Hospital
drainage and
latrines.
Hospital
water-
supply.
General
conclusions.
Water-
supply.
124
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
the latrine of his courtyard, one for solid, the other for liquid excreta ; the latter to be daily (morning
and evening) collected from the houses and carried away to a distance to be emptied. With these
improvements it is to be hoped the contamination of the soil will be prevented. A similar
r e c e p t e c l e f o r s o l i d e x c r e t a I h o p e w i l l s o o n a l s o b e p r o c u r e d .
Water-supply.—There has been an abundant supply of good water obtained from sever al
wells in the vicinity of the lines, barracks, and hospital. The wells are all faced with masonry
and have masonry platforms, they are covered with cross beams of wood. A gentle slope of the
ground outside carries off most of the water spilt about.
sanitary
arrangements.
Diet.
Sanitary arrangements.— The sanitary arrangements in the lines have been carefully attended
to. The drainage is surface only, and consists of channels cut in the soil ; into those channels
the liquid sewage from the huts escapes and soaks into the soil ; this must be a potent cause of
disease amongst the men. The state of the drainage has been brought to the notice of the
authorities and pucka drains recommended to be built, but as yet there appears no likelihood of
anything being done in the matter.
Diet.— Bazaar supplies have been plentiful, and procurable at cheap rates, as the following
list will show.
Rice 31 Bengal or 21 Madras seers per rupee.
Dholl 14 seers per rupee.
Milk 16
do.
do.
Wheat 20 do.
do.
Ghee 1 seer 10 chuttaks.
B e e f 1 1 / 2 An n a s p e r s e e r .
Mutton 3 Annas per seer.
Vegetables 9 Pies do.
Fowls, large, 6 per rupee.
Do. small, 8 do.
Chickens 16 per rupee.
Firewood 6 maunds per rupee.
Epidemic
diseases.
Ventilation
of the
hospital.
Compensation for dearness of rice for the year has been 9 Annas per man.
Epidemic diseases.— There have been no epidemic diseases during the year. The principal
diseases during the current year were fevers, chiefly of an intermittent type. 126 cases were
admitted. Boils 9 cases. The other cases next in frequency were wounds and diarrhœa, 6 of
each. Many of the cases of fever amongst the men may be traced to insufficient clothing in the
cold season when in undress ; also owing to the want of space in their houses or other causes many
of the men are obliged to sleep on the ground, which is an undoubted cause of feverish attacks in
the men. I have endeavoured to get many of the men to use charpoys more than they do.
Ventilation of the hospital.—The hospital is well situated, lying east and west on well-drained
ground quite close to the lines. The building is of brick, plastered, roof tiled, with grass under-
neath. Ventilation by ridge, doors, and windows. The building is partially divided into three
large wards, each capable of containing eight or ten beds. All around is an enclosed verandah
8 feet broad. At each of the four corners of the building the verandah is enclosed, giving as
many rooms, which are used as a surgery, havildar's godown, spare room for special cases, and
guard-room.
Hospital drainage and latrines.— The drainage about the hospital has been good. Dry earth
has been used in the latrine ; and although it is difficult to make the men use the dry earth as it
should be used, still by constant attention the latrine has been kept clean.
Hospital water-supply.—Water-supply derived from a well in the compound ; the water is good
and ample.
General conclusions.—The general health of the regiment has been good since last annual
report. The admissions for the year were 226, showing a decrease of 44 from the previous year,
though up to this time there has been a steady yearly increase in the number of admissions since
the regiment's arrival in the station. Intermittent fever was the prevalent disease. There
have been altogether 6 deaths during the year. In hospital 4 died : 1 from erysipelas ; 2
multiple injury, which was caused by a fall when wrestling with another sepoy ; 3 ague of
long standing ; 4 dysentery. One jemadar died on sick leave and 1 private. But few
cases of small-pox occurred, and these were all amongst the children of the regiment.