(130)
87. First.—The cantonment sub-committee, above all things, should hear and
carefully consider monthly the report of the medical officer as to the prevalence of
venereal disease amongst the soldiers, and take such steps as may be necessary to stay.
any undue prevalence. If due to unlicensed prostitution; the military authorities
should be at once addressed on the subject. Either the unlicensed women offenders
should be arrested, or the place of their abode should be put out of bounds. Dealt
with at once, the evil may be quickly stayed. Neglected, as at Agra, the evil quickly
increases. But in regard to the cities or large towns and neighbouring cantonments
there can be no manner of doubt that they should be permanently considered as out of
bounds to the soldier. In support of this opinion I call attention to the last clause
of para. 4, which shows the good results of placing the Cawnpore city out of
bounds.
Such behaviour of the soldiers as breaking out of barracks at night time to have
sexual intercourse with unlicensed women, as recorded at para. 13, is quite past
my understanding, upon the supposition that the military authorities are earnest in
their determination to prevent venereal disease.
88. Second.—The registered women should be examined at frequent intervals.
If at Lucknow the examinations can be effected twice a week, why should not the
same rule be enforced in all stations ?
If bi-weekly examinations were found necessary at Jhánsi (para. 57) during the
prevalence of disease, would it not be well to establish them, to prevent the prevalence
at all times ?
Certainly very good results cannot be expected where the registered women are
examined only twice in a month as at Benares.
89. Third.—Arrangements for the prevention of disease, especially by provid
ing adequate means of ablution, should be strictly maintained in every registered
woman's room as described in para. 70.
90. Fourth.— The medical inspection of every soldier on arrival within the lock-
hospital limits should be effected as at Lucknow (para. 61). Had this been effected at
Ránikhet on the arrival of the regiment from Benares, a great portion of the disease
which prevailed at Ránikhet might have been prevented.
91. Fifth.—A more stringent discipline should characterize the management of
soldiers on the line of march. As now managed, unwonted opportunities for the contrac
tion of venereal disease appear to be permitted to the soldier on the march. Indeed,
the medical officer at Naini Tál records the opinion (para. 54) that more venereal
disease is contracted by the soldier on the line of march than in the stations. Surely
this ought not to be permitted. Certainly the fact adds great force to the opinion that
medical examination of soldiers newly arrived at any station should be insisted on.
92. By reference to form No. I which accompanies this report, it will be seen
that 1,819 women were registered in 1876 against 1,203 in 1877. The difference is
due to the abolition of the Lucknow city lock-hospial, where 614 women were
registered in 1876. The local military and medical authorities complain that the aboli
tion of this hospital has been a cause of disease to the artillery soldiers in the Machi
bhawan Fort, a force of 83 men, and desire its re-establishment. The civil authorities
deprecate its re-establishment, and think the artillery force should be removed from
the fort, as already determined by Government. If the artillery force could be removed
it would no doubt be to their advantage as regards escape from venereal disease, for I
cannot see any likelihood of the re-establishment of so extensive an hospital for the
benefit of so small a force. That the existence of the city lock-hospital was a cause of
much escape from disease to many men and women of the city I have no doubt what
ever, but the municipal authorities do not wish to maintain it, and its maintenance
cannot be forced on them upon the grounds that it was of use to prevent disease in
the British soldiers.