36

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.

     The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding, as
contrasted with previous years:—

     The following officers were in medical charge of this corps during the year,

                   Surgeon-Major J. S. Ridings, M.D.,

                   Surgeon Percy H. Benson, M.B.,

                   Surgeon R. Warder, M.B.,

the last-named of whom reports as follows:—

Climate of
the station.

     Climate of the station. —The hot weather began in March and lasted until August, when
the cold season commenced. September and October were rainy months, and in the latter a
violent cyclone was experienced, during which about 15 inches of rain fell. Excepting, then,
this unusual rainfall, the total for this year is 16.8 inches below the average. The climate on
the whole has been favorable to the health of the regiment.

Diseases of
the district.

     Diseases of the district .—Leprosy, elephantiasis and beri-beri are endemic. Cholera
occasionally appears epidemically. It appeared this year in the district and at this station.

If regiment
has been on
the march.

     If regiment has been on the march.— The regiment moved in course of relief from Cuttack
to Vizianagram by detachments, commencing from 11th March and terminating 8th April
1876. The relief was effected by land and transport. Three companies proceeded on field
service to the Bustar country between the 8th and 25th April 1876. The right wing
proceeded on service to the Godavery and Kistna districts on the 21st November 1876.

Ventilation of
the men's
barrack
rooms, huts,
&c.

     Ventilation of the men's barrack-rooms, huts, &c. —The guard-rooms and cells are well
ventilated and drained. The men's huts are, as a rule, overcrowded and badly ventilated. The
drainage of the lines is good.

Nuisance.

     Nuisance. —There was no nuisance in the lines to be complained of, but the sanitary state
of the northern part of the cantonment called the "pension lines " and the villages adjacent to
it was most unsatisfactory during, and particularly at the termination, of the hot weather. A
nuisance also arose from having one of the slaughter-grounds within a hundred yards from the
cantonment bazaar; the effluvia from this source was carried into the station by the prevailing
wind. Means were adopted for carrying out surface cleansing: the refuse and contents of cess
and ash-pits were carted to a place about three miles distant and buried. The slaughter-
ground alluded to is to be removed.

Water-supply

     Water-supply .—The water-supply both as to quantity and quality has been very good.
The source is from two large tanks and numerous good wells in and adjacent to the cantonment.

Diet.

     Diet. —Provisions have been good and plentiful.

Clothing

     Clothing.— The clothing has been sufficient and adapted to the seasons. Ammunition boots
and forage caps might with great advantage give place to sandals and turbans; and the heavy
and rather porous great coat to a short, light water-proof.

Foot soreness

     Foot soreness.— Foot soreness has been very common. Slight cases were always excused
from wearing boots till well: there were seven admitted to hospital.

Duty

     Duty .—Garrison and regimental duties. They have not been prejudicial to the health of
the troops.

Vaccination

     Vaccination .—Vaccination has been carried out as far as practicable with such lymph as
could be obtained.

Epidemic

     Epidemic.— Ague has been prevalent in the corps during the year. Very few may be said
to have originated m the station, nearly all of them having occurred in men who suffered from
the disease previously at Cuttack, and amongst those who returned from an expedition on