Climate of the
station.
Ventilation
and drainage
for the men's
huts.
Nuisance.
Water-
supply.
Sanitary
arrangements.
Diet.
Duty and
exercises.
Epidemic
diseases.
Ventilation on
the hospital.
Hospital
drainage and
latrines.
Hospital
water-supply
General
conclusions.
86 MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
The following medical officers have been in charge during the year:—
Surgeon J. North.
Do. A. N. Rogers-Harrison.
The latter of whom reports as follows:—
Climate of the station. —The rainfall during the year has been unusually small, scarcely
any rain having fallen since the beginning of September; consequently the weather during the
latter months of the year has been milder and very dry. Sickness in the regiment has been
50 per cent. less than during the preceding year, due to the comparatively few cases of ague;
in 1874 there were 768 cases of ague, in 1875 only 221; this favourable decrease in the number
of intermittent fever cases may, perhaps, be adduced to the smaller rainfall during the months
o f J u l y . Au g u s t , a n d Se p t e mb e r , t h e mo n t h s i n b o t h y e a r s i n wh i c h a g u e i s mo s t p r e v a l e n t .
Ventilation and drainage for the men's huts .—Dry-earth conservancy has been enforced, and
only ablution water has been allowed to pass into the drains, consequently the air has been
preserved pure from sewerage emanations. With the exception of a very small brick drain
running parallel to the front of each row of huts there are no surface drains within the lines;
and though from the situation of the lines the natural surface drainage is fair, still there is a great
want of artificial drainage in order to prevent, as far as possible, lodgment of water and dampness
of the lines during the rains. With the exception of a small drain on the west and another on
the east of the lines there are no surface drains in the neighbourhood. The necessity of
additional surface drains within and without the lines has been pointed out to the regimental
authorities. The defects in the ventilation of the huts are due to the absence of conditions
f a v o u r a b l e
thorough perflation.
Nuisance. —There have not been any nuisance during the year.
Water-supply. —There are four wells in the neighbourhood of the lines from which water is
derived, three of which afford good drinking water. The supply has been ample.
Sanitary arrangements. —With the exception of the deficiency of surface drainage the sanitary
arrangements in the lines have been properly attended to. The preval ence of fever in the lines
during
the rains points out the urgent necessity of good drainage.
Diet.—Provisions in the bazaars have been moderate in price and plentiful. Vegetables
abun dant. Rice money for the year as follows:—
RS. A. P.
RS. A. P.
RS. A. P.
January
3 4 2
May
2 15 2
September
3 2 6
February
2 15 2
June
2 10 9
October
2 10 6
March
2 10 9
July
3 4 2
November
2 9 3
April
3 14 3
August
3 4 2
December
2 10 6
Duty and exercises .—Weekly average nights in bed 3.03.
Epidemic diseases .—Intermittent fever of quotidian form, mild and amenable to treatment, was
prevalent during the months of July, August, and September, more especially not attributable to
any particular cause. Between September 15th and October 6th three men and two children were
attacked with cholera. One man and child (the first two cases) died and the others recovered in a
few days, not attributable to any particular cause. Cholera was present in other parts of the
station at the time, but communication with infected localities was prohibited.
No overcrowding of the huts, but they are deficient in ventilation owing to the absence
of conditions favourable to perflation.
There is a want of sufficient surface drains to carry off the rain water during the rainy
weather. This has been pointed out to the regimental authorities, but no steps have been taken
to remedy the defect.
During the year the rainfall has been less than usual, and the weather during the last
four months of the year finer and warmer than usual.
Ventilation of the hospital. —The ventilation of the hospital has been very good.
Hospital drainage and latrines. —The surface draining of the lines and their immediate
neighbourhood is deficient, but still, from the situation of the lines, the drainage may be said to
be fair and the lodgment of water small in spite of the almost entire absence of artificial
assistance. This defect has been pointed out to the regimental authorities. No sewage is
supposed to be thrown into the small surface drains that exist at present, only the simple ablution
water. The public latrine has been kept in a good condition, and seems to meet all requirements.
The dry-earth conservancy, though enforced, is still imperfect through the use of sand instead of
earth, and from the quantities of sand used being too small. The freer use of coal-tar in the
latrines has been recommended, but expense seems to be the great deterrent.
Hospital water-supply.—The hospital water-supply is derived from a well near the lines, and
has been good and plentiful.
General conclusions. —In comparison with last year (1874) the health of the regiment has been
very good, and with an average percentage of 3.8 sick this year the health of the men may be