70

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.

the roads which run through the lines are simply excavations in the ground and absorb much
of the superfluous water which runs from the huts. V-shaped stone drains, such as are common
in Banglore, would afford a better slope for the water to run off, and also a means of preventing
saturation of the soil.

Water-supply.

   Water-supply. —Difficulty of procuring water in quantities has been much felt.

Diet.

   Diet. —At the close of the year famine prevails over large tracts of the Mysore territory,
and Bangalore is not beyond its influence; but the railway communication will prevent any great
want being felt at this station. Vegetables had been cheap and plentiful until late in the year,
when the want of rain produced its results. Meat for a time has been unusually cheap owing to
holders of animals disposing of them in consequence of the scarcity of forage and grain.
It is doubtful if any of the sepoys, considering the duties and climate, have been well nourished,
and those with large families or improvident habits cannot have been.

Vaccoination.

   Vaccination is carried out among the men of the corps and the families.

Epidemic.

   Epidemic. —Cholera prevailed several months of the year in the cantonment of Bangalore,
but the east hutting lines escaped the disease entirely.

Hospital
ventilation.

   Hospital ventilation satisfactory. No overcrowding.

Hospital
drainage.

   Hospital drainage good.

Hospital
water-supply.

   Hospital water-supply sufficient.

Epidemic
disease.

   Epidemic disease. —No form of epidemic disease has either broken out or spread in hospital.

General
conclusions.

   General conclusions. —Considering the prevalence of small-pox and cholera in the town and
cantonment for many months in the year, and the great deficiency of rain in both monsoons,
thereby rendering the season unfavorable, the state of health of the regiment, although the
admissions have slightly exceeded of those of previous years, cannot be pronounced unsatisfactory.

   Deputy Surgeon-General P. G. FitzGerald, M.D., inspected this corps on the
21st March 1877 and reports as follows:—

Sanitary
condition.

   Sanitary condition .—The surface water runs readily off the lines during the rains, but
there must be a good deal of absorption also, as the drains in the lines are merely excavations
in the soil. The drainage from the huts runs directly into the street drains; the main street is 30
feet wide. Of the families and followers there are in all 2,339 inhabitants of the lines, which
gives an average of about three to each hut.

   There are no special arrangements for ventilation in the old huts.

Sanitary
condition
of latrines,
&c.

   Sanitary condition of latrines, &c.— There are no regimental latrines; the domestic
latrines are cleaned and the excreta removed by the regimental scavengers to a distance of
some miles into the country.

Conservancy.

   Conservancy. —As it is intended to re-build these lines on the same plan as those of the
36th Regiment, as soon as the latter have been completed, it is needless to offer any suggestions
for altering or improving them; but when the process of reconstruction is commenced, it
would be advisable to leave a wider space than at present exists between the north end of the
lines and the native bazaar, which is much too close to the present lines.

Hospital
ventilation,
drainage, &c.

   Hospital ventilation, drainage, &c. —Ventilation is effected, besides the doors and windows,
by three ridge ventilators and two attic windows.

   Since last report an alteration has been made in the latrines which, in my opinion, renders
it now one of the most perfect in the Presidency; this alteration consisted in the removal of
the stone which separated the chatties for the solid and fluid excreta in each compartment.
The whole of the urine is now received in a chatty and not a drop need be spilt on the floor; the
latrine is kept very clean and perfectly free from odour.

36th Regiment Native Infantry.

STATION—BANGALORE