( 2 )
• cantonments show an increase of disease among the troops. The increase is
very marked in Delhi, Umballa, Jullundur, Ferozepore, Meean Meer and
Mooltan. Although not So marked in the other three, the increase . is still con
siderable.
4. The orders abolishing the compulsory r egistration and examination of
prostitutes took effect from 1st septeber 1888, and from the special
reports it will be seen that, where an increase of venereal disease took place among the
troops during the year under report, the cause is generally attributed by
Medical Officers in charge of Look Hospital to the introduction of the new
system Statistics showing the prevalence of : venereal disease; month by month
unfortunately are not given in all the reports; but in cases where they are given,
they appear to bear out in a very marked manner the opinion- that the cessa-
tion of the compulsory registration and compulsory examination of prostitutes
has been the cause of the increased prevalence of venereal disease among the
European troops. Thus in the Delhi Cantonments the number of admissions
into hospital during the last three months exceeded the total number of admis-
sions during the rest of-the year ; in Jullundur the admissions during the
first nine months was 182, in the last three 285 ; in Ferozepore the average
number of admissions in the first eight months was between 4 and 5, in the last
four months 14 to 15 ; in Mooltan during the first nine months the admissions
were 133, during the rest of the year 315. At Umballa the increase is ascribed
partly to the larger number of cases. imported by troops coming from Burma,
and partly to the recent orders of Government regarding contagious diseases.
5. There was a decrease of venereal disease among European troops in
seven cantonments, and it is worthy of remark that five of these were hill
stations, Dagshai, Kasauli, Sabáthu, Dalhousie and Murree ; the other
two being Attock and Pesháwar. T he only cantonment in which there was a
very marked decrease was that of Sabáthu, where the ratio per mille of admis-
sions to average strength fell from 452.48 in 1887 to 177.11 in 1888. No
indication is given in the Sabáthu report as to the probable cause of the
decrease ; nor is any allusion whatever made to the effect that was produced on
the prevalence of venereal. disease by the abolition of the compulsory registra-
tion and examination of prostitutes. It will be observed that in all the other
cantonments in which there was a decrease of venereal disease in 1888 as
compared with the previous year, the decrease was small. At Kasauli, although
there was a slight decrease during the year, the Medical Officer reports that the
admissions nearly doubled during the last quarter—a result which he considers
is due to the abolition of the compulsory system. With regard to the small
decrease at Murree, the following remarks by the Medical Officer in charge of
the Lock Hospital are worthy of attention : " Cholera was prevalent in the
Murree Bazár before and after the discontinuance of registration, and the bazáu
was placed out of hounds for soldiers ; a number of women also left Murree for
the plains, in consequence of which a fair conclusion cannot be arrived at
as to whether the discontinuance of registration and examination has tended
to increase the admissions for venereal disease or otherwise." In the Attock
report the remark is made that " no women or camp-followers are allowed to
enter the Fort without a pass. from the Fort Adjutant." It is therefore , not
surprising that the change from the compulsory to the voluntary s yst em
should have had little effect on the prevalence of disease among the troops
in the Fort of Attock.
6. Since the 1st september 1888 Lock Hospitals have been kept
open, but the attendance has been voluntary, and it appears from the report
that at none of them, with the exception of those at Kasauli, Meean Meer,
Dalhousie, Attock and Naushahra, did the women regularly present themselves
f o r e x a m i n a t i o n . A t S i á l k o t , i t i s s t a t e d t h a t ' ' w o m e n r e p o r t e d t o b e s u f f e r i n g
from disease willingly came for examination and remained in hospital for treat-
m e n t
w h e n
n e c e s s a r y . " A t F e r o z e p o r e t h e a t t e n d a n c e a f t e r1
s t
S e p t e m b e r
dwindled down till none came for examination and none would remain in.
hospital.
•
-
.