NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
No. 2066, dated 28th June 1888 .
From—A. M. DALLAS, Esquire, C.I.E., Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Punjab,
To—The Offg Secretary to Government, Punjab
.
IN compliance with your letter No. 257, dated 28th May
1 8 8 8 , I h a v e
the honor to return the two printed copies of the
Local Hospital Reports of the Cantonments noted
on the margin and to make the following observa-
tions.
As the simplest way of comparing the re-
sults of the working of the Lock Hospitals for the years 1886 and 1887, I append
an abstract showing the admissions among the troops into hospital for venereal
diseases and the average strength of the troops at each station
HOSPITAL.
RATIO OF ADMISSION PER
MILLE.
AVERAGE STRENGTH OF
TROOPS,
1886.
1887.
1886.
1887.
Delhi
...
...
...
....
...
345.60
351.46
469
478
Umballa ...
...
...
. . .
...
287.30
222.86
1,977
1,925
Dagshai ...
. . .
...
...
...
232.09
284.83
810
804
Kasauli ...
...
...
...
...
Details not available.
Subáthu ...
...
...
...
...
950.38
452.18
262
484
Jullundur ...
...
...
...
...
376.99
202.08
626
866
Ferozepor
. . .
...
. . .
. . .
385.75
365.69
814
1,020
Meean Meer
...
...
...
...
364.85
317.66
751
872
Mooltan ...
...
...
...
...
426.53
339.89
701
915
Dalhousie ...
...
...
...
...
100.70
248.27
854
866
Siálkot
...
...
...
...
...
255.31
212.80
1,118
1,156
Ráwalpindi
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
448.17
212.67
2,325
2,605
Attock
...
...
...
...
...
244.35
330.36
106.40
112
Murree
...
...
...
....
...
148.55
232.26
276
310
Pesháwar ...
...
...
...
. . .
390.60
237.09
1,659
1,607
Naushahr
. . .
. . .
. . .
...
305.03
91.62
577
698.50
This abstract shows on the whole fairly satisfactory results. Of the
fifteen cantonments (omitting Kasauli) ten show a decrease of disease ; the im-
provement at Subáthu, Naushahra and Ráwalpindi being particularly marked,
and the fact that at each of these stations the average strength of troops was
higher in 1887 is additional evidence that the system has worked well. On the
other hand, the disease increased at Delhi, Dagshai, Dalhousie, Attock and
Murree. The increase at Delhi was slight, at Dagshai somewhat higher, but at
Dalhousie, Attock and Murree it was decidedly unsatisfactory. The causes, as
stated in the reports, of the increase at Dalhousie and Murree are no doubt true,
Delhi.
Mooltan.
Umballa.
Dalhousie.
Dagshai
Siálkot
Kasauli.
Ráwalpindi.
Subáthu.
Attack.
Jullundur.
Murree.
Ferozepore.
Pesháwar.
Meean Meer.
Naushahra.
( 2)
but the difficulties of prevention in hill stations are very great ; in fact it is
difficult to see how such illicit intercourse can be prevented short of considerably
curtailing the liberty of the soldier.
The levy of fines was freely resorted to in 1887, when a total sum of
Rs. 649-4-0 was realized in nine cantonments. The sum of Rs. 232-12-0 realized
at Mooltan is high.
With the single exception again of Dalhousie, the accommodation is re-
ported to be ample.
I have again to draw attention to the delay and carelessness with which
reports are submitted to me. They are seldom correct or compiled in accord-
ance with standing orders and having to return them, often more than once,
throws much additional work on my office at the busiest time of the year. Little,
if any, notice has been taken of your letter No. 158, dated 6th April 1887,
addressed to Secretaries of Cantonment Committees. It is a matter for considera-
tion whether the time has not now arrived for transferring this matter entirely
to the Military authorities, who exercise far greater control over these hospitals
than the Civil Department does or can be expected to do.
Punjab Government Press, Lahore-27-11-88-40.
No, 22, dated 12th January 1888.
From—The Officer Commanding at Delhi,
To—The Deputy Commissioner, Delhi.
