MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
9
" In the station hospital the numbers were 116 in 1887 and 86 in 1888.
" (e) In 1888 it was frequently observed that men concealed their diseases, preferring
treating themselves in barracks to coming to hospital. If this practice existed to any extent,
as it easily might, in the case of very simple sores or ulcers which heal within a week, the
admission rate to hospital would be very seriously affected. Moreover, I have quite recently
been informed by two responsible officers of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry that some
men of their regiment have been in the habit of treating themselves for venereal disease. Just
now there is a patient in hospital suffering from primary syphilis aggravated by injudicious
treatment out of hospital. In the annual yeport for 1887 the Medical officer then in charge
apparently thinks concealment of disease, at all events, improbable.
" (f ) It is difficult to understand why the prostitutes suffered so much more severely from
venereal affections in 1887 when the lines of treatment adopted were exactly the same as in
1888, except that police supervision with regard to compulsory attendance was not so well
carried out as in the latter year.
" I regret I am unable to explain adequately the cause of the decrease in the number of
admissions for venereal disease in 1888, but, in questions of this nature, a number of vague
circumstances always exist, which render a definite expression of opinion impossible."
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. A. HANBURY, M.B.,
Surgeon-General, Her Majesty's Forces.
From Surgeon C. QUARRY, Medical Staff, in charge of Lock Hospital, Cannanore, to the
Deputy Surgeon-General, Her Majesty's Forces, Southern District, Coonoor, dated
Cannanore, 5th April 1889, No. 41.
In compliance with your memorandum No. 2230, paragraph 9 on G.O., 27th November
1888, No. 7996, I have the honor to submit the report called for on the expiration of three
months after the re-opening tentatively of the lock hospital at this station. The re-opening
dates from the 15th of December 1888, but inadvertently the compulsory attendance was
carried on until the 27th January 1889. The following are the comparative tables for the three
months prior to the re-opening and the ensuing three months after the re-opening of the hospital,
the average strength of the men, respectively, being 98 and 88 ; also the detachments the same
until the 27th of February when the Royal Fusiliers embarked for England, being relieved by
the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, who arrived at this station same date, and on the 9th of March
when the Oxfordshire Light Infantry embarked on return route for Bangalore, being relieved
by the Norfolk Regiment detachment, arriving at this station same date from Gibralter, but the
venereal cases which occurred amongst the Oxfordshire Light Infantry and the Norfolk Regiment
were not contracted at Cannanore.
TABLE I.—Hospital closed.
Disease.
From 15th
September
to 14th
October
1888.
From 15th
October
to 14th
November
1888.
From 15th
November
to 14th
December
1888.
Total.
Primary syphilis ... ... ...
. . .
. . .
...
. . .
Secondary do. ..
. . .
. . .
. . .
...
...
Gonorrhœa
...
... ...
2
1
1
4
Ulcer of penis ...
... ...
1
...
...
1
Ulcer of urethra ... ... ...
. . .
...
. . .
...
Urethritis ... ...
... ...
...
. . .
...
Inflammation of lymphatic glands
1
. . .
1
2
3