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11. There can, I fear, be little doubt that numbers of village women of the lowest
classes have during the last eight months resorted to prostitution as a means of livelihood,
and have spread disease among the European soldiers. Besides this it appears that
a number of Kunjar women have been living in the Kalasi bazár in cantonments,
who came in as married women, but who eventually turned out to be prostitutes.
Their real character and position was not discovered, I am told, until the departure
of the European regiment ; then the murder was out, but the mischief had been done.
They have been expelled, and stricter watch will be necessary henceforward. When
men can break out of barracks at night, as described by the medical officer, and cohabit
with any women they can pick up in the bazárs or strolling about in search of the
soldiers, there is little chance of checking venereal disease.
12. The committee commend the exertions of Dr. Triphook, and " consider
it satisfactory that although the number of cases of disease among the men has
increased, the number of cases among the women has decreased, and the type of the
disease has assumed a milder form."
13. Two things appear to me to be necessary if the lock-hospital is to prove
really beneficial :—
1st.—The class of women provided for the soldiers must not be old and loathsome
hags.
2nd.—The men must be kept in their barracks at night.
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE BAREILLY LOCK-HOSPITAL FOR 1877.
1. Hospital accommodation.— The estimated accommodation is 25, and during the
past year the largest number of patients in hospital at one time was 21, whereas the
average was 12·8.
2. Changes in the medical charge of the hospital.— Surgeon G. R. Triphook,
M.B., A.M.D., was in medical charge for the past year, except during a short time
when absent on duty and leave.
The native staff of the hospital has not been changed during the period embraced
in this return. The native doctor has been zealous in the
discharge of his duties and reliable. The detective dhai has
not been as energetic as in former years, and consequently there has been more
unlicensed and clandestine prostitution.
The weekly returns have been regularly received, but the monthly ones for
November and December were not supplied up to the 24th
January, 1878. This has been brought to the notice of the
cantonment magistrate.
3. Extent of disease among the European troops. —During the year 1877 an
increase in the number of admissions from primary venereal
disease among the European troops is recorded in the returns
now before me.
This increase was not unexpected, as during the year many causes from time
to time came under my notice, and were laid 'by me before the
cantonment sub-committee, which led us to look forward to
a n i n c r e a s ein the number of admissions over that of the previous year, " which
was an exceptionally good one." These causes were :—
l st.—Famine and distress causing a large flow of vagrant women from villages
to pass through and practise prostitution to eke out a miserable existence
.
2nd.—Ayahs belonging to soldiers' wives following the same trade till discovered.
3rd.—That the prostitutes set apart for European soldiers practise their calling
with diseased natives also.
Native staff.
Returns of venereal
disease.
Increased number of
admissions in 1877.
Not unexpected.
Causes of increase.
IE
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