NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
WORKING OF THE LOCK HOSPITALS
IN THE
NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCES AND OUDH,
For the year 1879.
PRELIMINARY NOTE.
THIS report commences with the usual summary of the results and remarks,
recorded in the annual papers submitted to Government, by the local authorities con
cerned with the management and improvement of the Lock Hospital.scheme, paras. 1
to 101.
The hospitals here, and in the returns accompanying this report, being ranged
in order of importance as regards the number of women controlled.
Following the concise summaries of locally recorded results and opinions of the
year, the report will continue with such remarks, recommendations, or expressions of
opinion, as a full acquaintance with the subject and close study of its official records
for a period of six years, seem to warrant.
These remarks being specially directed towards elucidating the exact working of
the system as it now exists, and pointing the way to better future results, paras. 102
to 115.
And the report will conclude with a record of the points of the local records
calling for the especial attention of Government, para. 116.
(1).—ALLAHABAD.
1.
During the year 1879 a monthly average of 171 women remained on the
register against 137 in 1878.
2.
The results of the management have been fairly satisfactory. The ratios of
a d m i s s i o n s t o h o s p i t a l f o r v e n e r e a l d i s e a s e a m o n g s t t h e E u r o p e a n g a r r i s o n , f o r t h e
six years 1874-79, have been 290, 244, 177, 185, 354 and 241 per 1,000 of strength
respectively.
3.
The Medical Officer reports that the lock hospital accommodation at Allahabad
s t i l l r e m a i n s i n s u f f i c i e n t . T h e a v e r a g e d a i l y n u m b e r o f p a t i e n t s d u r i n g t h e y e a r 1 8 7 9
has been 34, whereas the existing accommodation is for from 18 to 20 only.
There has been a satisfactory decrease of disease amongst the soldiers in 1879.
This decrease was due to the satisfactory results recorded during the last five months
of the year.
This satisfactory record resulted from the action of the Cantonment Magistrate,
who offered a reward out of his own pocket for the arrest of the unregistered women
who were believed to have been the cause of the excessive disease of the first two
months of the year. Asa result a number of such women were arrested, and, on
examination, nearly all were found diseased. The Magistrate of the district, however,
did not consider it advisable to continue this system of rewards, and then very few
a r r e s t s w e r e m a d e .
1
( 12 )
tion for a time in hospital, these women have been found free from disease ; and
the dates of admission to hospital of men and registered women have not tallied par-
ticularly as regards cases of syphilis.
Formerly it was the practice to detain the registered women in hospital during
their period of menstruation. This practice was discontinued during the year, under the
express orders of the General of the Division.
The Medical Officer regrets the discontinuance of the practice in question, because
it conduced to the more certain detection of disease, if existing, in any woman, and
because a menstruating woman sometimes communicates gonorrhœa to men.
The registered women have been well managed during the year.
The sub-committee assembled regularly during the year.
A special police, formed of men recently cured of venereal disease, was established
in August, 1878. Their duties are to prevent men frequenting villages outside the
cantonment limits.
A total of 44 unlicensed prostitutes were arrested during the year, and of these
14 were found diseased.
The attendance of the women for examination during the year has been fair.
They were examined weekly. The hospital assistant was energetic in the perform-
ance of his duties.
The Medical Officer still remains of opinion that all public prostitutes should be
registered and subject to examination.
It is generally admitted that lock hospital management has greatly benefited
the registered women, and these benefits might with great advantage be extended to
all prostitutes.
He thinks that a soldier who unjustly charges a registered woman with being
the cause of his disease, should be punished severely.
The soldiers by their preference for unlicensed women, frustrate the efforts and
expenses of Government made for the prevention of venereal disease.
The order preventing access to the canteen for fourteen days after discharge from
hospital, of a venereal patient, has been effectual for good, especially in preventing
relapses of disease.
43. The General Commanding the Division, after calling for the opinion of the
Deputy Surgeon-General, rescinded the order previously issued, and granted a return
to the previous practice of detaining menstruating women in hospital.
44. The Commissioner of the Division forwards the report with the expression
of opinion that the management has been satisfactory. The chief cause of disease was
the prostitution of unregistered women, and provision should be made for the punish-
ment of all such prostitutes practising with soldiers outside cantonments.
(8).—BENARES.
45. During the year 1879 a monthly average of 75 women remained on the
register against 66 in 1878.
46. The results of the management have been very unsatisfactory. The ratios
of admissions to hospital for venereal disease amongst the European garrison for the
six years, 1874-79, have been 370, 341, 479, 479, 333, and 470 per 1,000 of strength
respectively.
