9
LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
1878.
1877.
Primary syphilis
...
...
... ... ... ...
102
48
Gonorrhœa ...
... ... ... ... ... ...
7 2 119
In explanation of the lamentable increase of primary syphilis it is stated, that,
owing to the prevalence of cholera and small-pox in the bazaar, the men were
prohibited entering the quarters inhabited by the registered prostitutes, and were
thus led to consort with unlicensed women. The troops were also for some time in
camp, and during this period also there were unusual facilities for unregistered
women coming in contact with the men. In support of these explanations the
Medical Officer in charge of the Lock Hospital states, that during the first half of the
year when the arrangements alluded to were in force, the number of cases of
primary syphilis which occurred amongst the troops was more than double that of
the latter six months. Towards the close of 1878 the very objectionable arrangement
of having females employed as punkah-pullers, &c., about the barracks was annulled
and men substituted. The sores both amongst women and men were generally of
the soft kind. The attendance of the women at the weekly examinations was not
very regular.
15. Madras.— The average number of women on the register in 1877 was
809, while in 1878 it increased to 1,129. Even the latter figure represents but a
mere fraction of the public prostitutes in the city of Madras, and it is a well known
fact that numbers of women who consort with soldiers are not under the
cognizance of the Health Officer. So far as its operations extend, there can be no
doubt that the working of the Act in Madras is beneficial, but it is equally clear that
the existing arrangements fail to grapple with the social evil in its entirety. The
subjoined figures show the admissions into the Lock Hospital for the two chief
contagious diseases during the past two years:—
1878.
1877.
Primary syphilis
...
...
...
...
...
... 628
397
Gonorrhœa ...
...
...
...
...
...
. . . 302
424
The Health Officer states that gonorrhœa was the principal disease seen amongst
European and East Indian women, and that syphilis was mostly confined to
Natives. The latter fact is of vital importance as regards the subject of this report,
as the European soldiers chiefly frequent Native women. Amongst the troops
in garrison, the following admissions took place under primary syphilis and
g o n o r r h œ a : —
1878.
1877.
Primary syphilis
...
...
...
...
...
. . .
95
69
Gonorrhœa ...
...
...
...
...
...
... 126
92
These results are most unsatisfactory and demand the serious attention of the
Health Officer, who has been specially requested to give the matter immediate
consideration. His report is as usual brief and barren of important information.
16. Rangoon.— The Medical Officer in charge of the Lock Hospital in this
station complains of the exposed position which it occupies, and the consequent
difficulty experienced in preventing the women from presenting themselves to public
gaze in the verandahs. The working of the registration department during the
past two years was as follows:—
1878.
1877.
Europeans brought on the roll during the year ...
...
17
14
Natives
do.
do.
do.
...
. . .
263
225
Total ...
280
239
These figures show increased activity in the detective department in 1878. The
cases of primary syphilis and gonorrhœa treated in the Lock Hospital in 1877 and
1878 were as follows:—
1878.
1877.
Primary syphilis
...
...
...
...
...
... 562
600
Gonorrhœa ...
...
...
...
...
...
. . .
200
310
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