( 5 )
The results of the managements have been most unsatisfactory. For the five
years 1874-78, the ratios of venereal cases per 1,000 of the European garrison at Agra,
have been 181, 101, 91, 247, and 397 respectively.
25 . The Medical Officer reports that the increase of disease has been
general in all corps comprising the garrison. Soldiers in cantonments suffered mostly
from gonorrhœa. Soldiers in the fort suffered mostly froth syphi lis.
The prevalence was excessive in all months of the year. The causes of the disease
prevalence were, primarily, widespread unlicensed prostitution and the insufficiency of
the police to deal with it ; secondarily, the youth of the garrison, and the consequent
incontinence of the soldiers and their lax discipline. Often soldiers under the influence
of drink are now seen cut of barracks, and many admitted on being questioned that,
having drank much, they could not say with whom they had cohabited. Of 46 regis-
tered women reported as giving disease, only three were found diseased on examina-
nation. Of 67 unregistered women examined, 53 were found diseased. The attend-
ance of the registered women for examination has been, regular. Women on the
cantonment register were examined weekly, on the city register fortnightly. Disease
amongst the registered women has doubled since last year, especially from syphilis.
The source of this disease cannot be determined, but the women complain that the
soldiers do not support them, and probably the disease arises from intercourse of
natives and half-caste men with the registered women. In many instances soldiers,
having contracted disease from vagrant women, convey it to registered women. The
syphilis seen in registered women has not corresponded in severity with the syphilis
Seen amongst the soldiers.
The medical officer cannot point out for want of experience how illicit prostitu-
tion, the fons et origo mali , is to be prevented. But the existing system of police he
considers useless to deal with the evil. Soldiers, he thinks, who have contracted vene-
real disease might without injustice be treated very stringently after discharge from
hospital, or, better still, their pay might be stopped while in hospital.
Some unregistered women brought for examination having been found so fear-
fully diseased that the thought of cohabitation by any man with them is disgusting,
that the soldier should do it may perhaps be accounted for by his high living and
want of employment.
26. The Cantonment Committee concur with the remarks of the medical officer
excepting as regards the soldier's laxness of discipline.
They are firmly convinced that disease, to a great extent, is contracted from tin-
registered women. Of 67 unlicensed women arrested during the year four only were
reported by the regimental police. The remainder were arrested by the cantonment
police. This is very creditable to them.
The committee think that a greater number of city women and women of the
suburbs and villages near cantonments should be registered.
27. The Collector notes that, bad as the results were last year, they are worse
this.
The regimental police have not improved. Unregistered women are still said
to be the cause of evil. An endeavour has been made to effect a complete city
register of prostitutes. But the Collector doubts whether the preparation of a regis-
ter is sufficient, and suggests that the city might be put out of bounds to the soldier.
As regards the registration of women in 36 villages about cantonments which were
brought under the action of lock-hospital rules in 1872, as no women of these villages
have been registered, it is probable the rules have not been applied; their application
lies with the Secretary of the cantonment committee.
28. The file contains no especial notice of the report by the Commissioner
.
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