5
MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
four a reduction in the ratio. The efficiency or otherwise of the registration of the
Women does not apparently affect to any extent the prevalence of disease amongst the
troops. Thus at Bangalore and Cannanore there was a decline of venereal complaints
amongst the latter in the face of diminished registration, and at Secunderabad an
increase, although registration was more efficient than in 1879. Further information
as to the stational prevalence amongst the troops of venereal diseases generally
during the past ten years will be found in Table F of Appendix, and in Table C
a statement of the diseases which presented in 1880. The usual information is also
given in Tables G and H, as to the comparative prevalence of venereal diseases in
stations at which Lock Hospitals existed and at those in which such institutions
were not in operation.
8. Cost of Lock Hospital Patients .—The average cost per patient for the whole
of the hospitals was Rs. 11–2–8 against Rs. 14–3–1 in 1879. The charges were
highest at Kamptee, Wellington, St. Thomas' Mount, and Cannanore, and lowest
at Secunderabad. The rate per patient depends mainly on the cost of establishment,
food, &c. ; but also to a considerable extent on the stay of the patients in hospital.
The following table shows the average cost per patient in each hospital, and further
details will be found in Tables D, I, and J of Appendix. All the hospitals were
entirely supported by Government except that of Kamptee, to which the Canton-
ment Fund contributed Rs. 1,336–5–1 :—
Stations.
1879.
1880.
RS. A. P.
RS. A. P.
Bangalore ..
. .
..
..
..
9 13 2
7 11 7
Bellary
..
..
..
.. ..
14 6 1
14 0 6
Cannanore ..
..
. .
..
..
14 14 2
19 14 6
Kamptee
..
.. ..
..
..
23 14 7
28 0 11
St. Thomas' Mount ..
..
.. ..
12 15 4
19 15 11
Secunderabad
..
. .
.. ..
5 10 3
4 13 11
Trichinopoly
..
. .
.. ..
12 4 3
10 10 2
Wellington
.. ..
.. ..
19 11 3
27 2 10
Average ..
14 3 1
11 2 8
The following notes give the more pertinent facts connected with the working
of each Lock Hospital.
9. Bangalore.—The average number of women on the register in this large
station was 100 . 82, a figure which can only represent a tithe of the resident public
women, as the native population of the area under the Act is 142,513. During the
year 22 women were added to, and 29 withdrew from, the register. The average
daily sick in the Lock Hospital was 37.63, and of the total admissions 300.5 per mile
were due to primary syphilis. The cases generally are reported not to have been
very virulent. The admissions amongst the European troops in the station for
venereal diseases were at the rate of 430 . 04 per mille of strength against 442.09 in
1879, and out of a total of 541 cases of venereal diseases no less than 294 were
primary syphilis.
10. Bellary.—In this station the admission rate for venereal diseases amongst
European troops was excessively high, and the efficacy of the Lock Hospital not
apparent. The average number of women on the register was 83.16 against 103.25
in 1879. The number of women who withdrew their names from the register
was four in excess of the number added to it. The average daily sick was
41.99 against 61.33 in 1879, and out of the total admissions 505. per mille were for
primary syphilis. The inefficiency amongst the troops from venereal complaints
was, as already stated, very heavy, the rate of admissions per mille of strength
having been 492.04 against 410.68 in 1879, and primary syphilis was very prevalent.
11. Cannanore .—There was also in this station a marked decline in the number
of prostitutes on the register, and the average daily sick in the Lock Hospital fell
from 15.62 in 1879 to 11.67 in the period under notice. Of the total admissions, 78 2
2