44

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.

Sanitary
condition of
latrines, &c.

     Sanitary condition of latrines, &c. —The dry-earth system of conservancy is carried out
as far as possible.

Rations.

     Rations. —Food is dear, and it is probable that many of the sepoys are under-fed.

Water-supply

     Water-supply. —Drinking water is of good quality.

Hospital.

     Hospital. —The hospital is an excellent one, and was originally built for a European
regiment. It is capable of accommodating 150 men, and it is clean and well ventilated. The
natural drainage is good.

26th Regiment Native Infantry.
STATION—QUILON.
Arrived from Trichinopoly, 19th January 1873.
Average strength 961
  Do.   do.   present 688
Admissions 447
Daily sick 16
Deaths in hospital 1
  Do.   out of do. 3
Pensioned 25
Sick leave 16

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

Years. Stations. Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present. Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1873 Quilon 25.52 .70 .70 ... .56
1874 Do. 42.99 1.27 .84 2.97 1.27
1875 Do. 48.68 2.48 1.14 2.57 2.14
  Average 39.06 1.48 .89 1.84 1.32
1876 Quilon 64.96 2.32 .41 2.60 1.66

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

Surgeon-Major F. Duckworth, M.D.,
Surgeon B. H.Williams,                    

and the first-named reports as under:—

Climate of the
station.

     Climate of the station. —A sea-coast station, with a wet moist climate for more than half
the year. Both the south-west and north-east monsoons are felt pretty severely. Chest
affections, bowel-disorders, fevers and rheumatism most prevalent, and skin diseases may be
said to be endemic.

Position of
lines.

     Position of lines. —The "regimental lines" consist of ordinary huts constructed of
leaves and bamboos, with very little ventilation and lighting in them.

Drainage of
lines, huts,
&c.

     Drainage of lines, huts, &c. —No drainage or sewerage works exist in or about any of these
places, but the natural configuration of the ground, along with the sandy porous nature of the
soil everywhere, seem to remove all surface-water.

Water-supply

     Water-supply. —Good in quality and sufficient in quantity.

Sanitary ar-
rangements.

     Sanitary arrangements and condition are satisfactory.

Diet.

     Diet. —Owing to exportation to the famine districts and the partial failure of the monsoons,
scarcity prevailed and provisions of every description were dear.

Foot soreness.

     Foot soreness. —Sore-feet caused by ill-fitting and badly made boots.

Vaccination.

     Vaccination is kept up.