Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts, &c.
Water-supply
Sanitary arrangements carefully attended to.
Sanitary
arrangements
Drill.
Vaccination.
Sanitary
condition of
lines.
Sanitary
condition of
all buildings.
Conservancy.
Hospital.
91
HYDERABAD SUBSIDIARY FORCE.
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.— Owing to the scanty rainfall of last year and the first half of the
present year, the climate was unusually unpleasant. The rainfall in the latter half of the year
was above the average.
Climate of
the station.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts, &c.— With the exception of the impossibility of
ventilating the inside of the sepoy's hut, and the equal impossibility of securing efficient
drainage with merely earthern drains instead of stone ones, with these two very important
exceptions one might say that ventilation and drainage were satisfactory.
Water-supply .—There are six wells in use in the lines Nos. 98 to 103 inclusive. In
1872 the Analyst reported by no means favorably on them. No.99 was described as "noxious,"
and was recommended to be discontinued. Nos. 98, 100, 102 were more or less bad. Nos. 101
and 103 "may be set down as good. "During the first half of the present year the supply
even of doubtful water was very scanty, and people had to take what they could get.
Diet .—Food of all kinds was very dear. The average "compensation for dearness of
rice" was Government Rupees 7-12-0 per month. That the sepoy is frequently underfed and
ill-nourished is a fact well known to every officer in the Native Army. Of course he was worse
off this year than usual.
Clothing.—The uniform of the men, with the exception of the foot covering noticed in the
next paragraph, is sufficient and suitable; but the private clothing of the men seems often
insufficient to protect them from changes of climate.
Foot soreness.— Given hard, ill-fitting boots and no socks, foot soreness must be frequent,
especially in men who, prior to enlistment, always went barefooted. The remedy apparently
is to provide a better foot covering or let the men go barefoot.
Duty.—The men perform the usual regimental and garrison duties. No injurious effect
on health.
The average number of nights in bed between two tours of duty, 4½.
Drill .—Sundays and Thursdays are free from drill; on other days there is usually drill in
the morning from 5-30 to 7-30, and in the evening 4-30 to 6.
Vaccination has been attended to. No cases of small-pox during the year. Revaccina-
tion not practised to any extent.
Diet.
Clothing.
Foot soreness.
Duty.
Epidemic.
Epidemic.— Cholera prevailed in the surrounding district at different times during the
year. We had 1 case (a follower) in the lines in February. In June and July there were 11
attacked, and 3 deaths. Of these there were only 3 sepoys, of whom 1 died. We may
consider ourselves very fortunate at having got off so easily. Ague was the chief disease of
the year: 432 admissions against 205 last year. This increase of over, 100 per cent. it is
difficult to account for, but doubtless the climate during the year had much to do with it.
Hospital ventilation, excellent. In the latter part of October the hospital was overcrowded
unavoidably for a few days.
Hospital
ventilation.
Hospital water-supply derived from the wells in the lines brought by a puckally.
Hospital
water-supply.
General conclusions.—Beyond the increase in malarious fever during the year there is
nothing of special importance to draw attention to.
Deputy Surgeon-General W. Williamson inspected this corps on the 17th
October 1877 and reports as under:—
Sanitary condition of lines.—They are clean and well conserved, and the huts are in
fair order; the channels for surface water on each side of the streets. "No drains can be
said to exist; "are all more or less silted up with sand from the late heavy rains. Steps
will be immediately taken to have them deepened and cleared of sand.
Sanitary condition of all buildings.— Guard rooms, cells, and schoolroom are clean and in
good order. There are four public latrines in the lines, two on the north and two on the south
side. All exceedingly clean and in good order. Dry earth and ashes are used in all. The
private latrines in the compounds of huts are said to be clean and well conserved. Excreta
being removed daily and buried in trenches at some distance from the lines.
Conservancy in the neighborhood of the lines is fairly satisfactory.
Hospital.— The site of the hospital has a good elevation; the building is in good order,
pucka built, and has a tiled roof; has two wards with ridge ventilation.
General
conclusions.