( 2 )
atA t t o c k a r e s a t i s f a c t o r y , a n d r e s u l t s s e e m t o b e a r t h i s o u t . t h e f i g u r e s i n
Table 2 of the Attock Report show that something is done as regards the
examination and treatment of , pr os t i t ut e s , whom t he Me di c a l Of f i c e r r e por t s
as willingly submitting to What is required. There is little difference in
the working of the Lock Hospital last year and in 1887, when the Acts
were in force. Attock is perhaps toos m a l l a s t a t i o n f o r i t s s t a t i s t i c s t o b e
of much value. Both Nowshera and Pesháwar show a satisfactory diminution
in the admission rate. At the former place the'Medical Officer is quite satisfied
with the working of the Lock Hospital, which means, I take it, that this class of
women voluntarily submitted to much the same measures last year as they
were compelled to adopt when the Acts were in force, and the figur
es in Table
II of this report for both years show this to be the Case At Peshawar the
Medical Officer reports that since the abolition of the Acts venereal disease has
markedly increased, but his statistics do not show this. On the contrary, they
show that venereal was far more prevalent in 1887 , when the Acts were in force,
than in 1889, when they were not in force. The ratio of admissions for the last
three years area—
Per 1,000.
In 1887
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . 237.09
In 1888
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
190.60
In 1889
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
1 6 0 . 1 7
I find it difficult to aceount for this as the Lock Hospital is hardly worked at all.
Both Pesháwar and Nowshera appear to have had last year a comparative
immunity from venereal disease, the ratio per 1,000 of admissions being at the
former 160 and the latter 135. At Pesháwar the Lock Hospital is hardly
worked at all, while at Nowshera it is better worked than at any other station.
I find it difficult to explain results in the light of these facts.
At Ferozepore the admission rate last year was 41 per cent. less . that it
w a s i n 1 8 8 8 a n d 1 8 p e r c e n t . l e s s t h a n i n 1 8 8 7 , w h e n t h e A c t s w e r e i n f o r c e .
This is the more remarkable as the Lock Hospital is not worked at all, only
one woman attending. Here also the Medical Officer stringly recommends the
introduction of compulsory measures, though the figures at this station and
Pesháwar seem to show that: such Measures were of little use.
Dagshai, a station apparently under the same conditions as Subáthu,
shows a considerable decrease in the admission rate. The figures in Table 2
of the reports from both stations show that in both the Lock Hosptals have been
worked, up to the same standard and pretty much on the same lines as they
were in 1887, when the Acts were in force. There seems to be no reluctance
at either place on the part of these women to undergo examination and' treat
- m e n t .
Y e t a t o n e s t a t i o n ( S u b á t h u ) t h ea
d m i s s i o ǹ r a t e i s 4 5 0 ' a n d a t t h e
other (Dagshai) . 153 per 1,000.
6. Taking a general view of the figures for last year, they show that
venereal disease has increased to the extent of 7 per cent. over what i t was i n
1888 and 13 per cent. over what it was. in 1887, when compulsory measures
were in force. The figures are as follows:—
Admissions per 1,000.
1887
. . .
. . .
. . .
261
1888
. . .
...
•••
320
1889
...
...
. . .
391
An increase of 13 per cent. in the admission rate as result of the working of the
voluntary system, if it can be ascribed to such, is a very grave and unsatisfactory
condition of things, as it means an addition to previous numbers of 6,500 non-