24
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding as
contrasted with former years :—
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths.
Pensioned.
Sick Leave.
1872 ..
.. Waltair
..
165.89
4.20
.87
3.04
1.16
1873 ..
.. Berhampore
..
95.79
2.90
.28
.14
.28
1874 ..
..
Do...
..
81.87
3.07
2.02
4.47
.86
Average ..
114.51
3.39
1.05
2.55
.76
1875 ..
.. Berhampore
....
80 . 29
2.66
2.13
3.42
.57
Climate of the
station.
Position of
lines.
Ventilation
and drainage
for the men's
huts, guard
rooms, &c.
Nuisance.
Topography
and diseases of
the district.
Surgeon W. H. Boalth was in medical charge of the head-quarters and righ
wing during the year, and reports as follows:—
Climate of the station. —Climate of the station on the whole mild, with no very unusual
variation of temperature. During the month of May there were a few very hot days, but on
the whole the hot weather was not very severe. The south-west monsoon commenced on the
15th of June, and was somewhat below the average, and so was the north-east monsoon.
The cold weather commenced about 1st of November, and the thermometer has never registered
below 60° at 6 A.M. The above climatic changes have not had any injurious effect on the
health of the troops or civil population.
Topography and diseases of the district. —The station being surrounded by extensive paddy-
fields and bound on all sides, except to the south, at various distances, by hills covered with
jungle, fever of a malarial type, but of a very mild character, is the prevailing disease. Being
unfortunately situated on the trunk road that leads to Pooree, cholera imported by pilgrims
makes its appearance more or less regularly every year ; and, in common with other stations
situated on this coast, beri-beri is endemic.
Position of lines. —The sepoys' lines are situated on the north side of the cantonment in
rather low ground and in too close a proximity to the civil population. Drainage of the streets
from the civil portion of the town passes by the side of the lines into some paddyfields close by.
The site occupied by the lines is not very healthy.
Ventilation and drainage for the men's huts, guard-rooms, &c. —Guard-room ventilation and
drainage good, and have been sufficient to preserve the air pure. Sepoys' huts more or less fairly
ventilated according as the number occupying the huts is large or small. Drainage of lines very
unsatisfactory. Shallow grooves are scratched into the earth on either side of the road, and these
are supposed to answer the purpose of drains, which they do very imperfectly. This subject has
been represented, and the drainage of the lines is under consideration.
Nuisance.—A plot of ground used as a depôt for municipal sweepings was reported on as
being injurious to health. The nuisance has since been discontinued. The unsatisfactory condi-
tion of the drains in the lines has been mentioned in reply to Question No. 5. Proper drains
after this may be expected.
Water-supply.
Diet.
If diet has
been suffici-
ently nutri-
tive.
Exercises.
Epidemic
diseases.
Water-supply. —Water for drinking and ooking purposes obtained from wells. Supply
sufficient. No complaint has been made. of its quality.
Diet. —The necessaries of life have not on the whole been very dear. Compensation was
allowed on account of dearness of rice, Rupees 1-4-3 per month on an average.
If diet has been sufficiently nutritive. —Food, sufficiently nutritious and varied so as to preserve
health, was within reach of the sepoy's means, and he could have procured that at the bazaar.
Exercises. —No gymnasium. Some of the men take to gardening, for which special purpose
they have a piece of ground set apart for them.
Epidemic diseases. —During the month of September this year cholera broke out in the lines.
From the date of its commencement (6th September) up to its termination on the 30th September
52 persons in all, including families, were attacked and 17 died. The origin of the disease
could not be traced to any importation, though cholera was at the time and for some weeks before
known to be occurring in a sporadic form in villages around the station.
The disease was on the whole of a mild form, cramps and collapse not being very severe.
The drainage and the sewage in the lines are very imperfect. This condition has frequently
been brought to notice. The insanitary state of certain localities about the station was reported,
and it has been promised to rectify these conditions.