MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
11
unmarried men's quarters. Still there is the strongest reason for believing that the source of
what disease has existed, was to be found amongst those whose names are not inscribed upon
the register. Nor can this be wondered at when the difficulty is looked fairly at of discriminating
between honest women and clandestine prostitutes by the police when estimating the female
population of a cantonment which spreads over an area of something like seven square miles.
Indeed it would not be possible to sift the virtuous from the vicious without throwing into the
hands of zealous constables a most dangerous power of extortion and of a grave invasion of all
private rights. Registration cannot be said to have been efficiently maintained; for the total
number of individuals upon the list was only, on an average, for the year 53.36, while only one
new name was enrolled. It is not credible that in so large a military cantonment, with its
floating population of numerous followers of all kinds, this number can represent even a majority
of all those whose business is the practice of prostitution. Still there is ground for the
impression that the women of the laboring classes in the station are, if not strictly virtuous,
far from being openly immoral. The area over which registration extends is nearly seven
square miles.
There was a small decrease in the number of names on the register. In the previous year
the maximum was 61, while, in the past it was 58. If this number could be held as a
true standard by which to measure either the morality or the health of the community of
Kamptee, it might be contemplated with satisfaction. But it is valueless for any such purpose,
and only points to the worthlessness in a civilized country of all attempts on the part of Govern-
ments to control prostitution or eradicate its physiological results. In every country, Pagan
and Christian, from the dawn of civilization, rulers have spared no efforts to, first, prevent
prostitution, and then in despair, at their failure, to subject it to State control. But no good
came of these philanthropic attempts anywhere. Even the Papacy, when it possessed not
merely a moral authority, but a real secular arm such as no other government ever did or ever
can again exercise, failed in every country in Europe to hold this vice in check ; and only shut
its eyes to its hideousness and its terrible results when it had exhausted in the combat every
weapon its well-filled armoury supplied it with.
Of the primary form of syphilis there occurred only 19 cases, a number closely similar
to previous years. It is at first sight odd that in no case did any secondary disease show itself.
It may be that former attacks have imparted to these subjects complete immunity from any
constitutional form of the malady. It is also curious that no instance of a true typical Hunterian
chancre presented itself since I have held charge of the institution. No relation whatever could
be traced between the disease in the European Hospitals and that in the Lock Hospital.
I cannot suggest any changes in the rules under which the establishment has hitherto been
administered. As an institution for the relief of suffering, and. the diminution of the spread of
a great scourge, it possesses a great claim to consideration. But attempts to extend its benefits
to a very much larger class than those for whom it has been hitherto maintained must involve,
as already mentioned, an activity on the part of the police that I am not disposed to urge, know-
ing how inseparable from such activity are measures not quite justifiable on many occasion.
Extracts from the Annual Medical Report a the Lock Hospital at Saint Thomas'
Mount, by Brigade-Surgeon R. DEMPSTER.
I am of opinion that the police have not been properly on the alert during the past half-
year, as no fresh registrations have taken place at Saint Thomas' Mount.
Both first and second class prostitutes are brought on the register within the area of
Saint Thomas' Mount, Guindy, Saidápet, Pallávaram, and Poonamallee.
The prostitutes have been generally reuglar in attendance on examination days. Seventeen
were reported to Magistrate for being absent, of these 6 were warned and 11 punished by fine
or imprisonment.
All prostitutes are required to attend at hospital for examination every Friday. Those
found diseased are admitted into hospital, and those having menses are detained for examina-
tion on cessation.
In-patients are examined twice a week by the medical officer, and daily by the medical.
subordinate.
The general working of the Lock Hospital during the past year has been satisfactory as
shown by the decrease of admissions for venereal disease among men of the Royal Artillery.
Only one case remained on the returns of the Station Hospital at the close of the year.
Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Secunderabad,
by Surgeon-Major B. WILLIAMSON.
For exercising supervision over the working of the Lock Hospital rules, no special com-
mittee exists, but the Cantonment Committee attends to them.
No special measures were adopted for the control of prostitution.