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LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
Bad as the results were in 1877, they were infinitely worse in 1878, and call for
very energetic measures for the suppression of disease. Fortunately the increase
of disease amongst the prostitutes did not affect its prevalence amongst British
troops as will be seen from the followin g figures:—
1878.
1877.
Primary syphilis ...
...
...
. . .
. . .
34
32
Gonorrhœa
. . .
. . .
. . .
39
52
Six deaths took place in the Lock Hospital during the year, and 10 women were
removed from the register on account of their health being so shattered as to
render them unfit for prostitution. The medical officer who reports on. the Lock
Hospital observes, that amongst the Police force at the station the admissions for
venereal disease during 1878 numbered 3·8 per cent. of strength, whilst amongst
the Native troops the ratio was only 1 .4. He therefore infers, presuming probably
that the Police are in league with the women, that they " are unfit to be trusted
with the important duty of registration."
23. Wellington.— There was a decline of 8 in the number registered in 1878,
as contrasted with the return for 1877. The Act is worked under special facilities
at this station, there being no large native town in the neighbourhood, and as it is
comparatively easy to discover any woman who practises prostitution. The only
exception to this is perhaps in the case of female servants brought up from the
plains, some of whom consort with soldiers. When a soldier at the depôt contracts
disease he is obliged to accompany a policeman and point out the woman who
communicated it, who is immediately brought to the Lock Hospital. The annexed
abstract shows the admissions into the Lock Hospital in 1877 and 1878 for the
chief forms of venereal disease:—
1878.
1877.
Primary syphilis ...
...
...
... ...
. . .
29
39
Gonorrhœa
...
...
...
... ...
. . .
79
52
These figures show a decrease of syphilis and increase of gonorrhœa in 1878.
Amongst the invalids at the depôt the following admissions took place:—
1878.
1877.
Primary syphilis ...
...
...
...
. . .
. . .
21
17
Gonorrhœa
...
...
...
...
. . .
. . .
16
32
The cases in 1878 show an increase under syphilis and decrease under gonor-
rhœa. The attendance of the women at the weekly examinations was, as a rule,
regular.
24. General Remarks.— The results of registration for 1878 and preceding years
show, that the existing detective agency is inadequate and needs to be strengthened.
Owing to the famine the number of prostitutes has of late been largely increased,
and as the detective force was found insufficient prior to this accession, it is clear
that it must be still less able now to cope with its important duties. It has become
evident, too, that the deplorable increase of public women will not cease with the
famine, but is likely to continue for some years to come. Doubts are expressed
as to the efficiency of the police as detective agents, but it is questionable if any
other natives would prove better. Certainly in some stations they appear to have
a personal experience of venereal disease, which ought to help them in their detective
duties. As regards gonorrhœa it is merely a local disease, and, if promptly and
judiciously treated, is of little importance. The great prevalence of primary
syphilis, both amongst the troops and women, was deplorable. Amongst the former
the admissions numbered 1,142, giving a ratio of 116 . 19 per mille of strength, while
amongst the prostitutes there were no less than 2,261 cases. The only hopeful
feature as regards syphilis amongst British troops in the results of 1878 is the
comparative unfrequency of secondary affections. In drawing any conclusions from
this it is of course necessary to bear in mind, that under existing military arrange-
ments the men are but a short period under observation in one place. The total
admissions into British hospitals for secondary syphilis in 1878 numbered 201, and
therefore stood in the ratio of 176 per thousand of cases of primary syphilis
4