Water
-supply.
Diet.
Clothing.
Exercises.
72
Climate of the
station.
Regiment on
the march.
Barracks.
Ventilation
and drainage
for the men's
huts.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Surgeon-Major E. S. Cleveland, M.D., was in medical charge of this corps during
the year, and reports as follows :—
Climate of the station.— The climate of Bellary throughout the year 1875 has, as of late years,
proved a very healthy one, though sultry and wanting the amount of rain of the preceding year;
and, referring to the figures of sick treated and mortality of the two years of the annual returns,
no appreciable influence has been shown in the standard health of the regiment under my medical
charge at this station.
Regiment on the march.— The regiment proceeded by rail in three separate parties to Banga
-lore (head-quarters) on the 14th of November, to Madura on the 2nd December, and to Trichi
-nopoly on the 3rd of December on the occasion of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales' visit
to India.
Barracks.— The barracks, as in all native corps, are used as a place-of-arms. The regimental
lines are unfavourably situated on a flat level of kunker and granitic subsoil having a super
-stratum of granite and red earth, aiding in no degree in the gravitation of its surface drainage,
and considered thereby an unhealthy position.
Ventilation and drainage for the men's huts.— Due attention has been given to this question, and
defects remedied as far as under control and command. Side drains have been cut along the main
streets, but from the level space of ground upon which the huts are established, these are speedily
effaced. Semi-circular tiled drains might with much advantage be inexpensively adopted on such
level sites of regimental lines as these at Bellary; the liquid sewage stored in suitable earthen
receptacles at convenient distances, and duly carted away.
Nuisance.
Epidemic
diseases.
Nuisance.— None within the limits of the regimental lines. Beyond a small one for use of
the standard guard, there is only one regimental latrine constructed of mud, divided by a central
mud wall for the sexes common to all, and insufficient for the requirements of the regiment.
Neighbouring nuisances in the cowl bazaar have been duly brought to notice, and in part remedied.
Water-supply.— The water-supply of the regiment during the year from neighbouring wells
has been amply good and sufficient. Such of suspicious character have, on representation, been
cleansed.
Diet.— Provisions have been ample, though pronounced dear. There is rather a dearth of
vegetable food in this district. The troops have received rice-compensation money monthly at
moderate rates. Subadars, jemadars, havildars, naigues, privates, trumpeters, and puckallies got
Rupees 1-0-8, farriers Annas 6-6, followers Annas 6, recruit and pension boys Annas 6.
Clothing.— The clothing has been sufficiently well adapted to the climate of the station, the
season of the year, and the state of the weather. No representation has been otherwise made
about it.
Exercises.— There has been no provision in the station for gymnastic exercises or games of any
kind. The men of a cavalry regiment, where recruiting is not kept up, appear to have sufficient
exercise in their daily duties to need no other.
Epidemic diseases.— Cholera in mild epidemic form prevailed in the month of October in twelve
cases among the regimental followers, five of them proving fatal, attributable in my judgment
to sui generis mephitic poisoning, at a general choleraic season of undue surface evaporation, laden
with the gaseous elements creating such. The insanitary condition of the neighbourhood of the
regimental lines was fully the subject of report by me in the month of March preceding, and
attention in some measure given to the question, though not fully remedial in results.
Ventilation of
the hospital.
Hospital
drainage.
Ventilation of the hospital.— It has been fully notified without any results that the followers'
hospital accommodating eight men now in use is insufficient for the requirements of the regiment
under any degree of increased sickness or prevalence of an epidemic. It consists of a single ward
with two doors, six windows, and four ventilators, having an east and west verandah. Cholera was
treated in hospital tents pitched during the epidemic in October 1874 from the hospital on a
suitable site south-west of the regimental lines.
Hospital drainage.— The drainage has been shown to have been attended to as far as the level
site of the ground would admit of, and the surface sewage efficiently carried away, needing no
representation.
Epidemic
disease in
hospital.
General
conclusions.
Epidemic disease in hospital.— Cholera prevailed among the regimental followers in October
in mild epidemic form. There were twelve cases, and among them five deaths. The system of
segregation was strictly carried out in treating such in hospital tents, suitably situated one-fourth
of a mile south-west of the lines. All communication cut off, and no one being admitted to
the lines without the first inspection and permission of the medical officer.
General conclusions.— The 4th Regiment M.L.C. has been stationed at Bellary from the
1st January to the 14th November 1875, on which latter date the head-quarters of the
regiment proceeded by rail to Bangalore, followed later by the two remaining squadrons of the
regiment, respectively detailed to duty at Madura and Trichinopoly on the occasion of the visit
of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The regiment, on completion of its special duty,
remained encamped at Bangalore the remaining portion of the year waiting orders for its return.
The sanitary condition of the regiment has been good. Cholera in mild epidemic type showed
itself in October among the followers of the regiment; there were five fatal cases among twelve so
attacked and treated in tents. One trooper alone of the regiment suffered from the disease.