( 18 )
For the five years, 1874-78, the ratios of cases of venereal disease per 1,000 of the
European garrison at Roorkee have been 198, 146, 124, 66, and 262 respectively.
80. The Medical Officer reports that the lock-hospital was at times during the
year made uncomfortable for the registered women by the presence of filthy unregister-
ed coolie and beggar women, detained there for treatment.
Venereal disease has been very prevalent during the year amongst the soldiers of
the infantry regiment. The Royal Engineers, a daily average of 48 men, were free
from disease.
It is necessary to mention that relapses have been entered as new cases in the
hospital returns.
The soldiers accused the registered women in some instances of being the cause
of their diseases.
The women accused were examined and placed under observation in hospital for
eight days, but not one of them was found diseased. The cause of the disease preva-
lence was probably unlicensed prostitution.
Several of the soldiers confessed that their diseases were contracted from unregis-
tered women, met in the open country around Roorkee, and this fact was brought
to the notice of the commanding officer.
Of 33 unregistered women arrested by the police 19 were found diseased and
treated in the lock-hospital. The examinations were regularly effected ; amongst the
registered women only 9 cases of venereal disease occurred.
The women were quiet, orderly, and obedient. The soldiers did not enquire as to
whether a registered woman was possessed of her ticket or not.
As regards the registered women and their general condition of good health, the
soldier at Roorkee may be considered as protected from venereal disease. But pros-
titution amongst unregistered vagrant, coolie, beggar, wood and milk selling women
exists to an enormous extent and is a prolific cause of disease.
The native police cannot cope with this evil, having too little power, and the law
deals with it very mildly.
The medical officer is of opinion that the only way to check disease is by special
precautions when the men quit cantonments, and great vigilance on the part of the
military and civil police.
81. The Cantonment Magistrate reports that, despite the efforts of the authori-
ties, the illicit prostitution which has been the cause of the increased prevalence of
disease could be only partially suppressed.
The scarcity of the year is primarily responsible for the increase of disease.
A great number of pauper women have been driven to prostitution, and great
liberty has been accorded to the soldiers.
An attempt was made, during the year, to induce the registered women to live in
the infantry bazaar. At present they live in Roorkee Town. But the attempt failed,
as the registered women objected to move, pleading that the soldiers preferred cheaper
unregistered women to them, and that there was too scanty a native population
living in the Bazaar. An endeavour has been made to attract a better and younger
class of women for registration, but without success. The Cantonment Magistrate
thinks that to attract better women it would be necessary to give them houses
rent-free and a retaining fee.
82. The Magistrate and Collector forwards the report without remark.
83. The Commissioner thinks the disease prevalent has been largely due to the
scarcity, which has induced many unfortunate women to associate with the soldiers
as a means of livelihood.