Water- supply.
Conservancy.
Climate of
the station.
Nuisance.
Water
-suppl y
Diet.
Epidemic
diseases.
70
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
is susceptible of great improvement; but the strict conservancy enforced prevents all evil effects
from clefeetive arrangements.
Water-supply.— Potable water is, as a rule, good and abundant.
Conservancy. —Regimental bazaar clean and well conserved; the larger side drains are,
however, too much closed in by slabs of stone serving as a platform for the shopwares. These
drains should be opened up so that they may be kept at all times clean. At present were decom
-posing matter to rest in them, the foul air rising up through the openings in the flagged cover
would taint meat and fish, and act injuriously upon the buyers and sellers of the bazaar.
The neighbourhood of the lines and barracks is scrupulously clean.
Surgeon-Major J. Houston, M.D., was in medical charge of the detachment
at Mysore during the year, and reports as under:—
Climate of the station.—The district is malarious, but the fevers are generally tractable. The
rainfall has been very defective, the amount gauged being only 20.22½, while in the previous year
the amount was nearly 30 inches.
Nuisance.— The latrines were repaired during the year, but, as their condition soon became
unsatisfactory in the old barracks, new latrines were sanctioned, and are now being constructed.
Should the new latrines prove successful, it may be advisable to provide the new barracks with a
latrine on the same plan. McDougall's powder is being used in the latrines.
Water-supply.—The water is sufficiently good, but it has to be brought from a distance. Owing
to long-continued drought it may eventually be necessary to procure the supply from another
source.
Diet.—Plentiful and tolerably cheap, but prices are likely to rise. Vegetables are procurable.
Epidemic diseases .—Cholera prevailed in the station from August to October inclusive, but the
men of the detachment did not suffer.
Ventilation of
the hospital.
Hospital
water-supply.
Ventilation of the hospital.— Well ventilated and clean.
Hospital water-supply.—Supply sufficiently good.
General
conclusions.
General conclusions.—There is no cantonment at Mysore. Some years ago a cantonment, distant 2½
miles, was occupied by a native corps, but fever prevailed to such an extent that the regiment
had to be removed. The present detachment is usually relieved monthly from the Rocks, but
during the prevalence of cholera at Mysore the usual monthly reliefs did not take place. The
strength is 63.416, the average daily sick .656. The men are healthy, and there has been no
epidemic. There has been but one death, and that, as detailed in weekly report, dated 9th October,
from arsenical poisoning. The arsenic appears to have been taken as a medicine, but in over-dose.
The admissions of the year were 30, of which 13 due to ague, 2 to dysentery, and 3 to
diarrhœa. One case of dysentery was transferred to Rocks. In the year 1874 the admissions
were 17, of which 8 were due to malaria.
Sanitary
condition of
all buildings,
&c.
Wa t e r -
supply.
Conservancy
Hospital.
Deputy Surgeon-General George Smith, M.D., inspected this detachment on the
24th April 1876, and reports as under:—
Sanitary condition of all buildings, &c.— In last report the unsatisfactory conditions of the
latrines in both old and new barracks was recorded, and certain suggestions regarding their
improvement were made. Since then alterations have been effected in both latrines, but these
alterations have failed to secure the efficient action of the latrine. A new latrine has been
erected in connexion with the old barracks upon an improved plan, which, with a few alterations
suggested this morning, will work efficiently. When these alterations are effected, the present
Latrine will be shut up and the mud building removed. A small lavatory and dry-earth store are
required for this latrine. Similar provisions should be made in connexion with the new barrack,
where there is a very indifferent 1atrine and no lavatory or earth store.
Water-supply.—Drinking water is obtained from a well called the Nabob's well; it is scarce at
present, and unless rain falls there will be a serious water famine. All the tanks are dry, and the
wells are very low. Filters are used except for the hospital water. This arrangement I have
corrected.
Conservancy.— The immediate neighbourhood of the barracks is fairly conserved. There is
little artificial drainage near the barracks, though there is promise of the early introduction of a
good system.
Hospital.— The hospital is simply a small ward with four cots, and with the small store of
medicines, &c., at one end.