms,
&c.
Nuisance.
Water
-supply.
Diet.
Exercises .—Most of the men, but especially the recruits, go in for gymnastic exercises. There
are few native regiments, if any, better supplied with gymnastic appliances than this one, and
certainly the men appear to take advantage of them. Every day, during daylight and often
during moonlight, when not on duty, a number of men are always seen at the gymnastics. The
evening is the time when they meet in greatest numbers, and then they appear to enjoy themselves
very much. These exercises are of great benefit to the men not only in a health point of view,
but also in keeping them from the bazaar and its consequences, viz ., disease, gambling, drinking,
fighting and other vices.
Epidemic diseases .—No epidemic occurred in cantonment during the year. Cholera in a
sporadic form occurred in the town of Moulmein, and also in the Central Jail; but in the latter
place it was epidemic during a portion of the year.
Ventilation of the hospital.—The hospital here is excellent, roomy, raised well above the
ground and well ventilated.
Exercises.