12
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE
only 38 have been referred by the soldiers to registered women, the majority of whom were
found on examination to be free from disease, and those diseased were already detected by
the Medical Officer at the weekly examinations previous to their being so pointed out : this
demonstrates how little reliance can be placed on the testimony of soldiers as to the sources of
their infection. Registration has been so far efficient that 24 new females have been brought on
the rolls during the year, 23 diseased and one free ; but the hilly nature of the surrounding
country and outlying villages, not under direct British control, afford opportunities for
prostitution being secretly carried on. All classes of prostitutes, whether natives, Eurasians or
Europeans, who consort with soldiers come under registration, if they reside within an area of
seven square miles. In the year 1883, the number of new additions to the register was 73, in
1884, 28 and in 1885, 24. This falling off, and the fact that all but one of the newly registered
prostitutes were found diseased, would seem to indicate slackness on the part of the Police on
the work of detection, as had they been more active, the number found free from disease ought
to have greatly exceeded those infected. Again, the large number of those newly registered
who were diseased shows forcibly the danger of remissness on the part of the Police in their
work.
The attendance has been so far satisfactory that out of an average strength of 303 . 48, the
number that presented themselves for periodical examination was 264 . 94 ; but it has been
found that when women know themselves to be diseased, they evade as far as possible
attendance at the Hospital, and this may be expected from a class of women much addicted to
drink and whose pursuits the restraint of a Lock Hospital, notwithstanding all its comforts,
materially interferes with. It has been ascertained that women absent for a considerable
period from the regular inspections have, as a rule, when apprehended and sent for examination,
been found diseased.
As already stated, the control over prostitutes extends to all residing within an area of
seven square miles whether in the town or the cantonment proper. These are compulsorily
registered and treated in the Hospital at Secunderabad. Medical examinations are held both
at Secunderabad and Trimulgherry on Tuesdays and Thursdays, respectively, in rooms specially
provided for the purpose.
On the whole the results exhibited for the year under consideration are more favorable
than in 1884 and the eight years preceding. The cantonment and town has lately extended
considerably, and the area of seven square miles over which the Lock Hospital rules at present
operate excludes many of the chief localities from whence disease is introduced, such as
Bolarum and parts of Secunderabad bordering on the places where troops are actually located.
A good deal of disease is also brought in from Chadarghat and Hyderabad, as well as from the
country lying on the outskirts of the cantonment and under the jurisdiction of the Native
State.
Unless measures be adopted to sufficiently extend the sphere of control and stringent steps
taken to check clandestine prostitution by women from outside taking advantage of the rocks,
jungles, topes, and plains immediately bordering on this station, it will be impossible to reduce
disease to any considerable extent.
Commanding Officers of Native Regiments often apply to the Lock Hospital to bring on the
rolls women who exclusively consort with their men and infect them. There can be no doubt
that many of these women also consort with European soldiery, but, to escape being brought
under the rules, allege that they are under the protection of particular sepoys. This matter
was brought to notice by the Medical Officer in charge of the Lock Hospital in his reports for
1878 and 1879, but the Resident observed thereon, in his review of the latter report (Vide No.
955, dated 28th June 1880, para. 8), that as the Cantonment Committee did not make it
the subject of remark or recommendation, he was not disposed to take any steps towards the
extension of the rules to this class of prostitutes. It is suggested to the Cantonment Committee
that great advantage would result by bringing these women also on the register.
It must be said of the Lock Hospital here that although it is beset with many difficulties,
yet, it has on the whole worked to the decided benefit of the troops, the population generally
and the inmates themselves.
Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Cannanore,
by Surgeon M. E. REPORTER.
Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital, Cannanore, for the year 1885, from
January to March 1885.
The Cantonment Sub-Committee had not been convened during the year.
One head constable and 3 constables were deputed for enforcing the rules of the Con-
tagious Disease Act. Of these, 1 constable attended the Station Hospital every morning, and
the soldiers admitted for venereal disease proceeded with him to point out the women from whom
they contracted the disease. The women thus pointed out were brought to the Lock Hospital