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adding 1837 description
==Transport==
Secunderabad was the location for the headquarters of the [[Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway]], the first of several [[:Category:Indian States Railways|railways]] to be constructed by the Indian princely states.
==Description in 1837==
The British barracks at Secunderabad were described by Dr A. Shanks, Regimental [[Surgeon]], in 1837 in the ''Madras Quarterly Medical Journal'' (the full description can be read [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vwQHAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0eTwnUwBQlmQrRl&client=firefox-a#PPA263,M1 here on Google Books]. He was stationed in the cantonment with the [[55th Regiment of Foot]] and describes the barracks to indicate how they have been the cause of extensive sickness and mortality amongst the troops.
He notes that the burial ground for HM troops is very nearby and "crowded with tombstones", with names totalling thousands of British soldiers. He states that records show that between 1804 and 1836 and average of 73 deaths occured per year.
The proximity of the barracks to open drains were a cause for the Doctor's concern and he deems the over-crowded, poorly ventilated barracks objectionable in location and construction. New barracks, however, were soon to be constructed. The regimental hospital was more acceptable, on higher, drier ground. Although not big enough (he notes it can take 100 patients, whereas sometimes closer to 200 beds were needed) it was well ventilated.
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Madras Presidency]]
