Hospital
latrines.
Guard room,
cells, &c.
Duties and
employment.
Health of
the civil
population.
Provisions.
83
HYDERABAD SUBSIDIARY FORCE.
Hospital latrines.— Large and roomy, and dry-earth system of conservancy is well carried
out in all. Coal tar is also in use.
Guard room, cells, &c.—All clean and in very good order.
Duties and employment.—These comprise the usual drills, guards, parades, and brigades
common to all garrisons. An escort is furnished to the " Resident" at Chudderghaut by
regiments in turn. Reliefs take place every month. There is no reason to believe that these
duties have had any prejudicial influence on the health of the troops.
Drainage and conservancy.—The drainage and conservancy of the station are well and
carefully attended to by the " Assistant Quartermaster-General " and Cantonment Committee.
The same in the town have been greatly improved. 375 additional yards to the main drain have
been constructed. First-class drains of stone in chunam have been made in the principal streets,
existing covered drains opened, cleaned, and repaired to the extent of 4,865 yards. All open
drains are swept daily and kept clean of all refuse material. The public latrines are now
effectually cleansed, and a proper staff of scavengers maintained. The streets are clean, and a
system has been introduced whereby the private latrines in houses, and all compounds and yards
will be periodically visited and cleansed by the Municipal scavengers.
Drainage and
conservancy.
Water-supply.—The public wells have all been deepened at an expense of 8,000 Rupees.
Reservoirs have been dug on the slopes of tanks. The tanks are now full, and there cannot be
said to have been any great scarcity of water throughout the year. The wells, however, in all the
regimental lines were before the fall of the monsoon all but dry, and families had to go some
distance for water ; but the supply since has been ample and of good quality.
Water-supply.
Seasons.—The hot weather, although unusually prolonged, was milder than that of last
year. The scanty rainfall of the first half of the year (following so dry a year as 1876) resulted,
as has been observed, in a deficient water-supply in the wells of regiments, but the latter half
of the year was satisfactory as regards the important points of rainfall and water-supply. The
rainfall was above the average, nearly 32 inches against 16 inches last year.
Health of the civil population.—The year on the whole has been fairly healthy, considering
that scarcity was prevalent throughout the district, and consequently the number of indigent
poor who were daily fed by charity, the town has been fairly free of disease. Cholera and
small-pox appeared from time to time, but never assumed any alarming proportions.
Provisions.—Food has been occasionally scarce owing to the large exports to the famine
districts ; generally speaking, there has been a good supply, but the rates have been and
continue to be very high.
The subjoined table shows the average prices of some of the principal food-articles as
contrasted with the rates of 1875 and 1876 :—
Per Halli Sicca Rupee.
1877.
1876.
1875.
LB.
OZ.
LB.
OZ.
LB.
OZ.
Rice, 3rd sort ...
...
. . .
12
3
19 14
21
8
Wheat, 1st sort
...
...
16
2
30
1
29 12
Jawary ....
...
...
...
19
2
35
4
39
6
Tour dhall
...
...
...
16
5
28 12
29
6
Salt, common ...
...
. . .
22
8
18 12
19
0
Ghee
...
...
. . .
...
2 14
2
8
2 12
Bajara, . . .
. . .
...
. . .
15
9
36 14
46
3
Seasons.
The average amount of rice compensation given to the sepoy by Government was
Rupees 7-10-11 monthly.
Statistics of sickness and mortality contrasted with those of the two previous years.—These
statistics are compared with those of the Native troops occupying Secunderabad in 1875
and 1876.
—
1877.
1876.
1875.
Average annual strength
...
....
3235.14
3284.17
3245.39
Admitted sick
...
...
...
...
2849
2765
2531
Died in hospital
...
. . .
4 4
40
28
Do. out of do.
...
...
...
. . .
13
16
5
Average daily sick
...
...
...
88.35
95.71
106.49
Statistics of
sickness and
mortality
contrasted
with those
of the two
previous
years.