( 22 )
91. On the other hand, it is well to consider what the reports say about the
causes of success, wherever that has been recorded, taking for examples :—
Lucknow ratio
...
...
... 194.5
Jhánsi ...
. . .
...
133.1
Chakráta „
. . .
. . .
...
63.8
From Lucknow the cause of success is attributed to active preventive measures
adopted by the authorities (para. 23).
From Jhánsi the especial cause is reported to be the efficiency of the endeavours
made to prevent unlicensed prostitution (para 66).
From Chakráta the report is that the rules laid down for the prevention of
disease have been strictly enforced, the work of the regimental police efficient.
92. In all years the reports have shown that failure assuredly attends ineffici-
ency of the measures existent, or supposed to exist, for the prevention of the soldiers'
visits to unlicensed women, and that success crowns the effort wherever the military
authorities make those measures efficient. Indeed, nothing can be more certain than
that this lock hospital scheme is a military endeavour, and should be controlled
entirely by the military authorities, upon whom the praise for success or sorrow of
failure should rest. For the last seven years the work of preparing these annual reports.
has fallen upon me, under the orders of Sir John Strachey. And in writing them
I have striven to preserve a faithful record ; and to put such life into the work as
might be expected from a knowledge that, without fail, a history of results would
reach the eye of Government—a concise record defining causes of failure or success
in each station separately. As in all those years the collective result has been one
of failure, it has necessarily followed that I have, in these annual statements, been
obliged to ask especial attention to the causes of failure, and plead their remedy.
For the conviction that, wanting their removal, success could not be attained to, has
grown with the passage of years and better acquaintance with the scheme in its actual
working aspect. Chiefly I have pleaded against the continuance of four redoubtable
champions of failure which, so long as they exist, must wreck any scheme of preven-
tion :—
1 st. The continuance of the soldier's power or opportunity of consorting, in or
about cantonments, with the women of the country who are not protected by regis-
tration.
2nd. The license in this matter enjoyed by soldiers on the march.
3rd. The opportunity permitted to soldiers in camp to consort with women of
the neighbouring villages.
4th . The continuance of the opportunity or necessity experienced by the regis-
tered women to receive the visits of native men.
93. It may be well to consider in this seventh report the measure of success
which has been attained to in remedying these defects, so persistently pointed out in
the previous numbers of the series.
94. As regards the soldier's intercourse with the vast unregistered class of women
the local reports for the year 1880 tell but one story, thus quotable :—
The Cawpore report says (para. 7) :—" During the earlier months of the year
disease was contracted by the soldiers from unregistered women lurking at night.
time about cantonments."
•
From Agra the report is (para. 12) :—" Towards the close of the year there was an
enormous increase of disease amongst the soldiers, and in every instance it was proved
that the disease had been contracted from unregistered women, who lurk after
dark in the ravines near the Fort." Again. (para 14) :—" The chamar and coolie
women of villages are the source of the soldiers' diseases complained of.