ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LOCK HOSPITAL, MEEAN MEER, FOR THE YEAR 1887.
A.—There has been no change in the Lock Hospital accommodation.
When the hospital was revised the old building was again taken into use. The
outer wall requiring raising, one woman having escaped, this alteration was
effected, and the doors at the entrance completely boarded up. Proper bathing
and washing arrangements are required and the landlord has undertaken to make
some bathing platforms round trees in the compound. The practice of bathing on
the top of, or close to the well, was most objectionable. It would probably be
to the advantage of the cantonment to erect a building rather than to pay rent
as at present ; the accommodation is not sufficient for more then 20 women ; it
should be provided for 35 or 40.
B.—The Lock Hospital was under the care of Surgeon Peter Mulvany, M s.,
from 1st March 1887, the date on which the institution was re-opened
after being closed for some two-and-a-half years, until the 5th August, when he
was relieved by Surgeon-Major G. A. Ranking, who held charge until the 26th
of October, when, on proceeding to the Lawrencepore Camp of Exercise, he was
temporarily relieved by Surgeon-Major Deakin, I.M.s., who was in charge up
to the end of the year and who furnishes this report.
C. —Venereal diseases among the troops have increased in Meean Meer
from 382.7 in 1885, as stated in the Sanitary Commissioner with the Govern-
ment of India's Report, T. XXI. to 441.7 in 1886.
Table showing proportion of venereal diseases among the troops
stationed in Meean Meer :—
Year.
Average
strength.
Primary
syphilis.
Ulcer of
penis.
Gonorrhœa.
Total.
Admissions
per mille of
strength.
1883
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
954
83
115
198
207.55
1884
...
...
...
...
818
76
110
186
227.38
1885
...
...
...
...
742
85
136
221
* 2 9 7 . 8 4
1886
...
...
...
...
751
92
30
152
274 *364.85
1887
...
...
...
...
872
56
20
201
277
317.66
* These do not agree with the Sanitary Commissioner's Reports for 1885, T XXI, and 1886, T. XX,
Weekly returns have been received, but owing to the frequent changes of
Medical Officers and Medical Subordinates the files are incomplete,
D.—The Cantonment Committee meets regularly each month ; a Lock
Sub-Committee has been appointed, but the meetings were irregular ; two Mili-
-tary Officers, the Lock Surgeon and Inspector of Cantonment Police are mem-
- b e r s . T h e m e e t i n g s a r e h e l d a f t e r t h e C a n t o n m e n t C o m m i t t e e .
E.—Arrests have been made and punishment has been inflicted on women
who practised prostitution when unregistered ; six women thus punished paid fines
aggregating Rs. 48 in Lahore ; no details recorded in office. At Meean Meer,
fines to the extent of Rs. 93 were inflicted for the breach of rules. I have
reported seven women on the register as old, decrepid and unfit to remain on
the register. It is in my opinion a waste of public money to allow such women
to remain on the register. Their being in the bazar only drives the men to
seek for younger and more attractive women elsewhere. Though I am not
prepared to counsel efforts being made to provide attractive women, I certainly
think that action should be taken to remove all women from a register who, for
any cause, may not be generally acceptable.