74991537.htm

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.

working of the Contagious Diseases' Act must be attributed to causes which are beyond the
sphere of the Medical Officer's duties. The limitation of the operation of the Act to women
who are known to consort with European soldiers is one of the principal causes of the
comparative failure of the detective agency, for it is a most difficult thing to prove legally, even
when there can be no moral doubt of the fact, that a particular woman receives the visits of
European soldiers for an immoral purpose. Until all women who practise prostitution in a
military station, whether with Natives or Europeans, are brought under the operation of the
law on this subject, the rôle of the lock hospitals will be limited, as at present, to the compara-
tively modest one of curtailing the number of diseased women who are at large, and so
extenuating the evil which it was hoped, rather too sanguinely, they would altogether
exterminate.

Head-Quarters, Sappers and Miners.

STATION—BANGALORE.

Average strength	657
Do. do. present	657
Admissions	503
Daily sick	26
Deaths in hospital	6
Do. out of do.	...
Pensioned	15.
Sick leave	2

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	Bangalore	91.61	2.50	.65	.98	1.52
1874	Do.	47.10	1.47	.52	4.00	1.47
1875	Do.	74.45	1.96	1.07	2.82	0.19
Average		71.05	1.97	.74	2.60	1.06
1876	Bangalore	76.56	3.95	.71	2.28	.30

Surgeon-Major Pearl was in medical charge during the year and reports as
follows:—

Climate of
the station.

Climate of the station. —The climate during the past year has been remarkably dry owing
to the failure of both monsoons; the water-supply in consequence has been very scarce.

Position of
lines.

Position of lines.— The lines are newly built on a well drained slope, the streets running
from north to south. They are encroached upon by the public street on the west side, and would
be much improved could a block of houses in the Cavalry Road be removed.

Water-
supply.

Water-supply.— The water-supply has been somewhat scanty during the past year owing
to the want of rain. Several new wells have been dug; the supply usually obtained from the
Ulsoor lake has failed this year.

Sanitary
arrange-
ments.

Sanitary arrangements.— The sanitary arrangements of the lines and barracks have been
properly attended to.

Diet.

Diet. —Provisions have been sufficient and compensation has been given when the rice has
risen above its usual price.

Foot soreness.

Foot soreness from defective boots are very frequent; this is caused chiefly by the men
wearing no socks. The Sapper, when at work during the day, wears no boots; at parades he has
to put them on, and sore heels or ankles are the consequence.

Vaccination.

Vaccination has been regularly kept up.

Epidemic.

Epidemic. —There has been no epidemic during the past year.

Hospital
ventilation.

Hospital ventilation has been good and sufficient. The wards have not been overcrowded.