47. The Medical Officer reports that the lock hospital accommodation is amply
sufficient. Amongst the registered women syphilis was much less prevalent in 1879
than in 1878, and the cases of this disease seen in 1879 were mild in character amongst
( 14 )
The compulsory registration of unlicensed women, arrested for prostitution with- , .
European soldiers, and their admission to the benefits of the lock hospital, is a mistake.
These women should be punished by imprisonment. At present they intercept gains
that should come to the registered women, and share the benefits of medical treatment
which rightly belong only to the registered women.
(9).—MORADABAD.
H. During the year 1879 a monthly average of 49 women remained on the
register against 64 in 1878.
52.. The results of the management have been unsatisfactory.
The ratios of admissions to hospital for venereal disease amongst the European
garrison for the six years, 1874-79, have been 166,162, 98, 115, 374 , and 369 per
1,000 of strength respectively.
53. The Medical Officer reports that the lock hospital is inconveniently situated
in the city, and. at a considerable distance from the cantonments.
The sub-committee has assembled regularly.
The decrease in the average number of women registered has probably been due
to the adoption, by some of the women, of other ways of life, as the period of scarcity
passed away. The registered women were examined three times a month, and the
hospital accommodation and arrangements are satisfactory.
The great prevalence of ague disease prevented a very regular attendance of the
women for examination.
The prevalence of venereal disease amongst the soldiers was due to intercourse
with unregistered women.
The attention of the authorities was called to this source of disease during the
year. And, as a result, one unregistered woman, suffering from severe syphilis, was
arrested.
The Medical Officer recommends a change of situation of the lock hospital front
the city to cantonments, to ensure More careful supervision.,
54. The Magistrate of the district thinks the results of the year's working unsatis-
factory on the whole.
But notes, as a redeeming feature, that only 12 cases of primary syphilis occurred
amongst the soldiers in 1879 against 38 in 1878, and the 22 cases of secondary
syphilis reported in 1879 were probably the sequels of disease contracted in 1878.
Excessive vagrancy, the cause of so much disease in 1878, still operated in 1879.
The police have no power to arrest vagrant women suspected of being diseased, yet
there is every reason to believe that' the prevalence of disease amongst the troops is
traceable to intercourse with vagrant pauper women.
The Cantonment Committee have not taken measures to obtain sanction for the
removal of the lock hospital- from the city to cantonments, and the Magistrate thinks
that expenditure in this direction would not result in any decrease of disease amongst
the soldiers, because of their preference for cheap promiscuous intercourse with
vagrant women.
55. The .Commissioner is of opinion that the lock hospital should be estab-
lished within cantonments. Power cannot be given to the police to arrest city
women suspected of disease. The women to guard against are really those of out-
lyin g villages, and the measures necessary to prevent the soldiers meeting them are
in the hands of the military authorities.
( 17 )
After these arrests were made, the Executive Engineer dismissed from employ-
ment all women engaged on his work at Chaubatiya.
65. The Senior Assistant Commissioner concurs in the opinion that successful
lock hospital management, in a station like Ranikhet, depends in greatest measure
upon action, taken by the Regimental authorities, to keep their men away from
temptation.
He supposes that the caste women who will not cohabit with Europeans are
" Paturs," a class of women who restrict themselves to cohabitation with high caste
Hindus.
But 80 Paturs could hardly find a living at Raníkhet. And the Senior Assist-
ant Commissioner thinks some of these women may be Mussalmans, against whom
the soldier requires protection.
66. The Commissioner thinks this report fully bears out his often expressed
opinion that successful lock hospital management depends almost entirely on Regi-
mental a uthority.
Another powerful aid to failure is the aimless, self-indulgent, life of the soldier,
which Government alone can remedy.
(12).—SITAPUR.
67. During the year 1879 a monthly average of 36 women remained on the
register, against 108 in 1878.
68. The results of the management have been satisfactory. For the six years,
1874-79, the ratios of admissions to hospital for venereal disease amongst the garrison
have been 380, 397, .334, 296, 333, and 221 per 1,000 of strength respectively.
69. The Medical Officer reports that four different Medical Officers were in
charge during the year, up to 30th November, when the hospital was disestablished,
owing to the withdrawal of European troops. The registered women were few in
number, owing to the removal of troops which proceeded throughout the year. Disease
amongst them was mild. Disease amongst the soldiers compares favourably with that
reported in 1878. The sub-committee assembled regularly. Every applicant for
registration was medically examined before obtaining a ticket, and several of these
women were found diseased. The examinations were held weekly.
70. The Cantonment Committee approve the report.
71. The Deputy Commissioner of the district notes that the European garri-
son was very small throughout the year. At the close of the year there remained
only the Depôt of the 92nd Highlanders, chiefly married men, and the hospital
closed.
