20
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE
The dhaie, as already stated, visited the first-class women daily at their houses since the
new Lall-bazaar, in which all of these women live, was rebuilt; but she has not reported
any cases of venereal disease.
In conclusion, I beg to reiterate my suggestion of last year respecting increased vigilance
in the supervision of all the lower classes of Native females employed in and about the European
barracks, and I would further suggest, that so far as this may be found practicable, male punkah-
pullers and coolies should be employed in the place of women.
Extract from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital, St, Thomas' Mount,
by Surgeon-Major HAMILTON Ross, M.D.
Ninety-eight cases of venereal disease were admitted into the European hospital during
the year according to the weekly returns, which have been regularly received during the year.
Of these 98 cases 79 are stated to have been contracted at the Mount, 5 at Rangoon, 3 at
Madras, 2 at Bangalore, 1 at Poonamallee, and 1 at Bellary; 6 cases where contracted not ascer-
tained. There is no Cantonment Sub-Committee. Measures for the control of prostitution, and
specially for the prevention of unlicensed prostitution within the cantonment, rest with the
Police authorities, the Superintendent being the Registrar, to whom a report is sent weekly,
immediately after the periodical examination, of all the registered prostitutes who were present
or absent at that period.
Thirty-two prostitutes are registered at the Mount, 16 at Poonamallee, and 11 at Palaveram.
Of course the 32 who are registered at the Mount are held responsible for having diseased 79
men at the Mount, but as I believe private prostitution is carried on to an almost unlimited
extent by grass-cutters, camp followers' wives and others, I by no means hold the registered,
prostitutes responsible for more than a fractional part of the disease which has obtained amongst
the men of the Royal Artillery stationed at the Mount during the year. Besides women come
from other stations and carry on prostitution for a few days, and then disappear without the
public getting to know anything of them whatever. I am unable to account for the increased
number of cases of venereal disease amongst the men of the Artillery this year; it may be from
the men being more intemperate, and in consequence less under control, or from laxness on the
part of the Police in detecting women who are carrying on prostitution in a private manner, or
from both combined, or it may be that the men brought the disease with them and spread conta
-gion amongst the women of the station, for at the end of last year the women of the station
were singularly clean. There can be no doubt but the Police have a difficult duty to perform
regarding prostitution, but I believe the duty is badly performed. The increase of venereal at
the Mount has been frequently brought to the notice of the Police.
The women do not attend for inspection as regularly as they should be made to do.
All the registered women are required to attend at the Lock Hospital every Friday.
The average daily sick of the year now under review has been 6.76. The establishment
has no doubt done much to control both the amount and the virulence of the venereal disease
as it obtains, both among the male and female patients. No women are admitted because of
their monthly visitation, but sometimes other diseases supervene upon the specific ailment.
I am not prepared to make any suggestions as to change in the rules; they appear to me
good. Private prostitution and want of vigilance on the part of the Police are the great diffi-
culties. I have great doubts still as to the capacity of the present Head Constable and his men
for the duty; it appears to me that they may or may not perform their duties as it suits their
own convenience. I have no authority with them, and can only treat the people brought by the
Police to the Lock Hospital suffering from disease. No deaths occurred in the hospital.
Extract from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital, Secunderabad,
by Surgeon-Major C. J. ROGERS.
Strength of Prostitutes.
Remained on the register on 31st December 1876
...
. . .
. . .
121
Registered during the year
...
...
...
..
...
. . .
153
Number who have removed their names or absconded
...
. . .
44
Died "unregistered" prostitutes
...
...
...
. . .
. . .
1
Remained on the register on the 31st December 1877
. . .
. . . 230
Number of Sick.
Remained on the 31st December 1876
...
. . .
. .
. .
8
Admitted during the year
. . . . . ...
. . .
. . .
. . .
503
Recovered
...
...
.....
....
. . .
. . .
468
Remaining in hospital on 31st December 1877
. . .
...
. . .
34
Daily average number of sick ...
...
...
. . .
...
1 8 . 9 3
Average daily number of days in hospital
...
. . .
. .
...
1 3