HYDERABAD SUBSIDIARY FORCE,
83
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1875 ..
.. Secunderabad ..
. .
80.91
2.48
1.47
3.40
3.55
1876 ..
..
Do.
..
. .
75.37
3.08
.86
3.17
1.29
1877 ..
..
Do.
..
. .
99.23
2.15
2.22
4.15
.44
Average ..
85.17
2.57
1.51
3.57
1.76
1878 ..
.. Secunderabad ..
..
87.34
2.34
1.20
6.47
1.05
Surgeon-Major W. J. Busteed, M.D., was in medical charge of this corps during
the year and reports as follows :—
Climate of the station.—An unusually heavy rainfall was the chief feature under this head.
Climate of
the station.
Huts.—The huts are of the regulation size, and according to European ideas they are small,
low, dark, ill-ventilated, and by no means conducive to health.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's barrack-rooms, &c.—It is impossible to ventilate the
inside of the sepoy's hut, or to pretend to efficient drainage with merely earthen surface drains.
Water-supply. —There are six wells in the lines, Nos. 98 to 103 inclusive. In 1872 the
Analyst reported by no means favorably on them ; 99 was described as " noxious" and was
recommended to be discontinued ; 98, 100, 102 were all more or less bad ; 101 and 103 " may be
set down as good." The abundant rainfall of the present year put good drinking water within
reach of all.
Huts.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
barrack-
rooms, &c.
Water-supply.
Diet. —Food of all kinds dear during the year. Compensation for dearness of rice averaged
Government Rupees 7-12-7 per month. It is a fact well known to every one connected with
the Native Army that the sepoy is not infrequently under-fed and ill-nourished. His relatives
and friends manage 'it between them. In times of scarcity or famine the evil is proportionately
increased.
Clothing.—The uniform of the men, with the exception of the foot covering noticed in the
next paragraph, is moderately suitable and sufficient, but their private clothing seems often too
light and flimsy to protect them from changes of weather.
Foot-soreness. —The solution of the problem how to give the men sore-feet seems pretty
complete. Hard, ill-fitting boots, worn without socks by men who, prior to enlistment, went
bare-footed, may always be relied on to produce foot-soreness.
Diet.
Clothing.
Foot-soreness.
Duty and exercises .—The men perform the usual regimental and garrison duties besides
furnishing the Residency escort of about 200 men for a week once a month. On the whole the
duties are severe, and the effect on health proportionate. Number of nights in bed between two
tours of duty 4.
Drill.—With the exception of Sundays and Thursdays there is usually drill in the morning
from 5-30 to 7-30 and in the evening from 4-30 to 6. The men while undergoing the musketry
course are often out till near midday.
Duty and
exercises.
Drill.
Exercises.—There are no regimental arrangements for games and exercises ; neither has the
sepoy much leisure or much muscular energy to spare for such things when his duty is over.
Some of the men do a little at gardening.
Vaccination. —Vaccination has been attended to. No case of small-pox during the year.
Re-vaccination not practised to any extent.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Epidemic diseases .—There were ] 0 admissions from cholera during the year, for all of which,
as explained in my quarterly reports, Chudderghat was responsible. With cholera at Chudderghat,
as it generally is when any cholera at all is about, it is impossible to keep it out of our lines
under existing arrangements as to escort duty.
Malarious fever was the chief disease of the year ; a general cause existed for its prevalence
in the unusually heavy rainfall, which soaked the huts through and through, and a special cause,
as far as this regiment is concerned, in the larger number of recruits unused to the climate of the
station some of whom got it over and over again.
Epidemic
diseases.
Ventilation of the hospital. —Hospital ventilation excellent ; no overcrowding.
Ventilation
of the
hosnital.
Hospital drainage and latrines. —Drainage effected by shallow surface earthen drains. Dry
earth used in latrines.
Hospital
drainage and
latrines.