20
Lessons taught by
the late outbreak.
have been very trying to delicate women and children at the very hottest period
of the year.
88. There are, I think, two very important lessons to be
learnt from this very remarkable outbreak of cholera at Secun-
derabad.
Better system of
departmental communi-
ation needed.
(a.)—The first is that a prompter system of communication between District
authorities is needed, so that the local Military authorities
may invariably be warned of the approach of cholera when
it is known to be prevailing in neighbouring districts.
The Military station of Secunderabad being situated in the heart of the
Nizam's dominions is badly off in regard to such warnings, as no registration of
deaths is, I believe, attempted in that country; still the fact of cholera deaths in
the Kistna and Nellore Districts might, if furnished in time to the heads of the
Medical Department at Secunderabad, have given warning of the possible
approach of the epidemic along the Eastern Coast road, and more effective
measures might have been taken for the surveillance of travellers along the road.
The delay in forwarding the police reports from Juggiapetta prevented any
warning being given.
Water-supply requires
more care.
(b.)—In the second place, the facts should, I think, teach us that the arrange-
ments for the water-supply of troops need much more atten-
tion than has hitherto been given to them. To draw water
for the use of troops from a well, which may be fouled by bazaar residents or
travellers a hundred times in a clay, must always involve an element of danger ;
but with cholera actually present in the bazaar, the chances of communication
of the disease to troops are infinitely increased.
89. In making these remarks I do not pretend to say that in every case
cholera is communicated by polluted water. The poison doubtless finds its
way into the human economy by many other ways ; but so long as the people
of India are so habitually reckless in their contamination of water, it behoves
those who are responsible for the lives and safety of British troops to see that
every possible precaution is taken to ensure that their water-supply cannot have
been exposed to the chances of defilement.
90. If it be considered absolutely necessary to continue the occupation of
the Hussar Barracks at Secunderabad, I would most strongly insist on the need
of immediate provision for the improvement of the water-supply.
91. The new well built with this object has not been brought into use on
account of the contamination of the water by the lime used in steining the
well. I would suggest that this well be emptied, when probably all the soluble
part of the mortar will have been dissolved. If the water is then found
unobjectionable, I would suggest that the well be covered in and fitted with a
force pump, such as is put up in the Military Prison at Trimulgherry, and that
no water should be brought to the barracks, but such as has been drawn through
the pump. The pump should be worked for several hours daily, so as to ensure
a percolation of fresh water through the sub-soil. If this well cannot be used
it would be better to depend entirely on the well in the barrack square rather
than revert to the parade ground wells.
Retention of the old
Barracks undesirable.
92. As regards the barracks I do not advocate the spending of any money
upon them more than is absolutely needed, to fit them for
temporary occupation, Their site is radically defective, and