( 23 )
From Meerut (pars, 19) :—" Much of the disease complained of is contracted on
the plains towards Buxa Khera and Kankar Khera, villages containing many women
whose husbands were absent in Afghanistan."
From Lucknow (para. 23):—" Amongst the soldiers, as a rule, young men suffered
most severely, because of their greater inclination to visit unregistered women ; " and
again, " there is every reason to believe that many unlicensed: women frequent can-
tonments and solicit the soldiers."
From Bareilly (para. 30) :—" The disease from which the men suffered was con-
tracted from coolie and other unregistered women who go about at night ; " again,
" chiefly disease comes from unregistered women who patrol the roads at night and
induce the soldier, often the worse for liquor, to illicit intercourse.".
From Faizabad (para. 35):—" The soldiers contracted many of their cases from
unregistered women."
From Benares (para. 39) :—" The disease was contracted chiefly from unregistered
women." (Para. 41) " Always the cause of failure has been the intercourse of soldiers
with unregistered women." (Para. 42). " Intercourse with unregistered women is
the universal custom with the soldiers.''
From Moradabad (para. 44) :—" Registered and unregistered women are alike
visited by the soldiers, the mass of whose diseases is attributable to the latter class."
From Sháhjahánpur (para. 49) :—" In October and November sudden increase of
disease occurred which was traced to unregistered women. On arrest and examina-
tion, 16 of these women were found to be suffering from venereal sores of the same
character as those which afflicted the soldiers.
From Ránikhet (para. 54) :—" Much of the disease (true syphilis) was contracted
from unregistered women. One such woman was found much diseased; she had, as
usual, infected several soldiers."
From Naini Tal (para. 69) :—" Most of the disease suffered by the soldiers was
distinctly traceable to unregistered hill women lurking about roads and khuds."
From Fatehgarh (para. 79):—" The excessive disease amongst the soldiers is
contracted from the great number of diseased unregistered women who prowl in the
vicinity of the lines or in the sadar bazaar." Again (para. 80):—" The soldier chiefly
contracts disease from coolie and other dirty women, met, after nightfall, in mullahs,.
ravines, and roads near the lines."
95. The evidence is overwhelming in proof of the absolute uselessness of all that has
been written in these reports condemning this gigantic source of evil. Rather I think, if
anything, the evidence witnesses to its increased proportions as the years pass,
9 6 . A s r e g a r d s t h e l i c e n s e e n j o y e d i n t h i s m a t t e r b y s o l d i e r s o n t h e m a r c h : —
From Sháhjahánpur it is reported (para. 49) :—" The headquarters of a regiment
passing on the march left 30 cases of venereal disease in hospital."
From Chakráta the report is (para. 75) :—" That several cases of disease were
contracted by the soldiers on the march."
From Bareilly it is reported (para. 30):—" An unusual number of regiments or
detachments passed through the station during the year, all bringing with them vene-
realdisease contracted on the rail or march."
97.
The evidence, though not general, is very decided, in proof of the continuance
of this cause of injury to the scheme.
98. As regards the opportunity permitted to the soldiers in camp to visit women
of villages :—
From Cawnpore it is reported (para. 7) " that two companies of soldiers were
sent into camp ; at once venereal disease appeared amongst those soldiers. The