I HAVE the honor to forward Annual Lock Hospital Report for 1887,
together With an extract from proceedings Of the Cantonment Committee,
assembled at Delhi on the 10th instant, on the subject.
Endorsement by the Deputy Commissioner, Delhi.
No. 15, dated 16th January 1888.
THE foregoing copy with original enclosures submitted to Colonel
L. J. H. Grey, C.S.I., Commissioner and Superintendent, Delhi Division.
Endorsement by the Commissioner and Superintendent, Delhi Division.
No. 28, dated 19th January 1888.
THE foregoing copy with original enclosures forwarded to C. L. Tupper,
Esquire, Secretary to Government, Punjab.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DELHI LOCK HOSPITAL FOR THE YEAR 1887.
Hospital accommodation. A. —No change has been made in the hospital
accommodation, which is ample.
Medical charge.
B.—
Surgeon G. G. Adams, Medical Staff, was in
charge since the opening of the hospital.
Weekly returns f r o m
S t a t i o n H o s p i t a l a n d v e n e -
real disease among Euro
- pean troops.
C.
—The weekly venereal returns from the Station
Hospital have been regularly received.
Table showing admissions among the European troops during the
past five years :—
Y e a r s .
Average
strength.
Admissions.
Ratio per
1,000.
18 8 3
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
378.91
118
311.41
1884
. . .
...
. . . . .
.....
...
482. 25
171
354.58
1885
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
462.
105
227.27
1 8 8 6
. . .
...
. . .
...
. . .
489.
169
345.60
1887
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
478.
168
351.46
From this table it does not appear that the total number of admissions from
venereal have decreased, but if reference is made to the following table, it will
seen at a glance the marked diminution of admissions amongst the European
troops since the Lock Hospital has been opened :—
1887.
Ulcer of penis
Gonorrhœa.
Primary
Syphilis.
Total,
January
. . .
. . .
11
9
1
21
.Februar
. . .
. . . , - .
6
6
. . .
12
66
M arch
. . .
. . .
19
14
. . .
33
118
April
. . .
. . .
16
12
... 28
May
. . .
. . .
6
8
. . .
14
June
. . .
. . .
1
9
. . .
10
July
. . .
. . .
9
14
... 23
.August
. . .
. . . . . .
4
6
...
10
September
...
. . .
1
3
...
4
October
. . .
. . .
2
2
...
4
50
November
. . . .
. . .
2
3
. . .
5
December
. . .
...
3
1
. . .
4
Total ...
. . .
80
87
1
168
Examinations.
I, —See under heading E.
( 2 )
In January and February the Lock Hospital was not started, the first
examination being towards the end of March. During these three months there
were 66 admissions, leaving only 102 admissions for the rest of the year.
During the first six months of the year there were 118 admissions ; dur-
ing the latter six months 50. Out of this 50, 3 cases were in. 8-1 Battery
and contracted at Deolali, leaving 47 cases contracted in Delhi. In October
there were no cases of venereal in the Station Hospital.
Subcommittee.
D.—There is a Sub-Committee composed of—
The Officer Commanding British Troops.
The Senior Medical Officer.
The Deputy Commissioner.
The District Superintendent of Police.
The Committee meets monthly, and examines the books and accounts.
Precautions against
disease.
E.—The precautions taken against the spread of
venereal disease are the following :—
All the public prostitutes, so far as is possible, are placed upon the
register and compelled to attend once a week (Mondays) at the Lock Hospital,
when a careful inspection is made of each. Each woman is furnished with a
ticket, which is signed at each inspection and the date written.
When a soldier comes to hospital with venereal he is sent in company
with the Lock Hospital chaprási to the house where he contracted it, and
there points out the woman to the chaprási. She is then called upon to
attend immediately at the hospital for examination. If diseased, she is detained
till cured. Should her name not be upon the register and she refuses to
attend for examination, the fact is brought to the notice of the Honorary
Assistant Commissioner with a view of her being registered without delay.
