6
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE
The admissions for venereal diseases amongst the European troops in the
station show a reduction, having been at the rate of 316 .05 per 1,000 strength
against 430.04 in 1880. Of the total admissions 208 or very nearly one-half, were ,
for primary syphilis.
11. Bellary.—As in the previous year this cantonment again had the highest
admission rate for venereal diseases amongst European troops, of any station in the
command. Contrasted with 1880, however, there was a reduction, the admissions
for 1881 having been at the rate of 397.75 per mile against 492.04 in 1880. Of
the total admissions 87, or nearly 50 per cent., were cases of primary syphilis. As
regards the Lock Hospital, the average number of women on the register declined
from 83.16 in 1880 to 73.80, although there is a special detective agency consist-
ing of one head constable and three men at work. The women were also very
irregular in their attendance at the periodical examinations. The Medical Officer
in charge of the Lock Hospital believes, that there is a great amount of unregistered
prostitution in Bellary, and that many of the women thus practising are diseased.
The average daily sick in the Lock Hospital was 27.43 against 41.99 in 1880, and out
of 264 admissions 160, or 606.06 per mille, were for primary syphilis, and 99, or
375 per mille, for gonorrhœa.
12. Cannanore.—In this cantonment the average number of women on the
register was 36.45 against 38.33 in 1880. When a European soldier is admitted
into the regimental hospital for venereal disease, he is required to point out the
woman from whom he contracted it, and, in every instance, these women were
found to be on the register, and generally either free from disease or suffering from
some complaint different from that of the soldier. From this the Medical Officer
infers, that the soldier points out registered women with the view of shielding the
unregistered from whom he has actually contracted disease. The attendance of
the women at the periodical examinations was more regular than in the previous
year, and their diseases were generally readily amenable to treatment, The average
daily sick was 11.34 against 11.67 in 1880, and of the total admissions, 11, or 58.20
per mile, were for primary syphilis.
Against the European troops the ratio of admissions for venereal diseases was
161.88 against 191.26 per mile of strength in 1880, and of the total admissions under
this head 42, or 437.5 per mile, were cases of primary syphilis.
13. Kamptee.—The average number of women on the register was 59.15 against
59.32 in 1880, and the average daily sick in the Lock Hospital 6.47 against 9.21 in
the previous year. Of the total admissions, 16, or 222.22 per mile, were for primary
syphilis. The women were, as a rule, regular in their attendance at the weekly
examinations.
As regards the European force, the admission rate for venereal diseases in the
year under review was lower than in 1880, having been 145.04 per mille of strength
in the former and 163.63 in the latter. Of the entire admissions for venereal
complaints, 32, or 260.16 per mille, were cases of primary syphilis.
14. St. Thomas' Mount.— In 1880 this station had, with the exception of
Bellary, the largest amount of venereal disease of any cantonment in the command,
but in 1881 the admission rate per 1,000 men was less than one-half of the ratio of
the preceding year, Of the total admissions for venereal complaints, 23, or 323.94
per mille, were cases of primary syphilis.
As regards the Lock Hospital, there was a decrease in the number of women on
the register, the average having been 53.77 against 64.08 in 1880. On the other
hand, there was an increase in admissions, the numbers for 1880 and 1881 having
been respect i vel y 221. and 328. Of t he t ot al admi ssi ons, 22, or 67. 07 per mi l l e, were
for primary syphilis. The register embraces prostitutes residing at Pallávaram and
Poonamallee, as well as those living at St. Thomas' Mount. The Mount and Palá-
varam women were fairly regular in their attendance at the weekly inspections, and
the only severe cases of diseases seen were in women brought on the register for the
first time.
15. Secunderabad.—This is the only station that showed an increase of names
on the register, the average for the year having been 364.18 against 304.70 in 1880.