72. The Commissioner forwards the report without remark.
( 13 ).—ROORKEE.
73. During the year 1879 a monthly average of 32 women remained on the
register against 38 in 1878.
74. The results of the management have been very satisfactory. The ratios o
admissions to hospital for venereal disease amongst the European garrison for the
six years, 1874-79, have been 198, 146, 124, 66, 262, and 132 per 1,000 of strength
respectively.
75. The Medical Officer reports that the hospital, a building of mud and thatch
is sufficient for the treatment and comfort of the sick.
The weekly returns of disease amongst the soldiers have been regularly received
and show that out of a total of 34 cases admitted to hospital in the year, 13 were
cases of disease contracted at Roorkee, and 21 at other places, so that the ratio
5
NAINI TAL,
The 25th May, 1880.
C. PLANCK, SURGEON-MAJOR,
Sanitary Commr., N.-W. P . and Oudh.
( 28 )
time if my presence can be useful. But the cause of failure is plainly recorded, and
can be remedied only by the action of the military authorities. If it is impossible, as
reported, to prevent the soldiers intercourse with the unlicensed women of the popula-
tion expenditure for lock hospital purposes is useless at Benares. If, as reported,
the lock hospital is not in any measure efficient against the spread of disease amongst
the soldiers, the obvious inference is that it ought to be abolished. At present the
total annual cost, Rs. 2,674, falls upon Government.
X.—The necessity of locating the lock hospital at Moradabad within canton-
ments (paras. 53 and 55).
XI.—The justice of requiring that a case of relapse of a previous disease should
not be entered in the returns as a new case (paras. 75 and 78).
XII.—The probable advantage of increasing the maximum of punishment award-
able to a hardened offender (paras. 82, 83, 84).
XIII.—The question raised by the Commissioner as to the fitness of an Apothecary
for the medical charge of the lock hospital at Muttra (paras. 94 and 95).
The pay of the Medical Officer at Muttra is Rs. 20 per mensem. The results
were favourable for the past year.
XIV.—The necessity of insisting upon the medical inspection of all European
soldiers arriving at any Lock Hospital station (para. 101).
No.II—Annual return of expenditure incurred in the lock hospitals of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh for the year 1879.
N u m b e r .
Lock hospital.
Pay of
medical officer
Pay of
establishment.
All
other expenses.
Total.
By Government. From cantonment
funds.
Total.
Receipts.
Fines realized.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a P.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p.
1 Allahabad ..
...
...
...
1,200 0 0
600 0 0
1,448 4 9
3,248 4 9
. . .
3,243 4 9
3,248 4 9
21 0 0
2 Cawnpore ... ...
...
1,200 0 0
648 0 0
1,905 4 0
3,753 4 0
2,758 10 9
994 9 3
3,753 4. 0
22 0 0
3 Agra
...
...
...
...
1,200 0 0
1,008 0 0
2,138 2 5
4,346 2 5
2,462 2 5
1,884 0 0
4,346 2 5
29 2 0
4 Meerut ... ... ... ...
1,200 0 0
822 0 0
752 14 5
2,774 14 5
. . .
2,774 1 4 5
2,774 1 4 5
20 8 0
5 Lucknow ...
..,
...
1,200 0 0
1,200 0 0
829 11 4
3,229 11 4
. . .
3,229 1 1 4
3,229 1 1 4
...
6 Barcilly ...
...
...
1,200 0 0
396 0 0
1,540 3 6
3,136 3 0
. . .
3,136 3 0
3,136 3 0
40 12 0
7 Fyabad ...
..,
...
7,200 0 0
805 0 0
1,087 1 3
3,092 1 3 ...
3,092 1 3
3,092 1 3
...
8 Benares ...
..
...
1,200 0 0
558 13 5
915 13 1
2,674 1 0 6
2,674 1 0 6
. . . 2,674 1 0 6
. . .
9 Moradabad...
... . , .
600 0 0
348 0 0
212 12 9
1,160 1 2 9
1,160 12 9
. . . 1,160 12 9
...
10 Sháhjahánpur ..
.. .
600 0 0
768 0 0
343 0 0
1,711 0 0
. . .
1,711 0 0
1,711 0 0
37 4 0
11 Ranikhet ...
...
.0
...
600 0 0
532 3 0
780 1 4
1,912 4 4
1,792 4 4
120 0 0
1,912 4 4 ...
12 Sitapur ..,,,
...
... ...
550 0 0
551 11 0
130 14 0
1,232 9 0
. . .
1,232 9 0
1,232 9 0 ...
13 Roorkee ......
...
