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The accommodation here is scarcely sufficient for a battalion of full Indian
strength. The comfort of the men would be largely added to if each block were
furnished with a certain number of cane-lounging chairs. They are especially
needed in the cool of the afternoon during the hot season.
The coffee-shops of the Infantry and Artillery were fairly provided, but did not
afford that variety in articles of food which so largely contributes to the health of
the men. In the coffee-shop of the 7th Hussars every variety of food, such as
cheeses, hams, bacons, preserves of all kinds, were procurable, and it was pos-
- s i b l e a t a n y m o m e n t o f t h e d a y t o o b t a i n g o o d a n d w h o l e s o m e m e a t a t a v e r y
moderate rate.
The accommodation generally has been sufficient with the exception of Cavalry
barracks where, owing to the strength of the present regiment (600), it has been
found necessary to occupy as dormitories the rooms of the lower stories, recreation
rooms, gymnasium, &c., and tents. These arrangements have been found indis-
pensable pending the erection of the new barracks which are now being built.
The meat ration has been found to be very thin and lacking in nutritive
qualities ; mutton issued usually twice a week and beef five times being grass-fed in
a place where even moderately good grass is scarce ; neither can ever be possibly
good. Green vegetables are very few and insufficient ; supplied only about twice a
week. Nothing affects more prejudicially the health of troops, especially that of
young soldiers, than meat of inferior quality and insufficiency of green vegetables.
Deputy Surgeon-General Roberts states that
—
" There are certain defects in the cook-houses that admit of easy improvement and which,
when effected, will 'materially assist in the better cooking of the food
—
" (a) The cooking ranges in all the cook-houses of Royal Artillery and Cavalry are too
low and the ovens are too small. The ranges should be elevated 3 feet from the
ground and so built that the smoke should go up the chimney ; in the middle of
each range should be a large oven.
" ( b ) I n t h e B r i t i s h I n f a n t r y s o m e o f t h e c o o k i n g r a n g e s a r e i n a d i l a p i d a t e d c o n d i t i o n a n d
all smoke more or less. They should be rebuilt on the plan recommended for
the Cavalry and Artillery.
"Meatsafes should be provided ; iron tubs should be substituted for the present wooden
ones in the British Infantry ; frying pans should be provided for the Cavalry and Artillery
the Infantry have been provided with them."
Hospitals.— There are three Station Hospitals, viz., South, North and Central,
for the sick of the Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery, respectively. The South has
accommodation for 200 beds. This is the utmost limit it could be made to supply,
and even then it would be scarcely sufficient to meet the requirements of the two
Infantry Regiments of full strength as well as the departments. This building has
a very imposing appearance, but it lacks in many respects the requirements of a
good hospital. The wards run across the building and are draughty and noisy.
They were, however, well provided with screens and were on the whole very
comfortable. A large lavatory, close to the building, would add much to the
comfort of the sick.
A detached building, formerly an Hospital Sergeant's quarters, has been
appropriated for an officers' hospital—a most necessary and useful institution.
The Central and the North have sufficient accommodation and are exceedingly
clean and comfortable.
The hospital for women and children occupies one of the family quarters
of the 1st British Infantry Regiment. Although a good many alterations and
improvements have been effected with a view to making it more comfortable and
suitable, still it is not, and never could be, made, a good hospital. When it is.
considered that provision has to be made for general diseases as well as lying-in
cases, no building short of one specially constructed for the purpose can be
satisfactory. In a station of such a size and extent as Secunderabad, there should
be a station female hospital in a suitable and convenient position, fitted up with all
modern requirements.
The water-supply has been good. The wells from which it is obtained are
situated on ground free from impurities.