Proceedings of the Hon'ble the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab in the Home (Medical and Sanitary) Department,
No. 340, dated 21st July 1888.
READ—
Letter from the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Punjab, No. 2066, dated the 28th of June 1888, submitting
the Lock Hospital Reports of the Cantonments in the Punjab from which they are due for the
year ending 31st December 1887.
s
OBSERVATIONS.—These reports are due with the Government of the
Punjab on the 5th of March and with the Government of India on the 15th
idem. They did not reach the Civil Secretariat in proper shape for review until
the 28th of June. The delay has been caused by carelessness in compilation
which necessitated the return of some of the reports for correction. This was
specially the ease in the Meean Meer report, which- was not received by the
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals until the 16th of March and. had to be
returned twice for correction. The attention of the Secretaries to Cantonment
Committees will be drawn to the letter No. 158, dated 3th April 1887, which
enjoined punctuality in the submission of the reports and accuracy in their
preparation.
2. In compliance with the wish of the Government of India as contained
in paragraph 2 of its letter in the Home Department, No. 100, dated 30th April
1887, Deputy Commissioners have been associated with Cantonment Committees
in view to the adoption of measures to prevent women from plying the trade of
prostitution in Cantonments without submitting to the Lock Hospital Rules.
Such measures as are practicable seem to have been taken. It would seem
nevertheless that the soldiers continued to consort with women of this class, and
that this proved a fruitful source of disease in 1887 as in. previous years, and
the Lieutenant-Governor anticipates that this must always be the case, as the
matter is one impossible of complete control. At the best a mitigation of the
evil can only be hoped for. On. the whole, there appears to have been less
venereal disease among the troops in the Punjab in the year 1837 than in the
previous year. By order of the Government of India the Lock Hospitals noted
on the margin, which had been closed in 1885 as
an experimental measure, were re-established.
The measure is said to have produced good re-
sults.
3. There were no Sub-Committees at
Kasauli or Attock ; the Sub-Committee at Meean Meer is said to have met at
irregular intervals ; and at Subáthu a Sub-Committee did not exist throughout
the year. The Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals should ascertain and report
why a Sub-Committee was not formed at Kasauli, and why one was not in
existence at Subáthu throughout the year. At Attock it is impossible to form
a Sub-Committee for want of the necessary officers.
4. The arrangements for the examination of the women and for atten-
dance on. them when sick seem to be generally sufficient. At most stations
dkais are engaged to supervise the women. It is a question for the consider-
ation of the Military authorities whether they should be entertained at the
stations noted on the margin, which are said to
be at present without them or not fully provided
in this respect. Lock Hospital accommodation.
at Dalhousie is reported to be insufficient.
The Commissioner of the Lahore Division will be asked for a report on this matter
and on the alleged defects at the examination room at Anárkali.
5. The Lieutenant-Governor observes that one officer in medical charge
of a Lock Hospital suggests the removal of old and ill-favoured prostitutes
from the regimental bazárs and the providing of others who are younger and
more prepossessing in their place. No doubt the intention of the suggestion
is that the others to be provided should be also of the professional prostitute
class. Nevertheless such active interference seems of very questionable pro-
Delhi.
Kasauli.
Meean Meer.
Ráwalpindi.
M urree.
Pesháwar.
Delhi .
Ferozepore.
Rawalpindi.
Murree.
Attock.