( 111 )
also be included, and medical officers are now so liable to change that no one man
can be sure of being left in charge of this or of any other local institution of the
kind for even a year. Facts of military and medical interest are constantly accumu-
lating in connection with these establishments which it is desirable to preserve and
collate, and this can only be done after the fashion here recommended, The
very nature and origin of syphilis are, notwithstanding all that has been written
about them, still moot questions, and it should not be forgotten that these women are
themselves incapable of affording any reliable information on these points. They are
above reproach, or so callous to shame as to be indifferent to the consequences
of their conduct, and the restraint to which they are subjected affords facilities for
clinical study and observation which have no parallel elsewhere in our dominions.
For these and other reasons too numerous or too technical for mention here, I
venture to suggest as abov—ethat copies of this and other documents of like import
should be deposited in our office here, and I will only further add that any or such
women as manifest any other than a venereal complication or disease during their
attendance or under inspection are sent, as soon as their more special requirements
will permit, for further treatment to the civil dispensary.
W. CURRAN, SURGEON-MAJOR, A.M.D.,
Sitapur, the 31st January, 1878.
In medical charge of Lock-Hospital.
THE new use of the speculum in examining women appears to me very peculiar,
Surgeon-Major Curran has, so far as I know, paid much attention to the duties in
connection with the lock-hospital, but his predecessors, with one exception, all did the
same, notably Surgeon-Major J. Ringer, M.D., 7th Bengal Cavalry.
The perusal of this report leaves on my mind the impression that his views of the
management of prostitutes are rather beyond the intention of the Act (heading police
control), and I doubt the legality of his subjecting to medical inspection any woman
not a registered prostitute or actually caught in a soldier's company. When I was at
Sitapur, I told him plainly the Government could not be expected to find an asylum
for dumb and epileptic prostitutes, and that the best thing he could do was to detain
them as long as he could, and catch them again as soon as possible.
With reference to the suggestions in the two last paragraphs, I may state that
when printed reports are received from Government copies are locally distributed, but
I think it would be well if the reports of different hospitals were circulated or distri-
buted generally.
C. T. CHAMBERLAIN, LIEUT.-GENERAL,
Lucknow, the 13th March, 1878.
Commanding Oudh Division.
WITH reference to the report of Surgeon-Major Curran, A.M.D., I wish to say
that the returns do not show a smaller proportion than in other stations in the division.
The ratio of admissions per 1,000 came to 227.84, which is considerably higher than
that of Lucknow. The figures as given by the sanitary commissioner for the entire
Bengal European army are as follows:—
Ratio of admis-
sions per 1,000.
1871
...
•••
208
1872
•••
...
.•.
•••
190
1873
•••
•••
•••
....
167
1874
•••
.
200
1875
•••
•••
•••
•••
212
1876
•••
....
•••
•••
195
The cases of the idiotic and epileptic women should be dealt with locally by the
cantonment magistrate.
As regards the records of past years, the practice should be to have an office-book
in which all the reports would be kept as a permanent record for reference.
J. A. C. HUTCHINSON, M.D.,
Deputy Surgeon-General, I. F.
29