12
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE
Registration is not as efficient as it might be. The total number of women on the list on an
average was 51.71, an increase of 2.62 on the previous year. This seems small for a cantonment
with an average strength of 764 British troops, a cavalry, and two native regiments, and a
very large civil population. Those who are on the register are only those of the very lowest and
poorest classes, and inadequately represent the extent to which prostitution is practised in the
station. Registered prostitutes are of two classes, those for Europeans, and others for natives.
The area over which registration extends is seven square miles.
Remarks by Brigade Surgeon J. McN. Donnelly, M.D. :—
" It is a remarkable fact that few new members of the sisterhood of public women have been
admitted on the register. Of the first class there were only five and of the second class only two. This
may point either to the inefficiency of the police agency employed in this department or to its corruption.
But the problem of how to carry out effectually a check upon clandestine prostitution without
producing the evils of interference with private rights is one very difficult of solution, and I am
unable to suggest a method.
" During the year no case of any great medical interest has presented itself amongst the women
on the register, and for the most part their ailments were of so trivial a character that they disappeared
in a brief time under the simplest method of treatment."
No relation whatever could be traced between the disease in the European Hospital and that
in the Lock Hospital.
One chowdrani visited those on the register at their own houses once a week, and she also
assisted at the weekly examinations at the hospital. Since the 15th July 1884 a dhai was
employed by the Cantonment Committee at the suggestion of the Commander-in-Chief, her
duty being to examine the women daily at the huts where the prostitutes received the soldiers
who came to them.
Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Saint Thomas'
Mount, by Brigade Surgeon C. T. EVES.
The working of the Act is in the hands of the police and the protection of the lines with
the military authorities. The police Head Constable has orders to watch the neighbourhood
of the barracks and other buildings inhabited by European soldiers and to prevent registered
women loitering about ; also regimental measures are adopted for the same purpose, line orderlies
being similarly instructed as the police. Beyond the duties of the medical charge the Medical
Officer has no control.
Registration by results unsatisfactory, five entries only having been made during the year
1884, out of which number three were fresh entries and two were re-registrations of women who
had absconded themselves for more than a year and were brought again on the register by the
police.
Both first and second class prostitutes are brought on the register within the area of Saint
Thomas' Mount, Guindy, Saidápet, Pallavaram and Poonamallee. Forty-five prostitutes were
on the register on 31st December 1883.
Registration fees are not levied.
The prostitutes have been fairly regular in attendance on the days of examination ; 59 were
reported to Cantonment Magistrates for being absent ; of these, 7 were punished by fine, 6 by
imprisonment, and 46 were warned. Cause of irregularity of attendance sickness generally
pleaded, which on enquiry often found simply an excuse. The amount of fines realized Rs. 3-8.
The registered prostitutes are required to attend the hospital at Saint Thomas' Mount
every Friday for examination ; those found diseased are admitted into hospital for treatment.
During the year under review venereal disease as compared with last year has diminished.
Among the registered women in 1883 there were 337 admissions into hospital, of which number
76 were for venereal causes, whilst in 1884 only 29 have been admitted from that cause. The
disease has also been of a slight nature, no cases of severe primary syphilis having occurred.
Total admissions into hospital have been 204.
The admissions for non-venereal diseases amount to 175, of which observation cases were 56
and. menstruation 65 ; the remainder 54 were chiefly uterine complaints.
Suggests that if the instructions of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, as conveyed
in Quartermaster-General's Circular, No. 1054, Fort Saint George, dated 16th February 1884,
were carried out, the Contagious Diseases Act might be more efficiently worked. It is only at
Poonamallee that the registered women are provided with quarters, but dhais have not been
employed to look after the women at any of the stations.