Climate of
the station.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
nuts, amp;c.
Nuisance.
Water-supply.
Liquor.
Clothing.
Foot soreness.
95
HYDERABAD SUBSIDIARY FORCE.
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding, as
contrasted with previous years:—
Years.
Stations.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths. Pensioned. Sick Leave.
1874
... Secunderabad...
...
125.00
4.34
1.47
.14
.88
1875
...
Do.
...
. . .
87.38
3.31
1.50
.15
1.95
1876
. . .
Do.
...
. . .
90.97
2.57
2.96
.84
1.41
Average ...
101.11
3.40
1.97
.37
1.41
1877
... Secunderabad ...
...
47.31
2.38
1.57
3.29
1.00
Surgeons E. Ferrand and J. G. Collis, M.D., were in medical charge of this corps
during the year, the latter of whom reports as follows:—
Climate of the Station.— The hot weather in Secunderabad this year was very mild and
was tempered by the periodic occurrence of showers.
111
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, amp;c.—The ventilation of the men's huts is in the
condition common to Native Infantry Lines. The only provision laterally for ventilation is by the
doors, and in a few cases by windows. The cramped and confined nature of the house surroundings
however bars free access of pure air. Ventilation by the roof is also secured in the clefts between
tiles. The guard rooms and barrack are fairly ventilated. No system of drainage exists in
the lines worthy of the name.
Nuisance.—The lines are very well conserved, and no nuisances have been brought to my
notice.
Water-supply became very limited during the hot months. Two or three of the nine wells
were dry.
Sanitary arrangements in the barracks have been well attended to.
Sanitary
arrangements.
Diet.—The failure of food in the southern portions of the Madras Presidency has naturally
made the articles of food commonly used by sepoys dear in Secunderabad. The supply of vege-
tables was scanty during the earlier months (March and April) of my tenure of charge; since then
it has been sufficient. The troops have been receiving compensation.
The diet when allowed to be distributed among the number of persons usually dependent
on the sepoy for sustenance, cannot be considered as sufficient for the maintenance of him in any
thing like a perfect condition.
Liquor.—The liquor commonly used by sepoys—and I regret to say too largely—has been
the half-fermented juice of the Phœnix sylvestris.
Clothing of the troops when on duty has been sufficient and adapted to the climate; whe
n Clothing off duty the dress is somewhat too light during the cold months.
F Foot soreness.—There has been a considerable amount of foot soreness during the year. It
is due to the fact that the men do not wear stockings and thereby expose their feet to the direct
pressure of a boot that, as a rule, is neither the size or shape of their foot, and is made of a hard
unpliant leather put together in the roughest way.
Duty .—The effects of any or all cannot be said to have been prejudicial to health.
Diet.
Duty.
Exercises.—A gymkhana exists in Secunderabad, and in the only event which, during the
present year, has been open to the rank and file of the Native Infantry Regiments, the 40th
Madras Native Infantry mustered strong in competitors. Gymnastic exercises and a regimen-
ta1cricket club are being started.
Exercises.
Vaccination.
Vaccination has been zealously and successfully carried out in the regiment.
Epidemic.—Two cases of cholera have occurred amongst the rank and file, and both termi-
nated fatally. Dysentery caused 22 admissions, none of which were fatal. Ague has been the
prevailing form of fever. It caused 100 admissions and 3 deaths, 1 in and 2 out of hospital; in
the severer cases its type was typhoid. Diarrhœa caused a similar number of deaths, but only
thirteen admissions. Its type was that of the ordinary chronic form, and when it proved fatal,
it did so by exhaustion easily induced in debilitated subjects whose intestines were in an irritated
state primarily from bad. food.
Epidemic,
Hospital ventilation is most satisfactory; there has been no overcrowding.
Hospital ven-
tilation.
Hospital drainage.—The hospital latrines are in good order and in them the dry-earth
system has been efficiently carried out.
Hospital
drainage.