42
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
5th Regiment, Madras Native Infantry—Saugor.
Medical offi
-
cers.
Location.
Topography.
Climate.
Lines.
Conservancy.
water-sup -ply.
Hospital.
Sickness, mor
-
tality and in
-
validing.
Surgeon-Major A. A. Renton, M. D., was in medical charge until the 31st
January 1874 ; Surgeon F. H. Blenkinsop from that date to the end of the
year. He furnishes the sanitary report. The regiment was stationed at
Saugor throughout the year. The site of the lines occupied by this regi
-
ment is reported on as being as bad as it possibly can be, owing to the nature
of the soil, the position, and the proximity to the bazar. The cold weather
was found to be rather trying to the Madras sepoys, who, however, were
becoming acclimatized; the hot season was a comparatively mild one, and
the rains were unusually heavy, nearly 70 inches of rain having fallen ; 50
inches is the average rainfall. Attention is drawn to the insanitary condition
of the lines; the huts are low, badly ventilated, and their floors are not
raised above the level of the surrounding ground. The accommodation in some
huts for each occupant was only 15 square feet in superficial area, and gave
100 cubic feet of breathing space.
There are two latrines, one for each wing, and they are on the dry-earth
system ; they are reported as being kept clean.
The water-supply is of fair quality, but is a little scarce during the hot
weather.
The hospital is reported on as unsuited for the purpose ; it is a mile distant
from the lines, and was originally built for keeping elephant harness in.
When the doors and windows are shut, there is neither light nor ventilation ;
but, when the windows are open, they, from being placed only six inches above
the patients' beds, make the ward too chilly. This building has been condemned
as a hospital, but it is impossible to say when a new one will be built.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment, —present 683.16
absent 31.64 ; total 714.80.
STATION.
PERIOD.
A v e r a g e S t r e n g t h .
TOTAL NUM-BER OF
Dai l y aver age number of si ck.
PERCENTAGE OF
S T R E N G T H P E R A N N U M .
From
To
A d m i s - s i o n s .
Deaths.
Admis-sions. Deaths.
D a i l y a v e r a g e s i c k .
Head-quarters at Saugor . . . 1st January 1874. 31st Decem-ber 1874.
6 8 3 . 1 6
8 3 8
8
2 5 . 9 3
122.66 1.17
3 . 7 9
Number of deaths in hospital, 8; out of hospital, 1; total, 9; per cent. of total strength . . .
1.25
" invalided, 23 ; " " " . . .
3.21
" sent on sick leave, 17 ; " " " . . .
2.37
" days spent in hospital, 9,464.45 ; per admission, 11.29; per man of total strength . . .
13.24
T o t a l t e m p o r a r y l o s s o f s e r v i c e p e r m a n o f t o t a l s t r e n g t h . . .
18.98
Prevailing.
diseases.
Causes of
mortality.
The sickness in the regiment has been greater during the past year than it was in 1873, and
that I see from last year's report was nearly twice as great as it was at Secundrabad. As usual,
ague and febricula have furnished the largest number of admissions. Of the former there were 115
cases, and 549 of the latter, making a total of 664 out of 838 admissions into hospital. This
year's admissions are 101 in excess of last year's. Only seven cases, each of dysentery. and
diarrhœa, occurred, which is remarkably small, considering the vicissitudes of temperature and
weather to which the men have been exposed. Seventeen men were sent away on sick leave.
In every case the cause of the breaking down of health was malarious fever. Twenty-three
men were invalided,—13 for old age and debility, two for health broken down by Fever, three
for rheumatism, two for deafness, two for imperfect vision, and one for disease of the knee-joint.
Principal causes of sickness.—The chief cause of sickness was malarial fevers;
these are very prevalent at this station. I am of opinion that the situation of the lines (low
and in the rains swampy) to the leeward of the lake and its surrounding marshes, together
with the miserable and overcrowded huts, are the chief causes of the sepoys of this regiment
suffering so much from these fevers. The cavalry, who are located in quite a different part of
the cantonment, enjoy very fair health.
XVII.
Principal causes of mortality. —The healthiest part of the year is undoubtedly
the hot season, and the most unhealthy the six weeks after the rains are over. The mortality
was high during the past year, there having been nine deaths,—eight in hospital and one in the
lines ; the latter died from sunstroke. Of the former, two were cases of continued fever ; they
were in a very low state on coining to hospital. Four men died from ague, which bordered
close on remittent fever. One old man died of diarrhœa, and one case from sunstroke.