7
MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
14. Kamptee.—There was a decline in the average number of registered women
at this station as contrasted with the previous year, but those on the roll were
more regular in their attendance at the periodical inspections. The average daily
sick rate of patients in the Lock Hospital was 3 . 98 against 4 .41 in the preceding
year, and the total admissions 57 against 75. The admissions for primary syphilis
show a slight increase, and so do those for gonorrhœa. Amongst British troops
the admission rate per mille of strength for venereal diseases generally was 164.85
against 165 .43 in 1882. Of primary syphilis there were 8 cases less, and of
secondary syphilis 7 cases fewer than in the preceding year. The registration of
the women was left in the hands of the ordinary police, and the number of women
under surveillance can represent but a very small portion of the prostitutes in such
a large community.
15. St. Thomas' Mount.—The admissions of European soldiers for venereal
diseases show an increase, having been 168 . 67 per thousand of strength against
148 . 54 in 1882. There was a slight improvement as regards the prevalence of
primary syphilis and gonorrhœa, but an increase of secondary syphilis. The average
number of registered women shows a decline, and the average daily sick stood at
15 . 79 against 21·08 in 1882. The women were regular in their attendance at the
periodical inspections. The total admissions into the Lock Hospital in 1883
numbered 337, of which 14 or 41 . 54 per mille were for primary syphilis and 62
for gonorrhœa.
16. Secunderabad. —Registration was somewhat more active than in the pre-
ceding year, but the attendance at the periodical inspections was rather less
regular. The average daily sick in the Lock Hospital stood at 59 . 05 against 31·30,
and the total number of patients admitted was 1,070 against 743, in 1882. Of the
admissions in 1883, no less than 589 or 550·46 per mille were for primary syphilis.
For secondary syphilis there were no admissions. The admissions for venereal
diseases amongst European troops show an increase of 13 . 60 per mille of strength
as compared with the results for 1882, and the admission rate for primary syphilis
was 507 . 13 per mi l l e of admi ssi ons agai nst 215. 03 in the preceding year. A sub-
committee for exercising special supervision over the working of the Act meet once
a month, and one Head Constable and five men of the Civil Police were detailed with
the sole duty of detecting and apprehending women practising prostitution.
17. Wellington.—The admission rate for venereal diseases amongst the
European invalids stationed at the depôt was 252 . 89 per thousand of strength against
160 . 36 in 1882. There was also an increase in primary syphilis, the admissions
having been 79 against 47 in the previous year. The average number of women on
the register shows a decline, but they were more regular in attendance at the
periodical inspections than in the preceding years. The average daily sick-rate in
the Lock Hospital was 9 . 51 against 8 . 02 in 1882, and the total admissions of
women 85 against 66. Amongst the admissions in 1883 there were 11 cases of
primary syphilis, whereas in 1882 there was not a single admission under this head.
18. In reviewing the work of the year it cannot be said, that the Lock Hospital
organization has had any appreciable influence in reducing the prevalence of venereal
diseases amongst European soldiers. In four stations, out of the seven at which
these institutions were in operation, the results show an increase in the amount of
disease amongst the troops in 1883, as contrasted with the figures of the preceding
year. An explanation of this is found in the comparatively small number of women
on the register in all the stations, and in the fact that the soldier does not confine
his attentions to prostitutes under the surveillance of the police. The most that
can be said of Indian Lock Hospitals is, that they do, to a certain extent, reduce the
amount of venereal diseases amongst the civil population, and may thus indirectly
reduce the risks to which the British soldier is exposed.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
C. D. MADDEN,
Surgeon-General, Her Majesty's Forces.