( 76 )
left by a venereal ulcer, and rendering detection of actual disease difficult ; the orifice
and lining membrane of the vagina showed signs of having been intensely diseased at
various times. On her discharge from hospital, as she expressed a wish to relinquish
her profession, I strongly recommended that her wishes should be acceded to. She has
since resided out of the cantonment, but if I was permitted to hazard an opinion, the
greater number of admissions for venereal disease since she left might be traced to her.
The second, a prostitute residing in the sudder bazar, had had frequent admis-
sions from primary disease. There appears in the register of examinations for 1876 a
woman of the same name, but who for some reason withdrew at the latter part of
that year ; should she be the same person, then, as last year, she was seldom out of
hospital. The clitoris in this case was abnormally elongated and pendulous, and
secretions could lie unconsciously within the folds until disease was either induced in
herself or in the individual cohabiting with her. She also expressed a wish to retire,
which was complied with.
It is noteworthy that on the departure of these two women in March the disease
amongst the European soldiers began to decrease, nor has disease of much conse-
quence appeared since in the prostitutes who remained.
The following table of admissions for venereal disease amongst the women will
show the decrease since that period :—
Months.
Primary
syphilis.
Gonor-
rhœa.
Total. Increase in 1876.
Decrease in 1876.
Remarks.
1877.
* Found diseased on
registration.
January
...
... ...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
February ...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
March
...
...
...
4
2
6
5
. . .
April
...
... ...
1
1
2
2
. . .
May
...
...
...
1
1
2
2
. . .
June
... •••
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
July
...
..•
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
August
...
... ...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
September ...
...
••.
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
5
October , ...
...
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
3
November ...
... ...
. . .
*2
2
. . . ...
December ...
... ...
*1
. . .
1
1
. . .
Total
•••
7
6
13
10 i11
By comparing the two returns of admissions for venereal, it becomes evident that
disease must have been contributed from some other source than from the registered
prostitutes. It is to be regretted that no reliance can be placed on the statements of
the men attacked; only in two instances have the women identified been found
diseased ; in others they are unable, from intoxication or some such excuse, to describe
where it had been contr acted, or when able or willing to give information, proves
unfounded ; thereby leading to the inference that the prostitutes stand more in 'danger
of infection from the men than the men from them.
11. With the exception of the lock-hospital matron no other dhai has been
employed ; her duties have been purely in connection with the hospital and not for the
detection of disease.
12. Now, the existing rules being all that could be desired, I would, however,
take this opportunity of recommending that prostitutes applying for permission to
proceed to another station or to retire should be professionally examined. I have
been led to this conclusion by having observed that nearly all applications are submit-
ted when periodical examinations are impending. Three new arrivals in the station
were found diseased prior to registration, who had previous to their appearance here
propagated disease in some other place without doubt, and only left when their
remaining longer might have proved inconvenient to themselves.
No registered prostitute is now allowed to leave
cantonments without being previously examined, and
R. ANNESLEY, MAJOR,
on her return she is again examined.
Secretary, Cantonment Committee.
J. JUDD, APOTRY , 1ST CLASS, H. M.'s 39TH REGT.,
In medical charge of Lock-Hospital.