110

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.

Latrines.

       Latrines are sufficient and kept clean as a rule, but in some instances they are too far
away from the barracks, and there is no covered way to them, which is a great drawback in
such a wet climate as this. The dry earth system is in use, but it is imperfectly carried out;
the excessive and long-continued rainfall renders it almost impossible to obtain dry earth
for the greater part of the year without the use of ovens especially to dry it.

4th Regiment Native Infantry.

STATION—RANGOON.

Arrived from Bellary and Palaveram on the 8th April 1875 and January 1876.

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

       Surgeon E. M. Murphy, M.D., was in medical charge of this corps during the
year and reports as under:—

Climate of
the station.

       Climate of the station. —The weather was extremely hot in March and April. From May
to middle of October the south-west monsoon continued almost daily, the rainfall being about
90 inches. The cold weather then set in, viz ., great heat when exposed to the direct rays of the
sun with cold nights. The health of the men was best during the hot weather; in the wet
season diarrhœa and dysentery are on the increase, and in the cold weather, viz., in the drying
up of the marshy alluvial soil, fevers prevail largely.

If the regi-
ment has
been on the
march.

       If the regiment has been on the m arch.—The right wing and head-quarters marched from
Palaveram on the 24th February and arrived at Madras the same day, when it immediately
embarked and reached Rangoon on the 1st March. Health of troops good.

Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
barrack.
rooms, huts,
&c.

       Ventilation and drainage of the men's barrack-rooms, huts, &c. —The ventilation and
drainage of the barrack-rooms, cells, guard-room, &c., are excellent. Drainage is effected by
means of "pucka" drains aided by natural slope of the ground.

Nuisance.

       Nuisance .—There existed no nuisance, the whole place being kept very clean.

Water-supply

       Water-supply good, and abundant supply of water is always obtainable from four wells
quite near the barracks.

Sanitary
arrangements

       Sanitary arrangements.—On the whole the sanitary arrangements in the barracks have
been good, and there exists no local cause of disease.

Diet.

       Diet.—Rations consisting of rice, dholl, ghee, salt and turmeric are served out to the
men. Provisions are plentiful but dear, with the exception of rice. Meat is very dear.

Whether diet
has been
sufficiently
nutritive and
varied.

       Whether diet has been sufficiently nutritive and varied. —Unless the rations be
supplemented by the use of meat or fish, I do not think the diet sufficiently nutritive. The
sepoy receives batta in this country with which he might improve his diet, but I fear he scarcely
ever does so.