(
4
)
has for intercourse with unregistered women. The General accords much praise to
Dr. Fairland and his native assistant for the exceeding care with which they have
conducted their lock-hospital duties during the year.
20.. The Cantonment Magistrate records the opinion that the women who
disease the soldiers are European, half-caste and native prostitutes who live just
outside cantonments. Last year he asked that rules framed in 1876 for the control
of these women might be sanctioned, and he still urges their sanction. This officer is of
opinion that the lock-hospital sub-committee have little real power ; they can, and
do, point out many defects, but have no power to remove them. They have a want
of power to enforce advice. For example, they cannot enforce the discontinuance
of the employment of women by the Department Public Works on cantonment works,
although these women are well known to be a fruitful cause of disease. The Canton-
ment Magistrate states that the medical officer is mistaken in supposing that suspec-
ted women are arrested by the police and sent to hospital for examination. Only
women found guilty of illicit prostitution are sent for examination. These women,
who are most repulsive in appearance, are treated as well as respectable people. The
reason why soldiers prefer these women is because they are less expensive. These
women do not care to be registered, because they cannot afford to live in the houses
registered women inhabit. The Cantonment Magistrate thinks the punishment to
which unregistered prostitutes are liable under the existing law should be increased,
and quotes the case of a well-known woman who cares nothing for the amount of
punishment that can now be inflicted. Also reference is made to the European
woman mentioned by the medical officer. It is stated that she is now living across
the cantonment border at her old trade. She has brought many soldiers to grief and
supplies them with liquor. Many more women of the same stamp are living at Luck-
now, and so long as they are not dealt with, better results cannot be expected from
lock-hospital management.
21. The Lieutenant-General endorses the Cantonment Magistrate's record with
a favourable opinion, and commends his remarks to the attention of the civil authorities
and to the Government, hoping that orders may soon be passed remedying the evil
complained of.
22. The Deputy Commissioner records the opinion that the local civil author-
ities cannot effectually prevent the evil complained of until the rules mentioned by
the Cantonment Magistrate have been sanctioned by Government. He also agrees
with the Cantonment Magistrate in thinking that the sub-committee have no power.
23. The Commissioner thinks the management of the lock-hospital has been all
that can be desired, and commends the medical officer for his zealous performance of
duty. He believes with the medical officer that many unregistered women were
driven to prostitution by famine, and as 103 out of 116 such women were found
diseased, they must have been a cause of disease to the soldiers. The Commissioner
urges particular attention for the prevention of disease on the line of march, and
its discovery on arrival of a regiment at its destination, and especially on its arrival
from England. He would encourage the use of the influence of commanding officers
and medical officers for the prevention of venereal disease amongst the soldiers, and
would bring to the notice of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief certain paras.
of the medical officer's report (54, 56, 57), in which it is shown that that influence is
not always existent, With reference to the abolished city lock-hospital, the Commis-
sioner points out that the Machi Bhawan quarter so much complained of never did
come under the city lock-hospital operations. As yet final orders have not beer
passed on the rules mentioned by the Cantonment Magistrate.
(3)—AGRA.
24. During the year 1878 a monthly average of 144 women remained on- the-
register against 148 in 1877.