Medical and sanitary reports of the native army of Madras for the year 1873 : framed on the weekly an annual returns, on the reports of regimental medical officers, and on the inspection reports of deputy surgeons-general of the Indian Medical Department.

Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical and sanitary reports of the native army of Madras for the year 1873 : framed on the weekly an annual returns, on the reports of regimental medical officers, and on the inspection reports of deputy surgeons-general of the Indian Medical Department. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Hospital water-supply.—The water is brought by a puckally from the wells near the Hospital lines, and the supply is, therefore, limited. I recommended that a well should be sunk in the water-supply, hospital compound, but no steps have been taken, as it is believed that only brackish water could be obtained. Epidemic disease.—None. Epidemic . , , . , disease. General conclusions.—The number of cases admitted durmg the past year was less by General con- 364 than the number admitted in the year 1872. This great difference is accounted for by elusions, the prevalence of dengue in the year 1872, for which disease there were 389 admissions. The greatest number of admissions in the past year were from skin diseases (129) and ague (81). Four deaths occurred in hospital : one from acute beri-beri, one from anaemia, one from phthisis pulmonalis, and one from idiopathic tetanus. Many of the men admitted were weak and anaemic, and took a long time to regain their health in consequence. The men are gradually becoming stronger, although it has taken a long time to shake off the effects of the Straits' climate and the practice of selling their rations, which used to prevail amongst the men on foreign service. On these matters I have already commented in former reports. Station—Vizianagrtjm. Arrived from Tonglioo 28t]i January 1872 Average strength ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 710 Do. present ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 654 Admissions ... ... ... ... ••• ... ... ... ... 1,078 Daily sick ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 Deaths in hospital ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Do. out of hospital ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Pensioned ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Sick leave ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 17 The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding as contrasted with previous years :— Year. Station. Rate per Cent, op Average Strength present. Average Strength. Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave. 1870 Tonglioo ... 97-33 5-79 2-34 •46 3-75 1871 Do 80-51 8-67 119 5-65 1872 Vizianagram 103-66 5-42 2-06 •27 2-89 Average 1873 Vizianagrum 93-83 4-96 1-86 •24 4-09 164-83 6-42 •98 1-26 2-39 Surgeon-Major Ridings, m.d., in medical charge during the year, reports as follows:— Climate.—The climate during the year 1873 has been abnormal in some respects. Climate, heavy showers having occasionally fallen in April and May, while the rainy season did not set in until the 30th June instead of about the 10th or 12th as is usual ; consequently there was no excessively hot weather until June, which, however, was an unprecedentedly oppres- sive month. The rains lasted longer than usual, up to the end of October, and were in excess. Marches.—-None. ... . Marches. Sepoy lines.—The regimental lines are distant about half a mile from the town, and are Sepoy lines, situated on open, slightly-elevated ground with a gentle slope sufficient to ensure effective drainage. The huts are of the usual description occupied by native troops, and, therefore, certainly not conducive to health. As regards drainage of the regimental lines, a very great improvement has been effected by the laying down of slabs of granite so as to form a V-shaped water-coarse on each side 10