F. —The area includes the city within the walls, the Sadr Bazár and
adjacent villages, an area of over 16 square miles. Many
women coming in from the district are prostitutes and are
a fruitful source of disease; and men going out into the distant villages often,
contract venereal there. Owing to the size of the city and the large number
of inhabitants, great difficulty is found in registering all the prostitutes, and
there are probably a considerable number of them unregistered.
On opening the hospital in March there were 76 women on the
register. Forty-nine names were added and 28 removed or died, leaving 97 on
the register on the 31st December 1887.
Area of registration.
Registration fees.
G.—No registration fees were levied.
H.—The women as a body were very regular in their attendance at
the weekly inspections. For the year there were 132
women reported for being absent, but this number was
chiefly made up of the same women being reported over and over again.
The total amount received in fines was Rs. 40.
Attendance.
J .
— W h e n t h e h o s p i t a l w a s f i r s t o p e n e d v e n e r e a l d i s e a s e s w e r e v e r y
Disease amongst the common amongst the women, as is shown by the numbers
women.
admitted to hospital. This of course was due to the Lock
system not having been in work for nearly three years past.
K—Dháis were not employed.
( 3 )
The following table shows the admission of prostitutes from March 1887.
This table shows the gradual diminution after the first three months:—
1887.
Bubo.
Vaginitis. Gonorr-
hœa.
Leucorr-
h œ a .
Syphilis,
Primary.
Syphilis,
Secondary.
Ulcer os
uteri.
Total.
March
. . .
. . .
3
3
11
7
. . .
. . .
24
April
. . .
1
1
7
6
5
. . .
4
24
May
. . .
. . .
. . .
4
4
2
...
7
17
June
. . .
. . . . . .
1
1
3
. . .
1
6
July
. . .
. . .
. . .
2
3
8
1
3
17
August
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
5
2
. . .
1
8
September
...
. . .
...
1
4
...
. . .
2
7
October
. . .
...
...
2
2
. . . ...
3
7
November
. . .
...
...
...
1
1
...
5
7
December
. . .
...
. . .
1
2
1
. . .
2
6
Total
. . .
1
4
21
39
29
1
28
123
The reason that the term " primary syphilis " appears so seldom in the
table showing the admissions among the troops is, that according to the new
nomenclature of diseases only hard sores followed by constitutional symptoms
are returned as " primary syphilis," all other sores being returned as
" ulcer of penis." Since the opening of the Lock not a single case of primary
syphilis has occurred in the European troops, and all the other cases of venereal
have been of a markedly milder character.
From the foregoing tables and remarks I think there can be no doubt
as to the good effect the opening of the Lock Hospital has
had upon venereal disease amongst the European troops
in Delhi. During the last three or four months there have been practically no
cases in hospital contracted in Delhi. Isolated cases occurred now and again,
but in nearly all the cases the men maintained that the disease was contracted
in some distant village—Roorkee, &c.
A considerable proportion of the cases admitted have been relapses of
gonorrhœa from the men taking to drinking too soon after discharge from
hospital.
The cases of venereal would no doubt be still much further diminished
if the men would be careful to consort with only registered women, and would
take the trouble to look at her ticket and see that it has been signed up to date.
I doubt if this is ever done by any of them.
I am constantly receiving letters and complaints from the women that
all the prostitutes in the city are not registered, and that a large number ply
their trade without tickets. I have represented this to the Civil authorities
here, and requested that more stringent steps may be taken for registration.
The difficulties met with in registration are very great, as large numbers
of prostitutes maintain that they are "kept" by private individuals, and do not
consort with European soldiers, though the evidence of registered women goes
to show that this is not the case.
The Lock Hospital was inspected by the Surgeon-General, Her Majesty's
Forces, on November 22nd 1887, and the following report made:—
"The Lock Hospital was in a very efficient state, and the patients were
made very comfortable."
Remarks.
G. G. ADAMS, SURGEON, MEDICAL STAFF,
I n M e d i c a l C h a r g e L o c k H o s p i t a l , D e l h i .
DELHI:
The 7th January 1888.
H. B. WATKIS, LIEUT.,
Secretary to the Cantonment Committee.
