General
conclusions.
Barracks and
lines.
Sanitary
condition.
Conservancy
of the neigh-
bourhood.
Hospital
Hospital baths.
.
Principal
diseases.
light
insuff
open
nativ(
of
for es
the Si
the
thee
Quar
men 3
62
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
General conclusions.—The health of the Sappers during the past year has been decidedly good.
The number of deaths has been greater than usual owing to the epidemic of cholera, of which
four proved fatal ; the other deaths have been :-
1 from severe injury to the leg caused by a mass of earth falling and smashing the limb
entirely ; mortification set in, and the patient died soon after amputation.
1 from heart disease occurred very suddenly and unsuspectedly ; the man was in hospital
under treatment for asthma.
2 from severe continued fever ; in one of these death was apparently owing to perforation
of the coats of the stomach or intestines by a round worm.
The total number of admissions has been 370, against 324 of 1874.
Deputy Surgeon-General George Smith, M.D., inspected the Head-Quarters,
Sappers and Miners, on the 3rd November 1875, and reports as follows :—
Barracks and lines.—I add here sundry details and additions not given in my last report,
dated 28thDecember 1874. The native officers' guard-room has been removed to the new quarter-
guard, which has been built to the north side of the barrack square, and which contains also a
large defaulters' room. The Apothecary's quarters have been finished since last report, and have
been occupied by Mr. Cripps some time. Towards the west there have been made extensive
additions to the Sappers' barracks. These additions consist of a large and well-built school, of a
gymnasium, and of a building used by the natives during the Dusserah. There are also additions
to the sepoys' lines towards the west. These latter are built rather too close to the houses of
natives, and in an ill-conserved locality, the only remedy for which appears to me to consist in
purchasing the block of native tenements, and giving the ground up to the " Cavalry Road" over
to the corps.
The native lines were described in last report. The huts are well-bunt comfortable structures,
and their conservancy is so . far secured by the absence of domestic latrines.
S'anitary condition.— The drainage of the lines is effected by V -shaped stone drains assisted
b y t h e n a t u r a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f t h e g r o u n d . T h ec
o n s e r v a n c y
o f t h e t w o p u b l i c l a t r i n e s i s i m p e r f e c t
owing to the system adopted and to the insufficient size of the buildings. The excreta, from the
public latrines, as well as from the hospital and from the quarters of the Native and European
Non-commissioned Officers, are removed daily in carts by a contractor, who pays Rs. 7-15-0 per
mensem, and who provides 2 sweepers to empty the cess-pools daily. The night-soil is removed ti
a considerable distance from the lines.
conservancy of the neighbourhood.— The conservancy of the neighbourhood is upon the whole
good. A remark has already been made regarding the foul odours emitted by the municipal drains
running along the southern front of the lines, and to the objectionable condition of the ground
between the native houses and the new row of huts on the west of the barracks. The vacant
ground also in the neighbourhood of the regimental bazaar stands in need of levelling and of
cleaning.
Hospital.— The ward is clean, well ventilated, and cheerful. At the east end.
Hospital baths.— There is one lavatory of fair size, but apparently seldom used.
Principal diseases.—Since the commencement of the year there have been 301 admissions to
_
_
_
i
hospital. The principal diseases, &c., in the order of
their frequency, are marginally given. There have
been three deaths, one from accident and two from
continued fever ; and 17 sepoys have been pensioned.
There have been no cases of zymotic disease.
The health state of the regiment has been satisfac-
tory.
T1
contra
Ye
1872 .
1873 .
1874 .
Wounds and accidents
. .
. . 58
Simple continued fever
..
..
.. 56
Ague
..
..
..
..
..
.. 36
Itch and eye diseases, of each
..
. . 24
Venereal
. .
. . 20
Abscess and ulcer
..
..
..
.. 12
Rheumatism ..
..
..
..
..
8
Diarrhoea
..
..
..
..
..
6
2 3 r d R e g i m e n t L i g h t I n f a n t r y
STATION—BANGALORE.
Arrived from Quilon 15th October 1872.
Average strength
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
..
..
664
Do.
do.
present
..
. .
. .
. .
..
..
..
..
621
Admissions
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
..
488
Daily sick
..
. .
. .
..
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
20
Deaths in hospital ..
. .
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Do. out of do.
..
. .
. .
..
.
.
. .
. .
. .
.
.
1
Pensioned
..
. .
. .
.
..
..
.
.
..
, .
..
29
Sick leave
..
. .
. ,
..
, .
..
..
. ,
..
2