14
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE
Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Kamptee,
by Surgeon-Major G. J. GIBSON.
The Cantonment Sub-Committee met monthly during the year ; the following officers
composed the Sub-Committee:—
1. The Dy. Surgeon-Genl., Nagpore Force.
2. The Cantonment Magistrate, Kamptee.
3. The Medical officer in charge of the Lock
Hospital, Kamptee.
The following measures were taken for the control of prostitution and prevention of
disease:—(a) No women were employed for any purpose about the single men's barracks ;
(b) women found loitering about by the regimental police were handed over to the civil police;
( e) men were prohibited from visiting the grass-cutters' lines, R. A., but it is believed that a good
many grass-cutter women practised prostitution; (d) European soldiers admitted to hospital
were asked to point the women from whom they contracted their disease; when they did so, the
women were examined at the Lock and almost invariably were found to be healthy; ( e) the
police were informed. of the probable whereabouts of women when soldiers stated that they
contracted their disease on the roads near the rifle butts, amp;c. ; ( f ) m e n a r r i v i n g a t t h e s t a t i o n w e r e
examined for venereal diseases. Periodical examinations of the unmarried European soldiers
were held at the station hospital for part of the year.
Registration is not very efficient, as there are only 52 women on the register; this is a small
number for a civil population numbering 50,000 and a large military garrison of one European
Regiment, one Battery of Royal Artillery, one Native Cavalry Regiment, one Native Infantry
Regiment. The area over which registration extends is 7 square miles. Ten women were newly
registered duringthe year. The names of five have been taken off the list, and two women have
been absent nearly the whole year. There has been an increase of three women on the register
during the year.
No registration fees levied.
The women have been regular at the periodical examinations. Apparently a number have
been reported absent, but these have generally been women who have left the station temporarily
to visit friends, amp;c.
One woman was punished by the Cantonment Magistrate during the year.
The amount of fines levied during the year was Rs. 5, which was credited to the Can-
tonment Fund.
The women are divided into two classes—first class for European soldiers; these are examined
at the Lock Hospital every Monday: second class, Native women, residing in the city, every
Friday.
The women have been fairly healthy during the year. Three cases of primary syphilis, 1 of
secondary syphilis and 19 of gonorrhœa admitted during the year ; these are the more serious
forms of venereal disease which are more likely to leave permanent injury when contracted.
Thirty-seven women were admitted with local ulcers not likely to affect the constitution. Primary
syphilis has not prevailed amongst the European soldiers. Most of the admissions amongst them
have been caused by gonorrhœa and local ulcers of penis. Women have not been detained in
hospital for monthly periodical illness.
The women newly admitted to the register during the year were mostly diseased and had
to be admitted to hospital at their first inspection.
One Dhaie has been employed. who examines the women at their own homes.
I have no suggestions to offer for the improvement of the rules.
There ought to be a larger number of women on the register, and increased police supervision
is required for the prevention of unlicensed women plying their trade.
Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Secunderabad,
by Surgeon-Major G. F. BEVAN.
A Cantonment Committee, composed of the following officers, was entrusted, as in previous
years, with supervision over the rules of the hospital:—
Major-General Commanding Hyderabad Subsidiary Force;
Deputy Surgeon-General, Her Majesty's Forces, Hyderabad Subsidiary Force;
Assistant Quartermaster-General, Hyderabad Subsidiary Force;
Staff Surgeon, who is also in medical charge of the Lock Hospital;
Cantonment Magistrate and Secretary to Cantonment Committee, Secunderabad;
Executive Engineer, Secunderabad; and the
Assistant Magistrate, Secunderabad.
No special measures have been introduced during the year under report for strengthening
control over prostitution, except that the six Native detective policemen were placed under my
immediate orders instead of under the Superintendent of Police as previously, and these men
were required to make direct enquiries from the station hospitals, amp;c., and act at once on the
information received regarding prostitutes found loitering about the barracks during the night,
a m p ; c . T h r e e o f t h e d e t e c t i v e s w e r e t o l d o f f d a i l y t o t h r e e s t a t i o n h o s p i t a l s a n d a l s o t o a c c o m p a n y
the regimental police round the barracks, amp;c., and obtain information regarding unlicensed.