( 4 )
At the end of the year only 82 names remained on the register, against 100 at
the beginning of the year. The decrease being almost entirely due to the large
number of city women who have taken their names off the register, on pretence of
marriage. The registered women attended regularly for examination; most cases of
absence arose out of illness.
Amongst the women disease decreased in most satisfactory manner in 1883.
For the three years 1881-83 the admissions have been 273, 160 and 122. And of
these 122 admissions to hospital in 1883, only 54 were on account of venereal disease,
and t hat di sease of very mi l d t ype. The hospi t al expendi t ure i n 1883 was l ess by
Rs. 1,100 than in 1882.
The Medical Officer again recommends the grant of free quarters to the women.
Now they are very badly housed at exorbitant rents, for the payment of which, two
or even three women are obliged to share one house, in many cases a positively
indecent arrangement.
A panchayat, assembled to enquire into this circumstance, reported that the
women paid treble the proper rent for their rooms, yet the owners could not be in-
duced to lower the rents. And the Medical Officer hopes the efforts of the committee,
in the direction of purchasing houses for the women, will be successful.
9. The Cantonment Committee consider the results of the management very
satisfactory, and recommend the provision of free quarters for the women, as soon as
f u n d s a r e a v a i l a b l e . O f t h e 1 0 h o u s e s n o w o c c u p i e d , f o r o n l y 5 i s t h e r e n t h i g h e r
than that assessed by the panchayat.
10. The Magistrate of the district forwards the report, with expression of satis-
faction at the results recorded. He notes the activity of the police in preventing the
presence of unregistered women near to the barracks, and records the opinion that
disease is chiefly contracted from that class of women. With reference to the difficulty
of registering city women, and the facilities the registered women have for taking
their names off the register, the Magistrate explains that until it can be proved that
a city woman receives soldiers' visits she is not liable to registration, and that if
evidence of marriage is tendered, it is almost impossible to prevent the removal of
the name of the woman concerned. Enquiry will be made in regard to the circumstan-
ces of women who removed their names last year. But it seems worthy of satisfac-
tory notice, that the diminution in the number of registered women has been coincident
with a diminution of disease.
11. The Commissioner summarises the results, which he considers very satisfactory.
And notes that more than 50 per cent. of the di sease recorded amongst the sol di ers
happened when they were out in camp— a conclusive proof that unlicensed women
are the principal sources of disease. The police have done their duty in keeping un-
licensed women away from the soldiers, but for perfect results the soldier must refrain
from consorting with any but licensed prostitutes.
The unregistered women of the city are without doubt a fertile source of disease,
but only such of them as are resorted to by soldiers can be registered. And for such,
measures should be taken to make the registration a reality, and the removal of their
names from the register should not be facilitated. At the same time, if evidence of
marriage is tendered, removal of the name cannot be refused.
3.—AGRA.
12. During the year 1883, a monthly average of 107 women remained on the
register against 126 in 1882.
The results of the management have been very unsatisfactory. For the ten years,
1874-83, the ratios of admissions to hospital for venereal disease amongst the European
garrison have been, 182, 101, 92, 247, 396, 344, 403, 232, 237 and 325 per 1,000 of
daily average strength.