LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
23
In each of the months from August to December inclusive of the past year, more than
20 unregistered prostitutes have been detected and brought on the register, and in almost every
case these unregistered prostitutes were found diseased. It is therefore not a matter of surprise
that so much disease should exist amongst the European troops, but rather that it is not more,
when it has only to be borne in mind that to create the amount of disease that has existed
amongst the European troops during the past year, it is only necessary for any twenty of these
unregistered and diseased prostitutes to infect two men each per month. There is no Canton
-ment Sub-Committee. The Medical Officer, in conjunction with the Cantonment Magistrate,
generally supervises the working of the institution, and when any matter of an important nature
arises, it is laid before the Cantonment Committee, which meets once a month.
Up to May 1877 three Police Constables were employed as detectives for apprehending
and sending for registration and examination such women as were suspected of associating
with Europeans. As I found these men slack in their work, they were removed at my request,
The Cantonment Magistrate was kind enough to supply me with 4 other intelligent men,
thus augmenting the number by one additional detective. Since the entry of these men on
their work, the number of newly registered prostitutes has increased by 139 within the last
7 months, whereas during the preceding 5 months the number was 14.
During the year 1877, 153 prostitutes were brought on the register, bringing the total
number of registered prostitutes on 31st December 1877 to 230 against 121 at the corresponding
date of 1876. Of the 153 newly registered prostitutes only 14 were found free from disease. The
detection of these unregistered prostitutes, and bringing them under the operation of the Act, is
mainly owing to the greater efficiency of the police now attached to the Lock Hospital. It was
more than suspected that the old hands were in collusion with the unregistered prostitutes, and
were in the habit of receiving bribes. They were accordingly discharged in May, and the result
of the employment of the new men is shown in the preceding table; but although this feature
in the working of the Lock Hospital is satisfactory, it has produced no beneficial result as
regards the health of the European troops. On the contrary, although the average total strength
of the troops during 1877 as compared with 1876 shows a decrease of 364, there have been 25
more admissions into hospital for venereal disease. No fees are levied for registration of prosti-
tutes; as a rule, the women are regular in their attendance at the weekly examinations conducted
on Tuesdays at Secunderabad and Thursdays at Trimulgherry. The number of women who
individually absented themselves was 70 as compared with 69 in 1876. The average number of
prostitutes attending the periodical examination was 133.68 as compared with 103.34 in 1876.
The maximum monthly average was 206.51 and the minimum 100.8. In the previous year the
figures were 114.2 and 98.1 respectively. Of the 70 prostitutes who absented themselves at them
weekly examinations
21 were sentenced to hard labor,
16 simple imprisonment,
2 fined,
31 either left the station, or had their names removed from the register.
During the year 44 absconded, died, or had their names removed from the register, being
2 less than the previous year.
The form of disease amongst the registered women readily yielded to treatment within a
very short period, while amongst those newly registered it was very severe, so much so, that
they had to be detained in hospital for long periods to effect a complete cure.
The extent to which voluntary applications have been made for treatment by diseased
women will be seen from the statement given below:—
Months.
Diseases.
Total.
Castes.
Total.
P r i m a r y S y p h i l i s .
Go n o r r h œa .
S e c o n d a r y S y p h i l i s .
T e r t i a r y S y p h i l i s .
E a s t I n d i a n s .
Br a h mi n s .
Hi n d u s .
Ma h o me d a n s .
Pa r i a h s .
January ...
...
1
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
1
. .
. . .
. . .
...
1
February ...
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
March
,..
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . .
April
...
....
. . .
1
. . .
...
1
. . .
...
. . .
. . .
1
1
May
. .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. .
. . .
.,.
. . .
. . .
June
...
...
. . .
1
. . .
...
1
. . .
. . .
1
. . .
. . .
1
July
....
1
..,
...
. . .
1
...
. . .
1
...
. . .
1
August ...
2
. . .
. . .
. . .
2
. . .
. . .
1
1
. . .
2
September
2
. . .
1
1
4
. . .
. 1
2
1
. . .
4
October...
. . .
. . .
...
1
1
. . .
. . .
1
. . .
. . .
1
November
...
1
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
. . .
1
December
...
1
...
...
1
2
. . .
. . .
2
. . .
. . .
2
Total ...
8
2 1
3
14
1
1
8
3
1
14