Medical and sanitary reports of the native army of Madras for the year 1873 : framed on the weekly an annual returns, on the reports of regimental medical officers, and on the inspection reports of deputy surgeons-general of the Indian Medical Department.

Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical and sanitary reports of the native army of Madras for the year 1873 : framed on the weekly an annual returns, on the reports of regimental medical officers, and on the inspection reports of deputy surgeons-general of the Indian Medical Department. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    The following is a detailed list of diseases of fighting men treated in hospital since I assumed the medical charge of the corps (exclusive of the detachment at Trichore) on the 12th of October 1873 :— Febricula Phthisis pulmoralis Itch and skin diseases... Abscess and ulcers Bronchitis Hemicrania Dysentery Diarrhoea Rheumatism and synovitis 4 2 14 8 4 2 2 2 2 Venereal diseases Stricture of urethra Hydrocele Hydrothorax ... Albuminuria ... DebiHty Total ... 52 Hospital ven- tilation. Drainage and latrines. Hospital water-supply. General con- clusions. Barrack*. During the past three months there have been two deaths amongst the men, one from phthisis pulmonalis and the other from hydrothorax. One man has been sent to his native country, Vellore, with incipient tubercular disease in hopes of benefit from the change. The corps continues in a good condition both in discipline and physique. Skin eruptions of a persistent nature have been most frequent^ but generally speaking there has been a great immunity from disease. Hospital ventilation.—Ventilation of hospital perfect. No overcrowding during the year. Drainage and latrines.—No well-built latrines. There are simply two enclosures made of bamboo and cocoanut leaves. The ground is kept as clean as circumstances would permit, and the sweepings are daily carted away to a distance and buried. The hospital latrine is small and compact, and the earth sewage is carried out as efficiently as circumstances would permit. Hospital ivater-supply.—Water-supply has been satisfactory. General conclusions.—The general health of the regiment daring the past year has been on the whole satisfactory. The actual number treated in hospital is far less than that of the previous year, being 193 for the present against 870 of the past year. There were five deaths during the year, viz., one from phthisis pulmonalis, one pericarditis, one hydro- thorax, one fistula in ano, and one psoas abscess. Deputy Surgeon-General Johnston inspected this corps on the 3rd of February 1874, and reports as follows :— Barracks.—The lines with the contained sepoys' huts have been fully described in former Inspection Reports, to which reference may be made. Briefly stated the site is to the east of the town of Quilon, about one-third of a mile from the sea. The soil is a loose sand on a laterite basis. The huts are scattered over a wide area, and are constructed of bamboo and cadjan—materials ill-adapted for the protection of the sepoys and their families from the inclemency and force of the persistent rains of the south-west monsoon. Inspected with all necessary minuteness these lines were found in excellent sanitary condition, the huts in good repair, refuse or sewerage matter having no place in the lines. Since last report a well-made broad road has been made through the centre of the lines, where formerly there was a mere sandy track. Sanitary condition of all buildings.—In association with the medical officer attached to the regiment I made a circuit of the cantonment, and found every thing satisfactory. The sanitary condition of the public buildings, the guard-room, cells, &c., was excellent. There are no cess-pools or foul drains connected with latrines or lines. Conservancy of the neighbourhood.—The conservancy of the neighborhood of the barracks and station generally is satisfactory. Hospital.—The hospital described in former Inspection Reports, but which had been vacated for repair when the last report was drawn up, has, after the completion of these repairs, been re-occupied. On the present occasion the building was found in excellent structural condition, the wards clean, and every thing within testified to the care and attention to his duties of the medical officer in charge. Deputy Surgeon-General Johnston inspected the detachment of this corps at Trichoor on the 31st January 1874, and reports as follows :— Barracks.—Two companies of the Native Infantry cantoned at Quilon garrison this ^arracka. station. It is 45 miles to the north of Cochin, and distant from the coast line about six miles. An elevated site and a loose, absorptive argillaceous soil give to the lines dryness, aided by intersecting well-constructed masonry drains, which carry of storm water and prevent sewage collections. Within the lines are four parallel ranges of huts, each range being under the same continuous roof, a wall in the centre from the ridge to the flooring running the entire length of the range intersected within and at right angles, the sub-divisions forming 13 Sanitary eon- dition of all buildings. Conservancy of the neigh- bourhood. Hospital.