Reports on mountain and marine sanitaria : medical and statistical observations on civil stations and military cantonments., jails - dispensaries - regiments - barracks, &c. within the Presidency of Madras, the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Islands, and British Burmah from January 1858 to January 1862 / by Duncan Macpherson.

  • MacPherson, Duncan, M.D., 1812-1867.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports on mountain and marine sanitaria : medical and statistical observations on civil stations and military cantonments., jails - dispensaries - regiments - barracks, &c. within the Presidency of Madras, the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Islands, and British Burmah from January 1858 to January 1862 / by Duncan Macpherson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Male Convicts in the toAvn lines ])o. in the coiintr)- lines Female Convicts ... ... Convicts in Hospital Convicts residing out of the lines on ticket of leave ... 829 897 29 7G 408 2,239 Besides these arc the following local prisoners Town Jail, Europeans ... .. ... Id Do. Chinese and Malays ... 109 Country working parties ... ... 109 Total Convicts.... 2,557 This large body of men are kept in constant work eight out of the twenty-four hours. The sanitary arrangexnents within their lines cannot be called in question. They all sleep on raised platforms, their privies are decidedly the cleanest and purest I have -yet seen in course of my inspections. These are open to all, without chains day and night, and for the others there is provided, for night use, a well-aired and ventilated recess, off the wards, such as I have so frequently urged to he introduced into our jails in India. The strength of the Company of the Artillery, marginally quoted, is reduced to fifty-three, by a Detachment serving at Penang ; I found seven on the sick list. During the twelve months prior to my visit, thirty-five had received treatment for fever, and thirty for bowel disorders. These appear to be the prevailing diseases ; but no death occurred in that period. The average daily sick has been 4^, and the ratio of sick to strength 2^ per cent. Their ailments are usually* of a very mild nature ; but as before remarked, the men appear weakly and anmmic, compared to other European residents on the Island. The cause of this being to some extent attributed to the imperfect nutrition their diet affords. ' There is no Colony under Her Majesty’s rule that has hitherto had a smaller death-rate amongst Europeans, generally, than Singapore ; and, in proof of this, Policies of insurance on lives are granted on as favorable terms as can be procured in England. But the diet of the European soldiers, as already observed, is somewhat meagre ; they have excellent accommodation on Pearl Hill, overlooking the town of Singapore ; they have ample space in barracks; and their hospital which is thirty feet SERIES IX. Skctiox III. Pearl Hill Singa* pore, A Com- pany 1st Batta- lion Artillery.