( 20 )
88. The Medical Officer reports that there has been no change of management
during the year. The hospital accommodation was ample. But the assistant's quarters
are insufficient and unsuitable, and should be enlarged. Three different assistants
have been attached to the hospital during the year. The convalescents arrived on
the 11th April, a total 271 men, amongst whom 10 cases of syphilis and five cases
of gonorrhœa were discovered. The diseases contracted at the station were 15 of
syphilis and 51 of gonorrhœa. This shows a total of 33 cases of disease in excess of
the number contracted at Naini Tal in 1878. Two c haprasis were employed for the
arrest of unregistered women, and they apprehended 21 such women, most of whom
were afterwards registered.
The attendance of the women for examination was good. Forty cases of syphilis,
26 of gonorrhœa, and 75 of minor forms of disease, were detected ; a serious increase of
disease amongst the women as compared with 1878 ; increase in some measure due
to the diseased condition of new women brought up or presenting themselves for regis-
tration. Each patient in hospital is allowed three annas a day subsistence allowance.
This amount was found ample. The increase of disease amongst the soldiers was chiefly
from gonorrhœa ; syphilis being little in excess of 1878; and the medical officer thinks
on the whole the result is satisfactory. The cause of the great prevalence of disease
amongst the soldiers in 1879, as in all years, is the great amount of unlicensed pros
- t i t u t i o n c a r r i e d o n a t N a i n i T a l I n a p l a c e l i k e N a i n i T a l t h i s c a n n o t b e p r e v e n t e d .
Everything possible to prevent it is done by the local authorities.
The Adjutant-General's Circular Memorandum No. 2898, dated 27th July, 1878,
was obeyed, and a police organised as soon as a marked increase of disease occurred.
But the soldiers meet vile women outside cantonment limits. Most of these vile
women have husbands, who are passive in regard to this matter. The soldiers admit
their intercourse with these women, but decline to point them out.
As before stated, the excess of syphilitic disease occurred amongst women who,
having become diseased, entered themselves for registration, were examined, and
admitted to hospital accordingly ; and the Medical Officer commends this feature of
the management, thinking it better that the women should come to hospital and be
cured, than remain out of hospital and spread the disease.
89. The Officer comm an ding the Station forwards the report with the remark
that he fully concurs with the opinion that illicit prostitution is the cause of the
increase of disease amongst the soldiers. Every possible endeavour has been made to
check this illicit prostitution, but without success.
The Lock Hospital management has been satisfactorily effected, and no complaint
has been received during the year.
90. The Commissioner forwards the report without remark.
(16).—MUTTRA.
91. During the year 1879 a monthly average of 19 women have remained on
the register against 15 in 1878.
92. 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 190, 127, 132, 96, 223, and 254 per 1,000 of strength res-
pectively.
93. The Medical Offcer reports that prostitutes are not allowed within the lines.
But the prevalence of disease amongst the soldiers was due to the presence of women
who accompanied the Regiment from Agra, and to the presence of unregistered women
still to be found lurking about the barracks and cantonments. Two such were arrested
during the year and found diseased. There has been an increase of disease amongst
the registered women, who were fewer than last year from various causes.