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3. The percentage of admission to hospital among the European troops, viz. 47.8,
shows that nearly half of them have suffered from some form of syphilis at one time
or other during the year.
4. The large number of admissions among the prostitutes, viz. 167, the average
strength being 71, was due to the precaution taken by the medical officer in sending to
hospital women who were only slightly affected, in order to check the spread of the
disease.
Remarks by the Cantonment Committee.
THE number of women on the register at the end of 1877 appears to have been
65, a falling off of 9 from the previous year.
The average number attending the periodical examinations was 50.3, those not
attending are accounted for as en leave, excused on account of sickness, and absent
without leave. The number of the latter was 56, or an average of two absentees at each
inspection ; for, as stated by the medical officer in charge, some of the women were
examined oftener than twice a month; the attendance is therefore considered satisfactory.
Twenty-three women absconded during the year and 19 withdrew their names, but
several of these, as also of those who absconded, were brought back or returned of their
own accord, and were re-entered on the register during the year. On a woman being
absent without leave for 15 days she is struck off the register as absconded. There were
20 fresh entries during the year ; most of them were sent up by the police, but in a
few instances voluntarily presented themselves for registration. Fifteen women were
punished for breach of lock-hospital rules. The number seems small, but the canton-
ment magistrate explains that in all cases of first offences the women were merely
warned ; those punished were all fined, with the exception of one woman who was sent
to jail in default of payment. The amount of fines realized was Rs. 20-8-0, the highest
fine levied being Rs. 5, and the lowest 8 annas.
The sub-committee has held its meetings regularly throughout the year, and the
regimental arrangements have been the same as heretofore. The disease among the
European troops would appear from the report of the medical officer to have increased
since last year, notwithstanding every effort to suppress it, but there is no increase in
proportion to the strength of Europeans.
W. H. LOWTHER, COL.,
President.
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE BENARES LOCK. HOSPITAL FOR 1877.
1. Accommodation. —The accommodation is suitable and sufficient, there has been
no overcrowding, and no change has taken place during the year.
2. Changes in the medical charge.— Only one change occurred during the year.
Surgeon-Major Longheed, R.A., was in medical charge from 1st January to 15th
April, and Surgeon-Major C. C. Dempster, D. d., 92nd Highlanders, from 16th April
to end of the year.
3. Venereal diseases among the European troops. —There has been an increase
in the admissions among the European troops, as compared with the admissions during
1876, in the proportion of 260 to 230, or 100 to 89.3, as shown in the weekly
returns regularly received through the cantonment magistrate. The majority of the
cases were primary syphilis, of a mild, non-indurated form, which yielded to ordinary-
treatment, but in some cases the disease was associated with suppuration of the
inguinal glands, which necessitated a lengthened detention in hospital for treatment.
4. Cantonment sub-committee. —The cantonment sub-committee assembled once
a month during the year, and was composed of the senior officer commanding British
troops, the cantonment magistrate, the district magistrate, and the senior medical
officer, British troops.