Medical top
o-graphy.
Lines.
Ventilation
and drainage.
Water
- s uppl y.
Diet.
Duty.
Drill.
Exercises .—No provision of this nature.
Exercises.
Hospital ven
-tilation.
Drainage.
Recreation.
Duties.
115
HYDERABAD SUBSIDIARY FORCE.
Medical topography .—Secunderabad has the character of being bad for hepatitis and
dysentery. This is attributed to its considerable daily variation of temperature. Cholera
is also generally to be found to a greater or less extent.
Lines .—The lines of huts occupied by the regiment are well elevated and in a healthy
situation. According to European ideas the huts are small and dark, but they seem to
suit the native soldiers very well.
Ventilation and drainage.—The ventilation is sufficient. The drains in the lines are
simply superficial earthen drains. I have heard that the estimated cost of stone drains
was so high as to put stone drains out of the question for the present at all events.
Water-supply .—In the hot season the water-supply (from wells) is scanty. The rain
-fall of the present year was so abundant that no scarcity is expected for one or two years
to come, even should the rainfall of these years be deficient. The quality is fair.
Diet.—Secunderabad is not a cheap station in this respect. Vegetables are to be had,
but they are not cheap. Compensation for dearness of rice has been issued.
Duty.—The usual garrison duty not to any prejudicial extent.
Drill
.—Three times a week for a couple of hours in the morning. No unfavorable
influence on health.
Vaccination .—Sixty-two cases of small-pox occurred during the year among the men
and their families. There were four deaths in all. Two of these were sepoys, one of the
latter was attacked while in hospital when he had been some months under treatment for
advanced leprosy. No re-vaccination. Vaccination has been carried out extensively for
the last couple of months.
Diseases .—Fevers, dysentery, and diarrhœa are always to be met with to a greater or
less extent. It is difficult to say exactly what they are due to, beyond variations of temper
-ature. Cholera prevailed to a slight extent in the surrounding country, and five cases
occurred in our lines during the year, all of them imported from the neighbouring villages
as far as could be ascertained. There is no sanitary defect in the lines to create disease.
Hospital ventilation .—The ventilation of the hospital is abundant. In the cold wea
-ther, as at present, it is somewhat excessive, so that doors and windows have to be kept shut.
No overcrowding.
Drainage .—Nothing to find fault with in this respect. Dry-earth sewage can hardly be
carried out with natives who wash themselves instead of using paper.
Vaccination.
Diseases.
Water-supply.
Water-supply .—Water-supply good.
Deputy Surgeon-General Barclay reports as follows on the 29th :—
Huts .—The huts of this regiment have been for the most part completed and occupied.
A few are not yet finished, and these have suffered severely from the recent heavy rain; the
others have not suffered much. There is still a good deal to be done in the way of trim
-ming, lime washing, &c., before the lines will have a tidy appearance.
The configuration of the ground admits of thorough drainage, and it is very desirable
that the large streets should be provided with V-shaped masonry drains as laid down in
para. 1,445 of the Madras Army Regulations. This, however, could not be done by the men
themselves, and I am informed that the cost of the work is an obstacle to its being undertaken
by the Public Works Department. The present drains are merely channels cut in the soil.
The drain that carries off the water from opposite No. 3 Company Lines on the west
should be continued further westward, and a large pit in the same neighbourhood, now full
of storm water, should be filled in as soon as practicable. On the east, opposite the Nos.
1 and 2 Companies, the storm water lodges in a hollow close by, or when there is a heavy
fall overflows the public road. To remedy this it would be necessary to carry a drain under
-neath the road (by a culvert) and prolong it to some distance eastward.
Huts.
Sanitary condition of all buildings.—The
guard-rooms, cells, school-rooms, and Sta
f f S e r j e a n t s ' q u a r t e r s a r e c l e a n a n d i n g o o d o r d e r .
No public latrine has yet been built for the lines, but the Cantonment Committee has
undertaken to provide one when the rains are over. Six of the old European latrines are in
temporary use, and are cleaned twice a day. There are no cess-pools or foul drains.
Water-supply .—From wells; only two of which are used for drinking and cooking
purposes. One of these is not within the lines, and is under the charge of the Assistant
Quartermaster-General. The other in the lines is under a guard. The "Quartermaster
-General's Well" opposite the Artillery Horse Lines has always been a favorite one, though
it has not been favorably reported on by the Analyst of Potable Waters.
Recreation .—There are no games or amusements in use among the men of this regi
-ment.
Duties.—Not prejudicial.
Sanitary con
-dition of al
l buildings.
Water
-supply.
Conservancy .—The conservancy of the neighbourhood is satisfactory. The Nizam's
village of Russulpoor requires constant looking after. It is on the east of the lines, and
is inspected and reported on weekly by the Commandant, the Quartermaster, and the
Conservancy.