46

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.

       The following corps were serving in this district on the 31st December 1876:—

  9th Regiment Native Infantry.
25th do. do.
34th do. do.

9th Regiment Native Infantry.

STATION—CANNANORE.

Arrived from Trichinopoly on the 7th and 28th February 1871.
Average strength 734
    Do. do. present 695
Admissions 269
Daily sick 10
Deaths in hospital 1
  Do. out of do. 3
Pensioned 57
Sick leave 13

       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 Cannanore 17.26 .77 .62 ... 1.08
1874 Do. 24.24 1.42 .43 .29 1.89
1875 Do. 42.85 1.56 .86 1.15 2.02
  Average 28.11 1.25 .63 .48 1.66
1876 Cannanore 38.70 1.43 .54 7.76 1.77

       Surgeon-Major J. FitzGerald was in medical charge of this corps during
the year and reports as follows:―

Climate of the
station.

       Climate of the station.— The temperature appears to have been very equable, not varying
much throughout the year.

Ventilation
and drainage
of the men’s
huts, &c.

       Ventilation and drainage of the men’s huts, &c. —The huts of the men, guard-room, &c.,
appear to have been sufficiently ventilated.

Nuisance.

       Nuisance. —There were no nuisances reported. The ash-pits and manure-heaps are outside
the lines and the refuse is carted away daily to some distance.

Water-supply.

       Water-supply. —The water-supply is obtained from wells in the lines, is of good quality,
but during the hot weather was found entirely inadequate.

Diet.

       Diet .—Provisions are considered dear at this station; vegetables are abundant. Compensa-
tion is issued to the troops on account of dearness.

Clothing.

       Clothing. —This has been found sufficient and well adapted to the climate of this station.
No recommendations necessary.

Foot soreness.

       Foot soreness. —Cases of foot soreness from wearing badly fitting boots without stockings
is quite common. They are generally excused from wearing their boots until the sores heal.

Duty.

       Duty .—This has had no injurious effect on the health of the men. The average number of
consecutive nights in bed, six.

Exercises.

       Exercises .—There is a cricket club, but only a few practice this game. There is a
gymnasium in the lines for the recruits and young soldiers. Some men employ their leisure
hours in gardening.

Vaccination.

       Vaccination has been regularly kept up among the families of the men: 185 cases were
vaccinated; successful 155, unsuccessful 30.