38

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.

      The health condition of the European Commissioned, Warrant and Non-Commissioned
Officers has been on the whole, unsatisfactory. One death occurred amongst the Commissioned
Officers on the Division Staff in the person of Deputy Surgeon-General L. W. Stewart, from
sunstroke at Trichinopoly, induced by protracted tour of inspection in the Malabar district
and Wynaad, and consequent exhaustion, at a time when sickness of every kind was very
prevalent in that part of the circle of medical administration.

      The civil population suffered considerably from cholera epidemics, the mortality being
very high amongst them. A strict quarantine resulted in a great immunity of the prisoners
in the Central Jail at Trichinopoly, whilst the convicts of the District Jail were sent into camp
five miles distant from Trichinopoly. There were, however, 3 cases in the Central and 8 in the
District Jails; the whole of the former recovered, while 4 cases in the latter proved fatal.
Cholera may be said to have prevailed throughout the whole of this circle epidemically during
the year under report.

      Comparing the year under review with the preceding one, the admissions into hospital,
were cholera and dengue excluded, would have been smaller, but as it stands, the admissions
have increased by 25, while the mortality remains the same as in the past year.

      No recommendations have been found necessary to offer, further than maintaining the
sanitary condition of every part of the head-quarter station, which, under municipal direction,
is, on the whole, satisfactory.

      The year under review has followed the course of the preceding one, 1875. Cholera
prevailed epidemically throughout the circle, and the rainfall has been totally deficient owing
to the complete failure of the north-east monsoon. At Trichinopoly, which is the head-quarter
station of the circle, there was a deficiency in the rainfall to the extent of 15 inches as compared
with the previous year. To this deficiency of rain may be attributed the shortness of the cold
weather and the intense heat of the summer months.

The state of cholera within this circle has been as under:—

      Compared with the previous year 1875, the number of admissions into hospital during the
year under report, 1876, exceeded by 25, while the death-rate has remained the same, being
41 in both years:—

39th Regment Native Infantry.

STATION—TRICHINOPOLY.

Arrived from Singapore, 7th May 1872.