( 116 )
MEERUT.
19. During the year 1877 a monthly average of 84 women remained on the
register against 93 in 1876.
The results of the management have been satisfactory. For the five years 1873
to 1877 the ratios of venereal cases . amongst the European garrison per 1,000 at
Meerut have been 98, 179, 159, 84, and 144 respectively.
20. The medical officer reports that of the total of 204 cases of venereal disease
which occurred amongst the soldiers 78 were contracted at places other than Meerut,
or were relapses or secondary affections. Deducting these the ratios for 1877 will be
reduced to 88 per 1,000 of strength.
The medical officer again records the opinion that the registration of the Meerut
city women is merely nominal, and such being the case, so long as the soldiers were
allowed to visit the city, or the city women to enter cantonments, it will be unreason-
able to expect. very satisfactory results.
The monthly average of city women registered was only 17.
Disease amongst the women was much less in 1877 than in 1876. In the former
year 139 cases of disease occurred, in the latter 102 cases. Only cases of venereal
disease proper are admitted to hospital.
The disease seen was more virulent in 1877, requiring an average of 56 days'
treatment for the cure of each case, while in 1876 the average was 30 days.
Amongst the women cases of syphilis and gonorrhœa were in number as 1 to 2,
and amongst the soldiers a like average prevailed.
21. The cantonment magistrate reports that the sub-committee watched the
rules and carried out any improvements necessary during the year. Every possible
endeavour was made to increase the number of registered women on the cantonment
register, and to induce more attractive-looking women to register themselves, in hopes
of confining the soldiers' visits to the registered women. Five women convicted of
unlicensed prostitution with soldiers were punished by fine and brought on to the
register.
22. The cantonment committee forward the papers, concurring in the views of
the medical officer.
23. The commissioner forwards the papers without comment.
BENARES.
24. During the year 1877 a monthly average of 71 women remained on the
register at Benares against 87 in 1876.
The results of the management have been most unsatisfactory. For the four
years 1874-77 the ratios of cases of venereal disease amongst the European soldiers
of the garrison at Benares have been 370, 341, 479, and 479 per 1,000 respectively.
25. The medical officer reports that cases of secondary syphilis are not included
in the 260 cases recorded amongst the soldiers. If they had been included the ratio
per 1,000 would have been greater than 479, as shown above. The majority of cases
was primary syphilis of a mild form, but in some cases a lengthened stay in hospital
was required for the cure of the disease.
Considering : the limited area under police observation and the proximity to the
lines of Benares city and bazárs, the medical officer does not think the cases of disease
amongst the European troops very excessive.
The examination of the registered women was regularly effected twice a month,
but some of the women known to be prone to disease were examined more frequently.
A large proportion of the registered women do not consort with European soldiers.
Eighty-eight cases of syphilis and 82 cases of gonorrhœa were treated amongst the
women, the prevalence of the two diseases being about equal. The papers do not contain