Climate of the
station.
On the march.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
barrack
-rooms, huts,
&c.
Water-supply.
Sanitary
arrangements.
Diet.
What liquors
have been
used.
Clothing.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Hospital drainage and latrines.— Good with regard to hospital.
Ventilation of the hospital.— Good; not overcrowded.
Ventilation of
the hospital.
Hospital
drainage and
latrines.
85
HYDERABAD SUBSIDIARY FORCE.
The following officers were in medical charge of the corps during the year:
Surgeon W. E. Griffiths, (Bengal Medical Service),
Surgeon B. H. Williams,
Surgeon C. J. McNally, M.D.,
the last-named of whom reports as follows :—
Climate of the station.— The rainfall during the monsoon greatly exceeded the average.
This, however, does not appear to have had any marked influence on the health of the regiment.
On the march.—On march from 25th November to end of year. There was much foot-soreness.
The lines have been frequently described. The position is unhealthy.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's barrack-rooms, huts, &c.— Barrack and guard-rooms
were sufficiently ventilated. Huts are too low and small and soil is polluted by sewage.
Water-supply.—The water-supply has been sufficient and good. No recommendations were
required.
Sanitary arrangements.— They have been as well attended to as the establishment would
permit. The numerous private latrines and absence of provision for sewage are likely causes of
disease.
Diet .—Vegetables were always procurable, but provisions were dear throughout the year.
Compensation of Rupees 8-9-5 to Rupees 5-0-7 per mensem was paid, the average being
Rupees 7-12-7.
What liquors hove been used.—Toddy and arrack; not good.
Clothing.—Sufficient as regards material, but better foot clothing or none at all is needed.
Foot-soreness.—Yes, very much indeed on march. Men were allowed on my recommendation
to wear chapals or socks or slippers, or to walk barefoot, but the foot-soreness did not markedly
diminish in consequence. For marching over rough roads or across country on dark nights as the
regiment did, men must be provided with good boots and socks to preserve their feet from injury.
With the foot clothing they had on the march, fully one-third of the sepoys would have been more
or less useless against an enemy solely on account of foot-soreness. Fissured skin of feet was
very common from marching barefoot on dry "black cotton " soil.
Duty and exercises.— The duty in garrison was the usual routine of parade and guard work,
diversified by tours of "Resident's escort" and field days. On the march the men had some very
severe work indeed to help on the carts over bad roads, ghats and rivers. On the whole they
worked very well, and the work did them good as a rule, except on a few occasions when they
were exhausted from want of food. Number of nights in bed 4 to 5.
Foot-soreness.
Duty and
exercises.
Drill.—Drill usually from 6 to 8 A.M. and 4-30 to 6-30 P.M. No recommendations.
Exercises.—There was a gymnasium, which recruits were required to attend, with obvious
benefit.
Vaccination.—A register of births is kept in the hospital, and the date of vaccination and
result is entered against each child's name. Natives are averse to having young infants
vaccinated. In 1878 there were vaccinated 138, of which all were successful.
Epidemic diseases. — Cholera was more or less prevalent in Secunderabad throughout the
year. In the regiment there were but 2 cases with 1 death. The disease is generally brought
into the cantonment from Hyderabad by the detachment sent to form the Resident's escort.
Drill.
Epidemic
diseases.
General conclusions.—The past year has been a healthy one for this corps, which is now
thoroughly acclimatised to the Deccan. There is really nothing in its medical history during
that period that needs special mention. On 25th November the Head-quarters and Right Wing
left Secunderabad to march to Hoshungabad, and the present return includes the Head-quarters
and Right Wing only from 25th November to 31st December.
Deputy Surgeon-General. W. H. Rean, M.D., inspected this corps on the 20th
November 1878 and reports as follows:—
General
conclusions.
Sanitary condition of lines.—The lines of the 3rd Regiment are situated on the lowest ground
of any in the cantonment, but are placed on the highest ground of their immediate vicinity.
The lines and huts are very old and have been frequently reported for their insalubrity. They
are situated in the south-east corner of the cantonment, from which they have been partially cut
off by the railway. The drainage system consists merely of trenches dug on either side of the
streets, into which the liquid refuse of the huts runs.
Sanitary
condition
of lines.
22