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experience has shown that, let what may be done to the buildings, troops
occupying the locality cannot be ensured good health.
93. Since the cholera outbreak, the drains leading from the wash-houses,
suggestions for minor
drainage
works.
have
been taken up, and cess-pits for the reception of the
used water constructed; but this, so far from being an
improvement, seems to me to be more likely to be productive of nuisance than
the old system of drainage, The bath-room drains should be of shallow
cut stone, and open. The outfall from the barrack buildings is good, and no
water ever need stagnate in them.
94. I feel that I should be wanting in my duty to Government if I did
Completion of New
Barrack
and
removal
of
Cavalry
to
new
site
advocated. not
take
this
opportunity of earnestly recommending the
speedy completion of the new Cavalry Barracks on the par-
ticularly
fine
site chosen for the purpose near to Bolarum.
95. The design of the buildings already commenced is that of the standard
Double-storied build-
ings in Deccan climate
not
essential.
plan for double-storied buildings. In the climate of the
Deccan, and with a dry sub-soil such as exists there, double-
storied barracks are not essential to health. They are certainly
less comfortable for the men than single-storied buildings on well raised base-
ments, such as the Artillery and 1st European Infantry Regiment are provided
with at Trimulgherry. Whether the designs of the barracks be modified or not,
I feel that the best chance of preserving the health of a Cavalry Regiment in
Secunderabad lies in the abandonment of the condemned barracks, and the
occupation of a thoroughly good site, such as has been selected for the erection
of new barracks.
96. I have entered in Appendices some information obtained from the
Condemn.
Medical Officer of the Regiment, a report and diagram by
Dr. Anderson, a list of cholera attacks and deaths in the
bazaar and neighbouring villages of the cantonment, and a copy of the Meteoro-
logical Register of the month of May at Secunderabad. I much regret that so
little of positive information should have been elicited during the inquiry, but
the facts so far as they have been ascertained seem to warrant the conclusion;
1st.—That cholera was introduced into Secunderabad by travellers pass-
ing over an infected area, on the Eastern Coast road.
2nd.—That the outbreak in the 18th Hussars followed the appearance of
the disease in the bazaar, and in a village in close proximity to
the barracks.
3rd.—That the simultaneous outbreak in the hospital, barracks, and
family quarters of the Hussars points to a common exciting
cause in relation to either air, food, or drink.
4th.—That there is no evidence to show that the atmosphere around the
Hussar Barracks was differently constituted to that of other
portions of the cantonment, and the food supplies were exactly
of the same nature as those used by other corps.
5th.—That the Hussar Regiment, so far as is known, differed only from
the other European troops, in using water from a public well
that was liable to receive extraneous impurities.
6th.—That the actual fouling of the parade ground wells by cholera
matter, though exceedingly probable, cannot be directly proved.
BANGALORE,
(Signed)
W. R. CORNISH, F.R.C.S.,
1st August 1871,
Sanitary Commissioner for Madras.
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