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

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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$The following medical officers were in charge during the year: Surgeon-Major J, A. Cox, m.d. Surgeon S. L. Dobie. Assistant-Surgeon F. M. Rickard. The first-named officer reports as follows :— Climate.—Climate may be divided into three seasons. The hot season from February to Climate. May, when the thermometer ranges from 80° to 90°. From June to October the monsoon from south-west, when there is rain with scarcely any intermission, high winds, &c. In October the north-east monsoon commences, severe thunder-storms, lightning and heavy showers. From December to February there are light cool winds at night, but strong land winds in the middle of the day. During the south-west monsoon the thermometer scarcely ever rises above 75° or 80°, and sometimes goes down to 65°. In December and January heavy fogs hang about the surrounding hills, but not apparent close to the shore. There was no unfavorable influence upon health during the past year. (Latitude 11° 42'N. {Longitude 75° 27'E. Marches.—The regiment has not been on march or at sea. Marches. Sepoy huts.—The lines consist of rows of thatched mud huts to the north of Native Sepoy huts. Infantry Parade ground. The site is somewhat low, but the natural drainage is good, and the lines are healthy. Each private sepoy gets a space of 30 feet by 13 feet, which he divides into hut, out- house, and yard ; there is generally one door and no window to the hut. The extent of his family and the number of his relations living with him determine the amount of space which he enjoys. There are small holes in the walls of the huts to answer for windows, notwith- standing which the ventilation is defective. The guard-room is not well ventilated, there being no ridge ventilation. The drainage is good throughout. Any Nuisance.—No nuisance has been observed. Nuisance. Water-supply.—Water is obtained from wells in the lines. It is both good and plentiful. Water-sup- ply. Sanitary arrangements.—Sanitary arrangements good. Sanitary ar- Diet.—The men purchase their own food. Rice and fish are the chief ingredients of Diet, food. Rice was sold at the rate of 7^ measures per rupee. Troops received compensation at an average of Rupees 1-.3-11 per mensem. Clothing.—SuflBcient and suitable. Clothing. Foot-soreness.— Such cases occur frequently, chiefly from the men not wearing socks Poot-sore- and boots of proper size. They are excused from wearing boots until their feet are well. No ^^^ss. remedy. Duty and exercise.—The amount of duty performed is moderate. No unfavorable Duty and influence upon health. exercise. 6*5 nights in bed. Drill.—During the drill season, drill takes place morning and evening, weather per- Drill, mitting, for an hour each time ; but at other seasons there are only three fixed drills per week. No unfavorable influence upon health. Prison-rooms and lock-up cells.—There are two prison cells used, and they are in good Prison-rooms order and well ventilated. Each cell has 96 superficial feet and 960 cubic space, and a ggj]g^°'''^'°^ latrine with 67| feet superficial and 438| feet cubic space. Vaccination.—Vaccination is performed regularly. Vaccination. Number of case.s of small-pox ... 1. No death. Number vaccinated ... ... ... 134 „ successful ... ... ... 127 „ unsuccessful ... ... 7 Diseases.—There was one case of modified small-pox, one of chicken-pox, seven of Diseaees. dysentery, and twenty-six of fever treated in the hospital during the past year. All of these cases were of a mild type. 46 per cent, of the cases of fever occurred in the last quarter of the year, when land winds were prevalent. During the land winds a general malaise is produced upon the system, and febricula ensues upon the slightest exciting cause. On the whole the health of the regiment for the year under review was excellent. Of the diseases treated under the head of phthisis pulmonalis, there were five cases of bronchitis which arose from exposure to cold, two of asthma which occurred in persons who were predisposed to the disease, excited by exposure to the humid atmosphere of this climate, and one of pleurisy and one of pleuro-pneumonia. In the latter both diseases were co- existent, and occurred in a young man of 18, the direct exciting cause being traceable to great muscular exertion. There were no casualties during the year. Hospital ventilation,—The hospital is fairly ventilated. There was no overcrowding Hospital during the past year. yentilatioo. 15$