6 0 0 0 0
300 0 0
62 0 0
962 0 0
900 0 0
62 0 0
962 0 0
. . .
14 Jhánsi ... ... ... ...
240 0 0
180 0 0
239 4 10
659 4 10
659 4 10
. . . 659 4 10
. . .
15 Naini Tal ...
...
...
...
600 0 0
534 0 0
386 15 3
1,520 15 3
1,520 15 3
. . . 1,520 15 3
4 0 0
16 Muttra ......
220 0 0
165 0 0
112 1 6
497 1 6
. . .
497 1 6
497 1 6
. . .
1 7 Chakráta ... ...
240 0 0
180 0 0
379 15 11
799 15 11
799 15 11
...
799 15 11
. . .
TOTAL, 1879
13,850 0 0
9,596 11 5
13,263 8 5
36,711 3 3
14,728 12 9
21,982 6 6
36,711 3 3
174 10 0
TOTAL, 1878 . . .
13,786 0 0
9,573 0 0
13,046 0 0
36.415 0 0
13,876 0 0
22,529 0 0
36,405 0 0
253 6 0
No. 176 OF 1880.
SANITATION DEPT.
FROM
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
N.-W. PROVINCES AND OUDH,
To
THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA,
HOME, REVENUE, AND AGRICULTURAL DEPT.
Dated Naini Tal, the 17 th August, 1880.
SIR,
I AM directed to forward, for the information of His Excellency
the Governor-General in Council, the annual report on the working of
the lock-hospitals in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh for the
year 1879.
2. The following table shows the results of the year at each station
in regard to admissions of European soldiers into hospital, as compared
with the results of the previous five years and the average of five years
preceding the introduction of the present system:—
N u m b e r .
Station.
D a i l y a v e r a g e s t r e n g t h o f E u r o p e a n g a r r r i s o n i n 1 8 7 9 .
Admissions to hospital for
venereal disease in 1879.
R a t i o o f a d m i s s i o n s t o 1 , 0 0 0 o f s t r e n g t h i n 1 8 7 9 .
M e a n r a t i o n o f p r e c e d i n g f i v e y e a r s .
M e a n r a t i o n o f f i v e y e a r s p r e i o u s t o t h e o p e i n i n g o f l o c k - h o s p i t a l s .
R E M A R K S .
G o n o r r h œ a a n d m i n o r f o r m s o f d i s e a s e .
S y p h i l i s .
T o t a l .
1 Allahabad
... 1,047
129
123
252 240.6 293.0 307.0
2 Cawnpore
...
879
136
161
297 337.8 308.0 324.0
3 Agra ...
...
776
192
75
267 344.0 233.0 212.0
4 Meerut ...
. . .
944
63
149
212 224.5 190.0 324.0
5 Lucknow ...
. . . 2,081
221
135
356 171.0 301.0 272.0
6 Bareilly ...
. . .
831
156
125
281 338.1 187.0 228.0
7 Fyzabad . . .
. . .
449
57
14
71 158.1 318.0 287.0
8 Benares ...
...
478
118
108
226 472.8 472.0 373.0
9 Moradabad
...
198
39
34
73 368.7 241.0 300.0
10 Sháhjahánpur
...
225
43
12
55 244.4 299.0 361.0
11 Ránikhet ...
...
514
91
70
161 313.2 228.0 *153.0 * One
year.
12 Sitapur ...
•••
208
25
21
46 221.1 348.0 342.0
13 Roorkee ...
...
257
19
15
34 132.3 188.0 210.0
14 Jhánsi . . .
. . .
376
37
14
51 135.6 182.0 310.0
15 Naini Tal ...
•••
235
56
25
81 344.6 203.0 244.0
16 Muttra ...
...
457
64
52
116 253.8 199.0 216.0
17 Chakrata ... • • •
307
41
21
62 201.9 133.0 142.0
Total
... 10,262 1,487 1,154 2,641 257.3 254.3 274.8
3. Of the 17 lock-hospitals in the North-Western Provinces and
Oudh, nine show-for the year under review—unsatisfactory results.
Taking them in the order (per 1,000) of admissions to hospital,— i.e., in
the ratio of disease,-they stand as under:—
Benares . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
... 472.8
Moradabad...
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . 368.7
Naini Tal ...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . 344.6
Agra
•••
...
...
. . .
. . . 344.0
( 4 )
(3) The necessity of a well at Agra in the hospital enclosure (which-
seems to be made out) is a local matter, to be decided by the committee
in communication with the military authorities.
(4) Regarding the alleged irregularity of sub-committee meetings at
Agra, it seems to the Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Commissioner
useless to insist on meetings when there is no business to be transacted.