G. ADAMS, SURGEON, M. S.,
In Medical Charge Lock Hospital.
Annual Statement No. I. of the Lock Hospital at Delhi for the year 1887.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t o r A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
D a t e o n w h i c h L o c k H o s p i t a l w a s e s t a b l i s h e d .
A c t u n d e r w h i c h t h e R u l e s a r e i n f o r c e .
A r e a o v e r w h i c h t h e R u l e s a r e i n f o r c e .
E s t i m a t e d n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n w i t h i n t h i s a r e a .
Details of monthly pay of
Establishment.
W h e t h e r a f i r s t o r s e c o n d c l a s s H o s p i t a l .
REMARKS.
P u n j a b G o v e r n m e n t .
3 r d M a r c h 1 8 8 7 .
A c t X X I I o f 1 8 6 4 a s a m e n d e d b y A c t I I I o f 1 8 8 0 .
1 6 s q u a r e m i l e s
1 6 9 , 5 5 8 .
Rs.
1 s t C l a s s H o s p i t a l .
Medical Officer
...
. . . 100
Native Doctor
...
. . . 25
Matron, Head
...
. . . 10
Do., Second ...
. . . 5
Cook ...
...
...
5
Bhistie...
...
... 5
Sweeper ...
. . .
.. 4
Total monthly cost of Establish
ment
...
1 5 4
4
DELHI:
The 7th January 1888.
H. B. WATKIS, LIEUT.,
Secretary to the Cantonment Committee.
G. G. ADAMS, SURGEON, M.S.,
In Medical Charge, Lock Hospital.
Annual Statement No. II. of the Lock Hospital at Delhi for the year 1887.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
NUMBER OF REGISTERED
PROSTITUTES.
Average number of
prostitutes
on the register in each
month and for
the year.
Average number of
Prostitutes attending the periodical
examinations.
Number reported
to Cantonment Magistrate or other
Civil authority
for non-attendance
.
Number of prosti
tutes found dis
eased at the
periodical examina-
tons and detained
for treatment.
RECORD OF DISEASES.
Average number of
Prostitutes in
Hospital for each
month and the
year.
Diseases.
R e m a i n e d .
A d m i t t e d .
T o t a l .
D i s c h a r g e d .
D i e d .
R e m a i n i n g .
T o t a l .
Number remaining
on the register
at the end of
last year
January
. . .
. . .
January ...
...
January
. . .
. . . January ...
. . . Gonorrhæa
...
21 21 20
. . .
1
21 January
. . . ...
February ...
...
February ...
...
February ... ... February ...
. . .
February
. . . ...
76
March
...
7.13 March
...
70.0 March
...
5 March
...
8 Syphilis, Pri
mary.
. . .
29
29 28
. . .
1
29 March
. . . 5.5
April'
...
80.9 April
...
78 . 5 April
...
8 April
...
16
. .
.
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
April
..... 12.6
Number added t o t he r egi st er dur i ng t he year 1887
4 9 May
. . . 91.2 May
...
80 . 5 May
...
19 May
...
10 Syphilis, secon
dary.
...
1
1
1 ...
. . .
1 May
... 8.4
June
. . .
90.8 June
...
85 . 0 June
...
9 June
...
2
June
... 4.2
July
. . .
89.5 July
...
87 . 0 July
...
6 July
...
8 Leucorrhœa
...
39
39
38 ...
1 39 July
. . . 9.5
August
...
86.9 August
...
82.7 August
..,
6 August ...
5
August ... 8.0
Total
1 2 5 September ...
86.9 September ...
82.7 September ...
7 September ...
5 Vaginitis
. . .
4
4
4
. . .
. . .
4 September ... 2.5
Number who remov-
ed their names
from the register,
died or abscond-
ed during the
year 1887
October ...
94.5 October ...
86 .2 October ...
27 October ...
5
October ... 1.7
November ...
98.0
November
...
86.0 November . . .
16 November ...
7 Ulcer os uteri
...
28 28 27
. . .
. . . 28 November
. . . 2.8
December ...
97 .2 December ...
82.5 December ...
29 December ...
6
December
. . . 2.5
Bubo
. . .
