3
Lavatory and Latrine accommodation for British Cavalry at Secunderabad.—
Two single privies were constructed in 1887-88, and the construction of four half
-troop lavatories for the British Cavalry barracks at Secunderabad (to be under
-taken this year) has been sanctioned by the Government of India. It is hoped
that the erection of these buildings will meet the deficiency in latrine and lavatory
accommodation brought to notice in the report.
Cook-houses of the British Troops at Secunderabad require better furniture and
more complete cooking implements.— The attention of the General Officer Com
-manding, Secunderabad District, has been called to this point.
Officers' Hospital at Secunderabad.—The former " Hospital Sergeants'
quarters " were, on the recommendation of the Medical authorities, converted into
a hospital for officers at a cost of Rs. 135 and the work completed in September
1888. The Deputy Surgeon-General, Secunderabad District, remarks that by
improving the lighting and ventilation, these quarters now make a very good sick
room.
Quarters for Hospital Servants, Central Station Hospital, Secunderabad.—The
question of providing quarters for six men of the Army Hospital Native Corps at
the Central Station hospital is receiving the consideration of the General Officer
Commanding, Secunderabad District, in communication with the local Medical
authorities.
Contagious Disease Ward for Female Hospital. —Provision for a contagious
disease ward is made in the District schedule, 1889-90, which has been approved
by me.
Extension of the Trimulgherry Cemetery. —This extension was approved by me;
but as the Government of India intimated its inability to provide the necessary
funds for the carrying out of the work, the necessity for immediate extension has
been somewhat obviated by a part of the Roman Catholic portion of the cemetery
being made available for Protestants.
Quarters for Park Sergeant in charge of the Armament of the Entrenchment.—
This work is now considered unnecessary as the charge of the armament has been
transferred to the Ordnance Department.
NAGPORE FORCE.
7. Quality of the Beer supplied from the Nílgiri Brewery.—Government have
recently permitted the Murree Brewery Company to reduce the original gravity of
malt liquor from 1,070º to 1,062º.
SANITARY REPORT OF BRITISH TROOPS IN THE MADRAS COMMAND
DURING 1887.
The health of the British Troops for 1887 was, on the whole, fair, and compares favorably
with that of the previous year, the ratio of admissions and deaths being both lower than in
1886. The invaliding, however, shows a considerable increase, owing chiefly to service in
Upper Burma.
There has been a complete immunity from small-pox, but eight cases of cholera—seven
fatal — occurred; of these, four took place at Secunderabad, in which station and its neighbour
-hood the disease was epidemic at the time. Of the seven fatal cases, one occurred out of
hospital.
The year under report shows a slight increase in the number of admissions for enteric
fever as compared with the previous year, but the mortality was appreciably less.
No new facts have been gathered which would tend to throw additional light on the
causation of this disease in the command; nevertheless additional evidence has been adduced
showing the influence of youth and recent arrival in India as predisposing causes as exemplified
in the outbreak among the 7th Hussars, the great majority of whom were 25 years old and
under, 56, out of a total of 61 admissions in this regiment, occurring among men 25 years of age
and under. In connection with this outbreak, deficient accommodation in barracks and over
-crowding of latrines and bath-rooms were also reported.
At Bangalore, the drinking-water is suspected to be a probable medium for the introduc
-tion of the poison.