( 2 )
the ratio of admissions per 1,000 of strength was respectively 232 and
264. The mean ratio of the preceding five years was 255. The past year
then compares unfavourably not only with an exceptionally successful
year like 1881, but with the normal results of several years past. During
the five years previous to the opening of the lock hospitals the mean
ratio was 278, which is exceeded this year in eight out of the 18 stations
at which there are lock hospitals. The year 1881 was described by the
Sanitary Commissioner as "the first year of success as regards results of
lock hospital management." But in 1882 the success has not been main-
tained, and in paragraph 104 of his report he says, "a certain and very
real amount of good has resulted from the expenditure entailed, in that
a vast amount of venereal disease amongst the women has been cured.
But apparently no appreciable good has resulted as regards the preven-
tion of disease amongst the soldiers. It is for Government to determine
whether under these circumstances the expenditure involved should con-
tinue." The report brings clearly into view the causes of this failure,
and these have been so often referred to in former reports without elicit-
ing remark or action from the authorities to whom these reports are
submitted, that it is unnecessary to allude to them at length again.
4. The causes of the success attained or failure incurred in the vari-
ous lock hospitals are made sufficiently clear in the local reports. Success
was due to the keeping up of a good supply of registered women, to the
Provision of adequate accommodation for them, to efficient police arrange-
ments preventing intercourse with unregistered women, or to a combination
of these. Failure, on the other hand, resulted from a scanty supply of regis-
tered women, want of suitable accommodation, or ineffective police
arrangements and inability to prevent the soldiers having intercourse with
unregistered women. The control of the soldier is a matter for the
mi l i t ar y aut hor i t i es ; but Dr . Pl anck agai n ur ges t hat t he pr ovi s i on of
free quarters in cantonments for the women, who now live scattered about
in bazaars, would, besides bringing them more under control, probably
induce a larger number to register themselves, and secure a better and
more attractive class of women. He states, however, that any measures
of this kind have now been rendered impossible by the order of the Gov-
ernment of India in the Military Department, No. 772S.-C., dated 25th
August, 1882, to the effect that "it has been decided to allow the con-
tinuance of the lock hospital system on the understanding that no more
outlay is to be incurred in the construction of buildings for such institu-
tions." This order had not been previously communicated to this Govern-
ment, so that the Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Commissioner is not aware
of its precise scope and intention; but if, as Dr. Planck seems to assume, no
more expenditure is to be incurred in providing suitable accommodation at
lock hospitals, many of them had probably better be closed at once.
5. The essentials to the success of the lock hospital system were
fully dealt with in the 6th and 7th paragraphs of the review of last
year's report, and in the 8th paragraph the appointment of a joint
committee of civil, military, and medical officers was recommended
to consider, the measures necessary for securing the efficient working of
the system. It was also recommended that the management of lock