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MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
given by an infected soldier in detecting diseased women. In the cases where they pretended
to know the women, they either pointed out women who were free from disease, or women
already under treatment in the Lock Hospital, who, in many cases, denied any knowledge of the
soldier accusing them.
The form of disease among the registered women was, for the most part, of a very mild
type and readily yielded to treatment, whereas among the newly-registered women the type of
disease was, as a rule, severe, and they had in many cases to be detained long in hospital to
effect a complete cure.
Three non-registered women voluntarily applied for treatment at the Lock Hospital. Two
were suffering from syphilis and one from gonorrhœa. Two were Hindus, and one a Mussal-
man. All returned to their friends when cured.
As in former years the questions noted below were circulated among the Medical Officers
in charge of the Station Hospitals, whose replies are extracted below :—
1. The nature of the Regimental Police system.
2. The number of men who were detached for this work, how their duties were defined,
and the result of their working.
3. Whether the regimental authorities have any suggestions to offer for suppressing
clandestine prostitution.
4. How far the Civil Detective Police was instrumental in aiding the Regimental Police
in detecting and suppressing clandestine prostitution.
5. What was the form of primary syphilis (hard or soft) admitted during the year ;
maximum and minimum number of days under treatment, with any remarks.
6. With reference to the following figures, why the percentage of admission in the
several hospitals vary.
The Senior Medical Officer, Trimulgherry Station Hospital, gives the following replies :
—
l. The Regimental Police system is intended to maintain order and note all irregulari-
ties in the barracks and vicinity and to keep improper characters out of barracks.
2. One Sergeant and five Privates are detached for this work ; they are constantly on
duty night and day, each man taking a tour of four hours.
3. No suggestion required so far as the Regiment (14th Hussars) occupying North
Trimulgherry barracks is concerned. Venereal disease has existed to such a slight
extent that it can scarcely be expected to improve on the present arrangement.
4. The Civil Police afford every assistance when required.
5. There were 13 cases of primary syphilis (12 soft and 1 hard) admitted during the year.
The maximum number of days under treatment was 60, the minimum 7 ; they were
all simple cases requiring no comment.
6. The admissions in this hospital during the year has been at the rate of 3·77 per cent.
or 37 per mille. The paucity of these affections is considered to be due to the fact
that in the vicinity of the Cavalry barracks there is a large native population of
women employed as grass-cutters and coolies to the regiment. No doubt these
women are willing to supplement their earnings by prostitution, and being in an
isolated position and at a considerable distance from all other regiments, except the
Cavalry, they are not much patronized, if at all by other soldiers.
The replies of the Senior Medical Officer, North Station Hospital, are as under
:—
1. Men detailed from Batteries.
2. One Non-Commissioned Officer and four Gunners to try to prevent all crimes and
arrest offenders ; result very good.
3. None.
4. Not at all.
5. Hard sore 8 and soft sore 79 ; maximum number of days 83, minimum number 3 days.
Both kinds amenable to treatment.
6. There were a good many non-professional prostitutes about in the neighbourhood of
the Royal Artillery lines, it is supposed, at the time of greatest prevalence of venereal
in the Royal Artillery in the month of June. These cooly women are a great source
of disease and cannot be controlled by the existing regulations.
The Senior Medical Officer, who is in charge of the South Station Hospital, afforded the
following replies on the last two points :
—
5. With a few exceptions they were all soft cancers.
The maximum number of days 75, minimum 4
6, Not known,
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