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women more attractive than those registered : consequently they suffered very much
from venereal affection. The great difficulty has been, to prevent a continuance of
the disease, from the soldier's consort with unregistered women. The Medical Officer
has no reason to believe that the registered women contracted disease except from
soldiers, at all events the half of them who live in cantonments.
36. The Cantonment Magistrate agrees with the Medical Officer that a good deal
of venereal disease was imported to the station by in-coming regiments. In addition
to those mentioned in the report, several cases were brought in by the regiment which
returned from Lucknow at the beginning of the year.
Some soldiers have stated that they had contracted disease from women met
during shooting excursions or walks. The police were ordered to search for and ap-
prehend such women offenders. Nine were convicted and registered. The native
police cannot be charged with the entire prevention of intercourse between soldiers and
unregistered women, or to do more than prevent public solicitation, and this they seem
to do. If illicit intercourse is carried on in the immediate vicinity of cantonments as
alleged, the regimental police ought to be able to apprehend the women con-
cerned.
37. The Colonel Commanding at Fyzabad remarks that the police are not keen
enough in detecting unregistered women offenders. For reports are constantly received
to the effect that soldiers contract disease from these women, who are picked up all
round cantonments. Yet very few of them are caught and punished. And the Colo-
nel would recommend that dhais should be provided, to act as spies, and hunt down
these unregistered women. The Colonel thinks the working of the system, as it now
exists, is most creditable to all the officers concerned.
38. The Deputy Commissioner of the district would be sorry to see the police
directed to make more use of their inquisitional powers than they already do, and
thinks the recommendation of the Colonel Commanding might be given a trial.
39. The Commissioner records the opinion that, as in Lucknow and elsewhere,
so in Fyzabad, the difficulty to overcome, is the prevention of the soldier's association
with unregistered women. He agrees with the Deputy Commissioner in thinking that
the recommendation of the Colonel Commanding might be tried as an experiment,
and remarks that the officers charged with carrying out the present system have done
their duty well.
8.—BENARES.
40. During the year 1883, a monthly average of 26 women remained on the
register, against 40 in 1882, and 56 in 1881.
The results of the management have been very satisfactory. For the 10 years, 1873-
84, the ratios of admission to hospital for venereal disease amongst the European garri-
son have been, 370, 341, 479, 479, 333, 470, 486, 313, 320 and 181 per 1,000 of
daily average strength.
41. The Medical Officer reports favourably as regards the hospital accommoda-
tion. The sub-committee assembled monthly for the transaction of business. Towards
the end of the year, the number of registered women decreased to 21, owing to the depar-
ture of a battery of artillery accompanied by a number of the women. The hospital
was then made second class. There was little disease amongst the registered women,
and it was of mild form. The medical examinations were effected weekly. The
youngest and best-looking women went away with the artillery ; now a very inferior
class of women remain. As recommended last year, a small house was built in the
bazar, and given rent-free to a. few women, in hope of inducing the registration of
a better class of women. The endeavour was a failure : few women could be induced
to occupy the new rooms.