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The composition of the cantonment lock-hospital sub-Committee is radically
bad.
A military officer of high rank should be chairman, and the members should be
selected so as to represent the various branches of the English army in the station.
Especially the Cantonment Magistrate should not be on the committee, his right
place being to effect the wishes or orders of the committee, and not to deliberate.
The medical officer should not be the Civil Surgeon, but a Military Surgeon directly
under the Military authorities.
The Magistrate should not belong to the sub-committee, and his co-ordinate
jurisdiction in police matters in cantonments, in reference to lock-hospital management,
should be wholly abolished in theory and practice, the whole control resting with the
Officer Commanding the Station.
43. The Commissioner thinks the results unsatisfactory, the cause not being
plainly made out in the reports received. The fact that good regimental police in
the cavalry regiment seems to have prevented disease points to the fact that the
prophylactic against venereal disease in the British soldier in India is avoidance of
unregistered women.
The Commissioner confirms the Magistrate and Collector's view, that soldiers do
not visit city prostitutes, and states that there is no ground for the belief that city
prostitutes come into cantonments to meet the soldier.
The stray coolie women cause much of the disease seen, and the late bad times
have extended the range of this source of contagion.
(7)—FYZABAD.
44. During the year 1878 a monthly average of 97 women remained on the
register at Fyzabad against 108 in 1877.
The results of the managements have been fairly satisfactory.
During the five years, 1874-78, the ratios of venereal cases amongst the European
garrison have been 334, 526, 243, 150, and 196 per 1,000 of daily average strength.
45. The Medical Officer reports that accommodation is required for the hos-
pital assistant attached to the lock-hospital. At present that officer is obliged to live
outside, which is objectionable. Dr. Evatt relinquished the medical charge in Octo-
ber upon removal with his regiment.
During the year the men of corps or detachments arriving at the station have
been medically inspected within 24 hours of their arrival; and a second time a few days
after arrival.
In regard to regular venereal inspection parades, the medical officer thinks the
benefit gained by them does not counterbalance the resulting impairment of morality
in young soldiers who are in good health. As a rule, diseased soldiers readily come .
to hospital for the cure of their diseases.
Disease amongst the registered women was mild in type. Disease amongst the
soldiers was also mild, with the exception of one severe case followed by secondary
symptoms, the disease having, it is believed, been contracted from an unregistered
woman at the cholera camp. Disease amongst the soldiers is contracted principally
from unregistered women. One soldier acknowledged that he contracted disease from
one or other of three women whom he met in the jungle in one day.
The medical officer thinks the registration is efficient. The rules for the control
of prostitution have been enforced. Of 50 unregistered women convicted of illicit
prostitution with soldiers, 23 were found diseased,