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He concurs in the opinion that some good has been effected by lock hospitals,
but thinks a great deal more remains to be done; if perfect efficiency is aimed at. And
remarks that so much cannot be achieved, without increased expenditure, which
should fall legitimately upon the Military Department.
16. During the year 1882, a monthly average of 73 women remained on the
register, against 95 in 1881.
The results of the management have been very unsatisfactory;F o r t h e n i n e
years, 1874-82, the ratios of admission to hospital for venereal disease, amongst the
European garrison, have been 179, 159, 84, 144, 243, 183, 149, 216, and 318 per
1,000 of daily average strength.
17. The Medical Officer reports that the hospital is in every way Suitable for its
purpose. A much required store room was constructed, during the year, by enclosing
a small portion of the south-east verandah.
The weekly returns of venereal prevalence amongst the soldiers have been regu-
larly received, and show an increase of disease in 1882 as compared with previous
years. During 1882 a total of 414 cases of venereal disease were contracted at
Meerut, and 56 cases -were contracted elsewhere, but treated at Meerut. The ratio of
p r e v a l e n c e wa s 3 8 4 . 7 i n t h e a r t i l l e r y , 2 2 4 . 9 i n t h e i n f a n t r y , a n d 1 5 5 1 i n t h e c a v a l r y .
Of the 414 cases contracted at Meerut, 85 were contracted in the sadr bazaar, 146 in
the infantry bazaar, 122 in the artillery bazaar, 42 in the dragoon bazaar, 17 on the
plains, and 2 on the roads..
A total of 50 women were pointed out as causing disease, of whom 33 were found
diseased. As the result of a specially ordered medical inspection, 17 artillery soldiers
were discovered with venereal disease which they were concealing. This the Medical
Officer thinks, should be a punishable offence.
The Medical Officer is still of opinion that the registration of prostitutes in
cantonments is very incomplete. A large number of such women escape police
notice and remain unregistered.
The registration of city women is merely nominal. Satisfactory results should
not be expected so long as the city prostitutes escape registration. The number of
registered women decreased considerably in 1882, which is unsatisfactory. It may
in part be accounted for by the fact, that by residing just outside the cantonment
boundary a woman can escape registration. The women's attendance for inspection
was fairly regular.
There was considerable increase of disease amongst the women in 1882, and their
diseases were apparently more virulent than in 1881. The ratio of gonorrhœa to
syphilis amongst the women was as 3 to 2, amongst the soldiers as 3 to 4. The
registered women are not examined by the matron, as, in the opinion of the Medical
Officer, it would not be attended with benefit. The hospital assistant examined the
women's houses twice a month:
For the improvement of results, the Medical Officer recommends better police
arrangements. In 1882 the results have been unsatisfactory. The excessive preva-
lence, in 1882 as in 1881, amongst the artillerymen, is a fact the cause of which is a
mystery. But to it the generally unfavourable results are due. Diseased soldiers,
when questioned as to whether they examined the registration ticket of the women
accused of causing the disease, as a rule; answered that they did not know the
women had tickets. Measures were therefore taken to acquaint the soldiers with this.
fact, and to inform them that it was the duty of a. registered woman to show her
ticket to any soldier who might visit her. If the woman could not produce a ticket;
then the soldier would know she was unregistered, and might escape disease by