37
LOOK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
not have been much disease imported; in fact, as before mentioned, only one man affirmed
that he had become infected elsewhere.
Calculating from the numbers taken from the weekly returns the following results are
obtainable :—
Troops.
Average
Strength.
Total Admissions
from Venereal
Diseases.
Percentage of
Venereal Diseases to
Average Strength.
Remarks.
Europeans.
Garrisons
...
...
619
48
7.75
The 3 men admitted for
relapse and the 5 for
secondary syphilis
belonged to the 44th
Regiment.
44th Regiment
...
438.5
34
7.75
Artillery
...
...
180.5
14
7.75
If the men referred to in the remark column were deducted, the percentage of primary
venereal disease in the 44th Regiment would be 5.92 ; and if the soldier—an artilleryman who
contracted the malady in Rangoon—was also subtracted from the list, the percentage for the
whole garrison would amount to 6.30, which is very nearly the same as in 1877.
The true test of loss of efficiency from these causes would be the average daily sick per
mille, but this information I am unable to give.
What special measures for the control of prostitution.—The usual measures were in force,
namely, every registered woman had to attend the weekly examinations and to live in a
specified locality ; and I agree with the remarks made by Dr. Baker in last year's report
in thinking it very. unlikely that any unlicensed prostitute would be tolerated or could live .
there undetected.
No other special measures were taken.
Whether the registration was effective or not, &c.— I cannot give a definite opinion on
this point as my experience in connection with the system of registration was too short, but if
one may judge from the returns of venereal disease of the British troops it appears to have
been as efficient as could be expected when the difficulties are taken into consideration. The
number of registrations for the last three years was as follows :—
1876 ...
...
...
...
...
...
. . .
. . .
16
1877 ...
...
...
...
...
. . .
. . .
34
1878 ...
...
...
...
...
...
. . .
. . .
23
With respect to the decrease in the year under review when compared with the preceding
one, the following explanation, as detailed to me by the medical subordinate, may account for it,
That in 1877 a large number of women were convicted of carrying on illegal prostitution, and
placed on the list ; most of these absconded or had their names removed, and the result was
that in 1878 there were fewer unregistered women, and consequently, additions to the list
either voluntarily or from breach of the rules were less numerous than in the preceding year.
The registration included natives of Burma and India; there were only four of the latter on
the list during the year ; they had all been convicted of illegal prostitution ; one had her name
removed, and the remaining three absconded.
The area is 196 square miles.
Whether the women have been regular at the periodical examination, &c. —Statement No. II
shows that the women were less regular in attendance than in 1877 ; I have not been able
to ascertain the cause or to obtain any explanation. The following table is given for purposes
of comparison :—
Years.
Average Number
of Prostitutes on
the Register.
Average Number
attending the
Examinations.
Percentag of
Average Attend-
ante to Average
Strength.
1877 ...
...
24.9
22.12
88.8
1878 ...
...
24.83
20.00
80.5
10