Constitution
of the force.
Lines.
Guard-rooms,
cells, &c.
Duties and
employments.
78
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
Years.
Rate per Cent. of
Average Strength Present.
Average Strength.
Admissions. Daily Sick. All Deaths.
Pensioned.
Sick Leave.
1872 ..
..
..
9 6 . 7 2
3.92
1 . 2 8
1 . 7 6
1.71
1873 ..
..
..
109.91
3 . 8 4
.91
1 . 3 7
0 . 7 9
1874 ..
..
..
144.11
6.32
1 . 2 6
4.14
1.99
Average
116.91
4.69
1.15
2 . 4 2
1.49
1875 ..
..
..
8 4 . 4 5
3.33
1.13
2.57
2.05
The following corps were serving in this division on the 31st December 1875 :—
1st Regiment L.C.
1st
do.
N.J.
3rd
do.
L.J.
29th
do.
N.J.
40th
do.
do.
Detachment, Sappers and Miners.
Hospitals.
Hospital
latrines.
Deputy Surgeon-General W. H. S. Burn was in charge of this division till
the 29th December, when he was succeeded by Deputy Surgeon-General W.
Williamson, who reports as follows :—
Constitution of the force.—The 1st Regiment N.I. arrived at Secunderabad from Thayetmyo
by wings. The left wing and head-quarters on the 4th of March ; right wing on the 29th
March 1875. There was no other change in the constitution of the Hyderabad Subsidiary Force.
Lines.—There have been no changes during the year in any of the lines occupied by the
native troops. The conservancy of all the lines is reported by the several medical officers in
charge of regiments as being as good as the means at disposal admits of. The natural drainage
in most instances is good except " as in the Sapper lines," where it is not neutralised by the lines
being built across instead of with the natural slope. The surface drainage in all the lines is
defective ; only shallow trenches along the sides of the streets exist, which soon get silted up, more
especially in the monsoon. The cost of stone-faced and mortar drains stand in the way of their
introduction. The latrines, " public and private," in the lines are kept clean by the daily removal
of all excreta. The dry-earth system is fairly carried out in both ; the families prefer the use of
ashes in their private latrines. No coal-tar is used in the public latrines.
Hospitals.— There have been no changes in any of the hospitals with the exception of the
Lock, the inside drainage of which has been improved ; that of the outside remains defective, and
will be brought to the notice of the Cantonment Committee. The hospitals are in good repair and
cleanly kept. The accommodation in all was found ample this year, as fever was much less
prevalent than in the previous year.
Hospital latrines.—Hospital latrines large and roomy, most of them being new buildings.
Dry-earth conservancy is in use in all, but in consequence of the habits of the native soldiers is
worked with difficulty. Coal-tar is also occasionally used.
Guard-rooms, cells, &c.—The guard-rooms, cells, &c., are clean and in good order.
Duties and employments.—The duties and employments of the troops are those usual in
garrison, viz., drills, guards, escorts, and brigades. The Sappers are also employed in public works,
such as road-making and the planting of trees. There is no reason to believe that these duties
and employments have any injurious influence on health.
Drainage and
Drainage and Conservancy.— The drainage and conservancy of the station generally are
conservancy. carefully attended to by the Quartermaster-General's Department and by the Cantonment Com-
mittee. Drainage is for the most part naturally good,
Water-supply.
Water-supply.— In all the regimental lines the water-supply is ordinarily sufficient and of
fair quality, but it is to be feared that on account of the scanty monsoon this year (1875) there
will be a scarcity during the coming hot season. None of the wells are covered in or are provided
with lifting power. Want of funds has delayed action in this direction. A scheme I believe is
still under consideration to supply the town of Secunderabad with water from the Hoosain Saugor
tank. The water has been analysed, and the report is very favourable.
Seascns.
Seasons.—The chief seasonal characteristics of the year under review were a very hot season
followed by a scanty monsoon. The total rainfall registered at the Meteorological Observatory
here was only 19 . 56 inches, against 29 . 84 in the previous year, or upwards of 7 inches below the