1
1
1
. . .
. . .
1
28
_
Average for
the year
88.72
Average for
the year
82.11
Total for the
year
132
Total for the
year
72
Average for .
the year
5.78
N umber remaining
on 31st Decem-
ber 1887
9 7
. . .
123* 123 119 ...
4 123
Total
125
Inspections for the examination of all registered prostitutes were held regularly once a week.
51 Admissions were at intermediate periods.
( 5 )
DELHI
The 7th January 1888.
H. B. WATKIS, LIEUT.,
Secretary to the Cantonment Committee.
a a ADAMS, SURGEON, M.S.,
In Medical Charge, Lock Hospital.
Annual Statement No. III of the Lock Hospital at Delhi for the year 1887.
1
2
3
4
5
MONTHS.
RECEIPTS.
EXPENDITURE.
HOW PAID.
R e g i s t r a -
tion fees
from
prostitutes.
Fines
levied
under the
Rules.
Total
Receipts.
Pay of
'
Medical
Officer.
Pap of
'
Establish-
ment.
All other
Expenses.
Total Ex-
penditure.
By Gov-
ernment.
From Can-
Funds.
Other
sources.
Total.
R E M A R K S .
Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P.
Rs. A. P. Rs. A.
P .
Rs. A. P. Rs.
A. P.
R s .
A. P.
January
...
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
February
. . .
...
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . . . .
. . .
. . .
...
. . .
March
. . .
...
...
93 8 9 64 8 8 63 9 10
221 11 3
83 5 4
138 5 11
. . .
221 11 3'
April
. . .
. . .
...
100 0 0 69 0 0 83 11 5
252 11 5
83 5 4
169 6 1
...
252 11 5
May
. . .
20 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 69 0 0 69 8 7
238 8 7
83 5 4
155 3 3
...
238
8 7
June
. . .
2 0 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 69 0 0 59 0 3
228 0 3
83 5 4
144 10 11
...
228 0
3
July
. . .
...
...
100 0 0 69 0 0 74 3 2
243 3 2
83 5 4
159
1 3 10
...
243 3 2
August
. . .
...
...
100 0 0 49 0 0 70 0 2
219 0 2
83 5 4
135 10 10
...
219 0 2
September
. . .
.........
.........
100 0 0 49 0 0 53 9 11
202 9 11
83 5 4
119 4 7
...
202 9 11
October
. . .
...
...
100 0 0 51 14 6 51 7 8
203 6 2
68 13 1
134 9 1
...
203 6 2
November
. . .
...
...
100 0 0 54 0 0 62 14 5
216 14 5
94 2 7
122 11 10
. . .
216 14 5
December
. . .
...
...
100 0 9 54 0 0 58 8 8
212 8 8 87 0 4
125
8 4
. . .
212 8 8
Total
... ...
40 0 0 40 0 0 993 8 9 598 7 2 646 10 1 2,238 10 0 833 5 4 1,405 4 8
. . .
2,238 10 0
(6)
Extract from Proceedings of the Cantonment Committee assembled at Delhi on the 10th .January 1888.
6. The Annual Lock Hospital Report for the past year 1887 was read
over and approved of.
Punjab Government Press, Lahore—29-11-88—40.
No. 243, dated 5th March l888.
From—Colonel H.M. BURLTON, Cantonment Magistrate, Umballa,
To—The Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Punjab.
WITH reference to his No. 652, dated 28th February 1888, has the honor
to forward the annual report on Lock Hospital, Umballa, for 1887, duly revised
by the Medical Officer in charge, Lock Hospital, together with the statements
countersigned by the undersigned.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LOCK HOSPITAL, UMBALLA,
FOR THE YEAR 1887.
A.—The hospital is situated in the Sadr Bazár and affords ample and
suitable accommodation. It is surrounded by a high
wall topped with glass, and has been recently lime-washed
and put into repair.
B.—Surgeon E. J. E. Risk was in medical charge up to 5th October
1887, on which date he was ordered to proceed to
England. He was temporarily relieved by Surgeon
W. G. Macpherson, who was in medical charge up to 25th December 1887,
after which date the charge of the hospital has been held by me.
