75
CEDED DISTRICTS.
suddenly died from effusion into the pericardium, which was found, on a post-mortem
examination being made, to have taken place.
These three cases which terminated fatally would in all probability have occurred
anywhere.
The health of the majority of the European Officers and their families was also very
good during the year.
The 2nd Cavalry was inspected by Deputy Surgeon-General Ranking, who
makes the following observations:—
Lines.—The lines of this regiment have undergone no change since last inspection. They
have been described as built on no regular plan, without drainage, except that afforded by
the natural configuration of the ground, while the huts are of a very inferior description. It
will be presently noted in another paragraph that the hospital is not only out of repair, but
dangerously so, and that the Engineer Department has reported that it is not worth repair,
and has suggested the errection of a new hospital. If this is sanctioned, I recommend that
the site now occupied by the hospital be given up for new Left Wing Lines, and that the old
ones be demolished. A work containing so much expense must necessarily depend upon
whether a Cavalry Regiment is to be permanently located at this station. If so new lines
ought to be built for the existing ones, especially those occupied by the Left Wing are very
bad.
Drainage and sewage .—In the proper acceptation of the terms there is none.
T h e c o n s e r v a n c y o f t h e l i n e s i s e f f e c t e d b y t h e u s u a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f o n e c a r t a n d e i g h t s w e e p e r s
who sweep the streets and remove all rubbish deposited in the dirt and rubbish receptacles.
The conservancy of the backyards of sepoys' huts and huts of followers is effected with
private arrangements. No efficient inspection of these courtyards is apparently ever made.
The Medical Officer admitted that he had never entered one, as he understood that there
were objections to his inspecting them, as the men were all Mahomedans. But in commu
-nication with the Officer Commanding the Regiment—although he admitted that it had not
been customary for periodical inspections to be Made by the Medical Officer and Quarter
-master—orders were issued which enabled me to enter and inspect them after giving a few
moment's notice to enable the women to retire into privacy. I inspected some of the backyards,
noticing them at random, and found them clean. The Medical Officer has been instructed to
make similar inspections periodically. I also inspected the public latrine resorted to by the
followers—horse-keepers, grass-cutters, &c.—and found it clean so far that the deposits of
odor had been removed; but the flooring is saturated with filth, and the stench from it was
insupportable. It has in part been in use so long that it ought to be done away with, and a
new one be provided. I may mention that no sale is found for night soil or for stable refuse
at this station, which is removed by the municipal establishment.
Santary condition of all buildings .—The quarter-guard room was fully described in last
year's report. I found it clean. The only puckah latrine is that already alluded to
as resorted to by the followers. The prison cells I found clean, but unoccupied. All
excreta, are removed and buried in pits at a distance from the lines.
Sanitary con
-dition of all
buildings.
Lines.
Drainage and
sewage.
Water-supply .—This was fully described last year. At the present time it is more
abundant than it has been for many years. No results of analysis of the sources whence the
regiment draws its supply or indeed of any other supply have been communicated, nor, I
under st and, wi t h Mi l i t ar y aut hor i t i es by t he Wat er Anal yst .
Duties .—Average nights in bed four to one on duty. Duties generally not prejudicial to
the health of the troops.
Water-supply.
Duties.
Conservancy. — A
g o o d d e a l o f p r i c k l y - p e a r b u s h h a s b e e n e r a d i c a t e d s i n c e l a s t r e p o r t ,
and the neighbourhood of the lines, as far as the nullah and the village of Dhunganthy
is kept clean. The village itself has not undergone improvement. It is simply filthy and
overrum with pigs, which are the only scavengers. The Commanding Officer informs me
that the atmosphere is perceptibly tainted when the wind sets in from that direction. The village
ought to lee removed; it is too near both to the Cavalry and Native Infantry Lines.
Hospital .—The hospital accommodation is precisely as described last year. The
building is much indeed dangerously out of repair. Part of the ward has the roof shored
up, and is considered, unsafe for occupation. The Engineer Officer has further reported
that it is not worth repair, and has recommended the construction of a new hospital, and if
has been included in the annual requisition for new buildings. If a Cavalry Regiment is to
continue to form portion of the permanent force retained at this station, a new hospital
will have to be built, and the question should at the same time be taken into consideration
of building new lines for the men and followers. Sites were pointed out to me by the
Commanding Officer as suggested for the locality for the new hospital, and if the latter be
sanctioned, and either of those sites are finally selected, the site of the present hospital, after
demolition of the old building, should be taken up for new Left Wing Lines on the standard
plan, the old lines being demolished, the site ploughed up, levelled, or planted with some
exhausting crop. The Right Wing Lines would also have to be subsequently rebuilt in
symmetry with the Left Wing Lines; for, although of better construction than the latter
they are very bad. But it would be better still to select a new site for the lines. The subject
Conservancy.
Hospital.