Medical History of H. M. \5th Hussars. 379 



ed with pernicious currents ; and this remark applies to all 

 the buildings occupied by the Regiment, except the hospi- 

 tal, which has been enclosed, and the new guard-house. 



The married families occupy a patcherry, an assemblage 

 of mud-huts, in our opinion, in every way most objectionable ; 

 they are low, often very dirty, badly constructed with mud- 

 floors ; and are confined, ill ventilated, and take the soldiers 

 from under the care of their non-commissioned officers, and 

 are, it is alleged, a concealment for much depravity, traffic, 

 and the sale of spirituous liquors. 



We should therefore recommend the families being ac- 

 commodated in barracks, as is done in Bengal. 



The faults of the barracks are generally, 



1st. The verandahs are not enclosed. 



2nd. The verandahs are too narrow for real utility. 



3rd. The doors and windows being of solid plank, when they 

 are shut there is no light or air ; when open, the glare, the 

 wind loaded with dust and sand, or injurious currents of 

 cold damp air are admitted ; they are in consequence not 

 only ill ventilated, but incapable of being well ventilated; 

 the ventilators lately made in the roof of each barrack are 

 of little use. 



4th. The roofs themselves are bad, the bamboos decayed, 

 and swarming with bugs; the application made use of to 

 destroy those vermin was but a very temporary benefit. 



There are two urine tubs to each Troop, enclosed by a wall 

 adjoining the wash-houses ; they are emptied and cleaned 

 twice a day. There are eight small bathing or washing-houses : 

 that they are of use it is needless to deny; but that they are 

 too small for real utility, too far from a supply of water, 

 and ineligibly situated, too close to the barrack rooms, be- 

 tween the ranges, preventing ventilation, is alike evident 

 and objectionable, the water running from them causing in- 

 jurious exhalations. These baths should have been large 

 buildings, situated near the patcherries, with wells made 



