( 2 )
expenditure was per woman registered, Rs. 27-9-2 ; per woman examined,
Rs. 32-15-3 ; per case of disease treated, Rs. 10-14-5. These amounts
vary little from last year, when they were Rs. 28-8-4, Rs. 33-1-7, and
Rs. 10-9-9, respectively.
5. But the real test of success is the extent to which the spread of
disease amongst British soldiers was checked. Statement IV. appended
to the report shows the prevalence of venereal disease amongst soldiers
of the European garrisons during 1880, also in the previous five years,
and for five years before the opening of lock hospitals. The daily aver-
age strength of European garrisons at the 17 stations—where lock hospi-
tals were open—was 9,954 in 1880 against 10,262 in 1879. The total num-
ber of admissions for venereal disease was 2,616 against 2,641, i.e., 1,329
for gonorrhœa and minor diseases (1,487 in 1879), and 1,237 for syphilis
(1,154 in 1879). The ratio of admission to 1,000 of strength was 262.8,
compared with 257 . 3 in 1879, 231 . 1 the mean ratio of the preceding five
years, and 278 . 2 the mean ratio of five years previous to the opening
of lock hospitals. The proportion of admissions is lower in Allahabad,
Cawnpore, Agra, Bareilly, Fyzabad, Ránikhet, Roorkee, Jhánsi, Naini
Tal, and Chakráta than in 1879, and higher in Meerut, Lucknow,
Benares, Moradabad, Sháhjahánpur, and Muttra. Improvement was most
marked in Chakráta, where the ratio per 1,000 fell from 201 . 9 to 63.8.
Jhánsi is next best, with a ratio of 133 . 1; and then Fyzabad with a ratio
of 143 . 5: on the other hand, Fatehgarh was worst with a ratio so high
as 616.8, Benares next with a ratio of 485 .6, and Moradabad with a ratio
of 445.3,
6. The above figures contain ample proof to show that but little
success has as yet been attained in stamping out disease, which is as preva-
lent as ever. The lock hospital system, in order to be efficient in this respect,
requires that the soldiers should have intercourse only with registered
women. The present report only confirms the experience of past years,
that existing arrangements are utterly inadequate to ensure this, and the
system necessarily fails in accomplishing its main object.
7. So far as the registered women alone are concerned, there is not
perhaps any reason to be dissatisfied with the results. The remarks of
the Sanitary Commissioner, as to the persistent decline in their numbers,
more especially at Allahabad, Cawnpore, Agra, Meerut, and Lucknow,
merit attention, and seem to point to the necessity for endeavour to keep
up a full supply. It is to be regretted that generally they seem to be the
least attractive of their class, which may be one reason why other
unregistered women are preferred. On the whole, they were fairly obe-
dient to orders, and ready to submit to examination and to treatment
when found diseased. Disease was less by 365 cases than in 1879, still
2,952 cases were discovered amongst 1,785 women. With reference, how-
ever, to Dr. Planck's remarks, that 1,068 were non-contagious forms of
disease not likely to be communicated, it is suggested that these should
be separately shown in future, as to include them with contagious forms
is to obscure the true nature of results. So long as disease is prevalent
amongst the soldiers, the registered women cannot be free from it ; and
the report teems with evidence to prove that in the great majority of cases