Water-
supply.
Duties.
Conservancy.
Principal
diseases.
77
HYDERABAD SUBSIDIARY FORCE.
July and secondly in November and December, whilst for the other months the numbers are of
moderate amount. The first increase of sickness was coincident with the outbreak of the south-west
monsoon, when cold, strong winds, often assuming the character of storms, attended with rain and a
variable temperature, prevailed night and day. The second unhealthy period was simultaneous
with the occurrence of the north-east monsoon commencing towards the end of October. The
individuals seized were those labouring more or less under malarial dyscrasia contracted in Arracan
and the Nicobars, the chill serving to excite the disease germs into operation. This opinion is
founded upon and borne out by the very moderate prevalence of malarial disease amongst other
native troops or the native civil community at this station. Certain conditions of soil, topography,
and climate must therefore be in conjunction aiding each other in maintaining a pure atmosphere,
and either neutralizing the action of other agents, or rendering impossible the generation in any
considerable amount of the disease principle which produces malarial fevers. A few of these
favourable peculiarities are at once distinguishable: the soil is dry, free from swamps and exuberant
vegetation, and every where open and accessible to the action of the sun and winds. Moreover dry
cultivation only can be practised, thus removing another possible source of evil apt to arise from
subsoil saturation and imperfect drainages. The prevailing weather is dry, and seldom muggy or
depressing. I observe with much satisfaction that chronic rheumatism with its frequent concomitant
of impairment of motor and sensitive power of the extremities, which was an abiding source of
trouble and cause of non-efficiency in Burmah, has almost ceased to appear on the sick report since
the arrival of the regiment here. Its cause was then ascribed to excessive and prolonged humidity
of soil and atmosphere in conjunction with sudden changes of temperature occurring in a parti
-cularly-marked degree at night, and the immunity enjoyed in the dry and less variable temperature
of this station goes to confirm that opinion. Dysentery ranked third in the list, and presented a high
figure in 1874, but its occurrence for the past year was much less frequent. The other diseases
do not call for special remarks, being for the most part trifling and accidental.
Deputy Surgeon-General George Smith, M.D., inspected this corps on the 23rd
February 1876, and reports as follows
:
—
Lines.—The lines are built on a fair slope, which secures the free surface drainage, and they
look clean, tidy, and well conserved. There is no artificial drainage of any kind. The lines are
planted with trees which, however, do not flourish well owing to the fierce heat and the absence of
soil. The lines are old, and the arrangements of the usual kind. Men, women, and children defecate
and bathe in the huts, and the arrangements are only kept sanitary by constant care on the part
of the toties and those who superintend them. The excreta are removed daily, the fœcal ablution
water runs into a chatty with dry earth outside the huts, and the other wash of the huts percolates
and soaks inside or outside the hut, according as there may or may not be an outlet from the hut.
There were no rubbish heaps this morning, and even the small lines between the rows of huts were
clean. The proper dry-earth system is hardly adopted, and the domestic privies are very primi
-tive. The houses are of mud and in heavy rain subside. There is also salt in the mud employed
which attracts moisture during rain and endangers the stability of the hut.
Water-supply.—The supply is sufficient. The water is good and is protected by guards.
Duties.—Not prejudicial, but the health-state of this corps is still below par, not having quite
recovered from the effects of service in Burmah, Arracan, and the Nicobars.
Conservancy. —The conservancy is good and well attended to.
Principal diseases .—Ranged in order of frequency, the principal diseases stand thus:—Fevers
227, rheumatism 54, abscess and ulcer 27, dysentery 20, wounds, &c., 16, eye diseases 12, venereal
diseases 11, diarrhœa 8, respiratory 8, and spleen 7. There have been 5 casualties, 28 have left
on sick certificate, and 40 have been pensioned.
It will be some years before this regiment regains its proper health standard. A prolonged
residence in this fine climate is what it imperatively requires.
HYDERABAD SUBSIDIARY FORCE.
Average strength
3,259
Do. do. present
3,030
Total admissions
2,559
Daily sick
101
Deaths in hospital
28
Do. out of do.
9
Pensioned
84
Sick leave
67
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding as
contrasted with previous years
:
—
Lines.