MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
11
A great improvement has taken place in attendance of women at the periodical examina-
tion. Two hundred and seventy-two reports of absence were made against 385 the previous
year. Twenty-seven only were punished; of these 25 by fines and 2 by imprisonment.
There has been a decrease of 12 admissions over previous year. The average daily sick
has been 12 . 74. The establishment has doubtless done much to control both the extent and
virulence of the disease. The majority of cases have been readily amenable to treatment.
I am of opinion that the registered prostitutes are not responsible for anything like the number
of cases of venereal disease which occur among the men of the Royal Artillery; the proximity
of the Mount to Madras I believe has much to do with it, and there is no doubt a great deal of
clandestine prostitution existing which the Police has been unable to reach. Nineteen paupers
were admitted, having voluntarily come to hospital for treatment.
I would suggest more power be given to the Police, and am of opinion that the registra-
tion would be far more effectually carried out under European supervision. Some trustworthy
man from Royal Artillery would be invaluable, as he would be thoroughly acquainted with the
haunts of the men.
Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital, Secunderabad,
by Surgeon-Major A. SANDERSON, M.D. and M.A.
Strength of Prostitutes.
Remained on the register 31st December 1878
. . .
...
. . .
... 257
Registered during the year
...
...
...
...
. . .
...
... 182
Number who have removed their names or absconded ...
. . .
...
... 124
Died, " unregistered " prostitutes
...
...
. . .
...
...
...None.
Remained on the register on 31st December 1879
...
. . .
. . .
... 315
Number of Sick.
Remained on the 31st December 1878 ...
...
Y..
.0.
. . .
. . .
41
Admitted during the year
...
...
...
. . .
. . .
...
. . .
743
Recovered ...
...
...
...
...
. . .
. . .
746
Died
...
...
.. . ... ... 9..
. . .
.4 .
. . .
.. 0
None.
Remaining in hospital on 31st December 1879 ...
. . .
...
...
. . .
38
Daily average number of sick
...
...
...
...
...
...
... 42.53
Average daily number of days in hospital
. . .
...
... 20'92
Es. A. P.
Average cost of each patient dieted in hospital
. . .
. . .
. C.
0
3
0,1
Do.
do.
for contingencies
- - .
. . .
. . .
0
0
21 2
The suggestion made last year for the provision of additional accommodation to meet the
increased demand met the approval of the local administration, and a new block of building
was undertaken during the year. It has been almost completed, and will be occupied in the
course of the current month.
British Troops.—The percentage of sickness to strength fell from 25 . 75 in 1878 to 23.61
in 1879—a result which may be regarded as satisfactory. But the medical officers attached to
the European troops are still of opinion that clandestine prostitution prevails to a large extent.
The Medical Officer, H.M.'s 12th Royal Lancers, writes :-
" That the majority of admissions for venereal into the hospital, 12th Lancers, are due to
unlicensed women and to promiscuous intercourse after dark with women outside bazaars."
The medical officer of the Royal Artillery accounts for the higher ratio thus :-
" To the facility for clandestine prostitution which is afforded by the numerous native followers
attached to the mounted corps."
With reference to the variation in the ratios of admissions between H.M.'s 1-21st Royal S.
Fusiliers and H.M.'s 2-16th Regiment, the medical officer of the former writes :-
" That I am quite unable to account for the diff erence in the percentage of admissions for
venereal disease in the two Infantry Regiments in this station for the last eleven months, as the men
are exposed to exactly the same conditions. In the great majority of cases in the 1-21st Regiment
the disease has been contracted from clandestine prostitutes outside the regimental lines."
The medical officer of H.M.'s 2 - 16th Regiment says :-
" That low as the percentage of venereal disease in this regiment appears to be, compared with
the ordinary sickness it is higher than I think satisfactory. There is no doubt of its being mainly
due to clandestine prostitution."
As the detective agency continues to exercise efficient control over prostitution, no other
special measures were adopted during the year. In paragraph 12 of the report for the year_1878
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