Climate of
the station
during the
year, and its
influence on
health and
disease.
General
sketch of
the natural
features of
the district.
CEDED DISTRICTS.
75
Principal diseases.—The principal diseases, in the order of frequency, are fevers, eye diseases, Principal
abscess and ulcer, rheumatism, venereal, wounds, &c., diarrhœa, and general debility. There has diseases.
been but one casualty from cholera during last year, but the disease threatens to appear now in the
regiment. One follower is under treatment to-day.
Principal diseases.
2 7 t h R e g i m e n t N a t i v e I n f a n t r y .
STATION—BELLARY.
Arrived from - Moulmein on the 8th March 1875.
Average strength
Do. do. present
..
..
Admissions
Daily sick
Deaths in hospital
Do. out of do
..
..
Pensioned.
Sick leave
764
679
704
26
8
2
37
27
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding as
contrasted with previous years :—
Years.
Stations .
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1872
Moulmein
220.94
8.16
5.53
..
13.43
1873
Do.
190.68
4.92
3.07
.17
3.58
1874
Do.
132.34
4.62
1.10
.63
9.82
Average
181.32
5.90
3.23
.26
8.94
1875
Bellary
103.68
3.82
1.30
4.84
3.53
Surgeon P. R. Martin, M.D., was in medical charge of this corps during the
year, and reports as follows: -
Climate of the station during the year, and its influence on health and disease.—The climate was
uniform, the rainfall being about the average, and the periodical monsoon winds occurring in proper
season. Intermittent fever became prevalent in June and July, when, as will be seen by reference
to the meteorological table, the winds were unusually strong and persistent., and when also a near
approach to saturation was attained and dew fell at night. This disease again increased towards
the end of October and November simultaneously with the change of the wind to the north-east
and east. With these exceptions the climate was favourable to the health of the men.
General sketch of the natural ,features of the district.—The aspect of the country round the
station is a boundless plain save towards the west and south, where the view is limited by a low
chain of rocky hills about six miles distant. The surface undulations are slight, but a few low
isolated hills serve to vary the monotonous level. The landscape being also devoid of jungle, and
presenting a brown arid appearance, is very uninteresting. The cantonment is situated round a
rock composed of granitoid gneiss, of which there are two varieties, the second containing flesh-
coloured felspar which prevails in the low plains. The range of hills above alluded to is composed
of chloritic slate, jaspery clay, iron, and quartz. The highest (Copper Mountain) contains copper
carbonate. Two very different varieties of soil occur. The black cotton is from 1 to 12 feet deep,
and is composed of silica, alumina, iron, vegetable and animal debris, and is considered to be a
sedentary deposit from stagnant water. The red soil is the detritus of the flesh-coloured gneiss
rock. A large river (the Hungry) runs through the district. A large tank (Alipore), about three miles
in circumference, exists about five miles from the station, being the result of the drainage from the
contiguous hills. The flat nature of the country and the paucity of rain prevent the formation of
tanks or swamps. Vegetation is hardly discernible except during the rains. Trees are few except
in the cantonment and town, where they have been planted, and have to be carefully attended to
until they grow strong. The small-leaved and more hardy kinds apparently only thrive best.
The most useful, such as the mango, plantain, cocoanut, &c., do not exist. The uncultivated black