27
NORTHERN DISTRICT.
The following officers were in medical charge of this corps during the year
:—
S u r g e o n I . J . H . W i l k i n s .
Do. R. Warder.
Do. A. E. Dalgairns.
The last-named reports as follows : —
Climate of the station .—The climate of this station is very agreeable throughout the year;
from April to October the weather is close, but nothing very excessive. The highest temperature
was in the month of July, when it was 94°. Owing to the failure of the monsoons the rainfall
has been very much below the average, which is 45.1 inches ; the total fall during the year under
review was 29 inches.
Diseases of the district.—Besides the usual typical diseases, you have beri-beri, leprosy, and
elephantiasis, which are endemic. The type of fever which is generally prevalent during
the monsoons and commencement of the cold season is of an intermittent kind, which yields
readily to treatment.
Nuisance.—There has been no nuisance during the year from latrines, urinals, ashpits, &c.;
but owing to there being no public latrine near the lines, a spot of ground to the east of the lines
is converted by the people in the neighbouring villages into a latrine. This is very objectionable,
as the prevailing breeze to the lines comes over this spot. This circumstance has been pointed
out to the municipality, but no notice has been taken of it up to the present.
Water-supply.—Water for ablution purposes is obtained from the wells in the lines, but for
the drinking-water the men have to go some distance to a place called the Seven Wells ; the water
is good and abundant.
Diet.—The men receive rice money monthly. Provisions have been cheap and plentiful.
During the cold season there is a good deal of vegetable, but during the hot season it is less
abundant.
Epidemic diseases.—There have been no epidemics during the year. The principal diseases
have been fever and chronic rheumatism. The lines are in a bad situation and badly built ; no
doubt there is overcrowding to some extent in many of them.
Ventilation of the hospital.—The building consists of two wards running north and south ; the
north ward has sufficient accommodation for 14 patients and the south ward for 16 patients.
These wards are ventilated by doors and windows, the former having three doors and three
windows on each side and the latter four doors and three windows, besides a roof ventilation
which extends the whole length of each ward.
Climate of the
station.
Diseases of
the district.
Nuisance:.
Water-
supply.
Diet
Epidemic
diseases.
Ventilation of
the hospital.
Overcrowding of wards.—For the greater part of the year there has been no overcrowding,
but during the monsoons and early part of cold season, when the fever cases are prevalent, there
has been some overcrowding for a few days, but this has always been prevented if possible.
Hospital water-supply .—Water is brought by a puckally from the public drinking wells ; the
quality of water is good and is sufficient.
General conclusions .—The total number of eases treated in hospital were 449, being 114 less
than the previous year. The largest number of admissions were for the following diseases :—
Febricula 69, ague 43, chronic rheumatism 28, bronchitis 19, ulcers and boils 45, itch 40.
There were two deaths during the year, one from valvular disease of the heart and the other
from general dropsy.
There is still a large number of men in the regiment who are weakly looking and anæmic,
whose constitutions have been. so much broken down by the Straits climate that they have not yet
quite recovered from its effects.
12th Regiment Aatibe Infantry
.
STATION—VIZIANAGRAM.
Arrived from Tonghoo 28th January 1872.
Average strength
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712
Do.
do.
present
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674
Admissions
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281
Daily sick
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17
Deaths in hospital ..
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7
D o. out of do,
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7
Pensioned
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12
Sick leave
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15
Overcrowding of wards.
Hospital supply.
General
conclusions.