Considering, however, that Agra shows results that are unsatisfactory,
it would appear that there is ample field for the sub-committee's
work, and I am to invite attention to the subject. The matter would
appear to be one for the president of the cantonment committee to
regulate.
(5) The question of regimental police (Meerut) is one that entirely
concerns the military authorities ; a more efficient police of this kind
would seem to be much needed.
(6) His Honor has much pleasure in acknowledging the good work
performed by Dr. Fairland in connection with the laborious and unplea-
sant duty of lock-hospital management. The results of the year are a grati-
fying proof of the success with which it has been attended.
(7) The distinction between local venereal ulcer and primary syphi-
lis seems important enough to warrant the introduction of separation
between these forms of disease in the returns. As His Honor under-
stands it, the one is simply a local affection ; the other, a blood disease
in the system.
(8) The provision of quarters for medical subordinates is a matter
appertaining to the cantonment authorities in communication with the
Military Department.
(9) The Benares lock-hospital has proved a melancholy failure;
and the authorities, while holding that this is due not to the system or
to want of care, but to the peculiar circumstances of the cantonments as
affording the best possible chance for unlicensed prostitution, suggest
that the Sanitary Commissioner should be deputed to visit the place.
It is difficult to see what good results can be expected from this, if
(as would seem to be admitted) the evil is of the kind above described.
But Dr. Planck will be asked to take an early opportunity of examining
the place, and of reporting to Government the results of his inspection.
(10) The location of the Moradabad hospital within cantonments,
instead of in the city, was alluded to in clause 6, para. 6, of last review.
It is a matter for the committee to decide.
(11) The Lieutenant-Governer considers that a case of relapse, pure
and simple, should not be entered in the returns as a new case. But care
would have to be exercised that new cases were not included under relapses,
the recovered patient having again contracted the disease.
(12) The question of enhancement of penalty for unlicensed prostitu-
tion was touched on in para. 4 of last year's review. Since then Act III.
( 5 )
of 1880 has become law, but the maximum penalty (Rs. 50 fine, or eight
days' imprisonment) remains the same under section 27, (clause 11). If
however a fine is levied and cannot be realised (and this would ordinarily
be the case in regard to unregistered women), the offender is liable under
section 29 to one month's imprisonment. if action were taken on this
provision of the law, the penalty, adjudged would in most cases be more
adequate. His Honor has nothing further to add to what was said in the
1878 review on this subject.
(13) The medical charge of the Muttra lock-hospital was held in
1879 by an apothecary, and doubts are raised as to the expediency of
this arrangement. The Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Commissioner
does not see why an apothecary should not, if there be good reasons for
the measure, be placed in charge. As a matter of fact, the nominations
to medical charge of lock-hospitals are made by the military authorities,
confirmation being usually a matter of course. The subject does not
appear to call for discussion.
(14) New arrivals at a military station should always be inspected,
as otherwise a man affected with disease may communicate it to regis-
tered women. This is a matter, however, for the military authorities to
consider.
I have the honor to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
C. ROBERTSON,
Secretary to Government,
N.-W. Provinces and Oudh.
No. 177.
COPY, with copy of report, forwarded to the Secretary to the
Government of India, Military Department.
No. 178.
Copy, with copy of report, also forwarded to the Quartermaster-
General in India.
No. 179.
Copy, with copy of report, also forwarded to the Surgeon-General with
the Government of India, for information.
No. 180.
Copy, with copy of report, also forwarded to the Surgeon-General,
North-Western Provinces and Oudh, for information.
( 6 )
No. 181.
Copy, with copy of report, also forwarded to all Commissioners of
Divisions, North-Western Provinces and Oudh (except Rae Bareli), for
information.
No. 182.
Copy, with copy of report, also forwarded to the Presidents of Can-
tonment Committees in these Provinces, for information and communi-
cation to the Medical Officers in charge of hospitals.
No. 183.
Copy, with copy of above endorsements, forwarded to the Sani-
tary Commissioner, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, for informa-
tion and guidance, with reference to his No. 274, dated 25th May last ;
and for report as to para 4.
R. SMEATON,
Junior Secy. to Govt., N.-W. P. and Oudh.
Regx. Do.
HOME
1880
DEP
From
The Secretary to Government,
N. W. Provinces and Oudin
To
The Secretary to the Government of India,
Home, Revenue, and Agricultural Dep
Dated the 17th th August, 1880.
Received
Progs. No.
D. L. No.
No. 176.
Enclosures,
Spare copies
FORWARDS, with resmarks, the annual repo
the working of the lock-hospitals in the
Western Provinces and Oudh, for the year 187