C.—The following result of the year 1887 shows a diminution in
the prevalence of venereal amongst the troops in garrison,
although the annual average strength is nearly the same as
in last year:—
Extract of Venereal Diseases amongst British troops during 1887 and four
preceding years.
YEAR.
Averae
strength of
the troops.
Admissions.
Ratio,
per 1,000.
REMARKS.
1883
. . .
. . .
1,745
336
192.55
1884
. . .
...
1,798
361
200.78
1885
. . .
...
1,463
623
425.83
1886
...
. . .
1,977
568
287.30
1887
. . .
. . .
1,925
429
222.86
Nature and extent of
the hospital accommoda-
tion.
Charge.
Venereal
prevalence
amongst the troops.
Number and character
of admissions amongst
troops.
D.—The number and character of admissions is as
follows amongst the troops on an average strength
of 1,925:—
1887.
1886.
Go n or r hœa
. . .
. . .
. . .
226
237
Primary syphilis
. . .
. . .
. . .
176
208
Secondary syphilis ...
. . .
. . .
27
45
Ulcer of penis
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
78
Total
. . .
429
568
A total of 429 admissions against 568 admitted during 1886.
The duration and severity of the disease was also of a milder form,
and more amenable to treatment. The table of analysis of the admissions
for venereal is appended.
Gonorrhœa and pri-
mary Syphilis.
Type.
Local sores
Munterian chancre.
( 2 )
Analysis of admissions.
Prevailing varieties of dis.
ease. Women.
J.—The number of admissions into hospital was 190
against 200 last year, with a marked result in diminishing
the prevalence of disease:—
1886.
1887.
Gonorrhœa
. . .
. . . ...
113
99
Primary syphilis...
. . . . . .
25
13
Secondary syphilis
. . . . . .
3
. . .
Tertiary syphilis ...
. . . . . .
...
. . .
Leucorrhœa
...
. . . . . .
17
54
Other diseases ...
. . . . . .
42
24
Total
...
200
910
In 1887 gonorrhœa and primary syphilis furnished 99 and 13
against 113 and 25 admissions in the preceding year
respectively.
The disease was generally of a mild type, and
yielded easily to suitable reatment.
The venereal sores were generally unaccompanied with secondary
symptoms; and if so, of a mild type with few ex-
ceptions.
The local sores in women are generally of the soft variety, and are not
followed by specific symptoms. It is not possible to state
the exact period of incubation.
The true Hunterian chancre is rarely met with.
I.—I examine all prostitutes in hospital twice a week and registered ones a week and registered ones
residing within Cantonment boundaries once a week, and
admit all cases of leucorrhœa, gonorrhœa, ulcer of os uteri,
ulceration or excoriation and specific syphilitic disease. All cases in hospital and
all menstruating women have their tickets taken from them, and are re-examin-
ed before they are returned to them. These precautions have diminished the
pervalence of disease amongst the soldiers.
The prostitutes residing in the city are not examined at Cantonment
Lock Hospital.
All regiments and batteries are inspected for venereal on arrival and
departure from this station.
The bazár women attached to each regiment and battery were
inspected during their stay at the Divisional Camp of Exercise in January
1887.
Specific infection.
Periodical examination.
Registration.
G. —No registration fees have been levied.
H. —The attendance at weekly inspection has been very regular:
30 have been reported absent during the year as com-
pared to 42 in 1885 and 25 in 1886. Of the 30 absent 9
were fined, and the remainder struck off. Amount of fine was Rs. 8-8-0.
Attendance.
Weekly return.
Dhais.
Part of C. —The weekly returns of venereal disease
amongst the British troops have been received with
punctuality.
K. —Dhais, or head women, are employed in all the
chaklas and with the regiments in camp.
Pay.
They draw Rs. 8 per mensem from the Cantonment Fund,
except one, who draws Rs. 10 per mensem and is
employed in Sadr Bazár Gora Chakla.
One dhai in hospital acts as matron.
This dhai draws Rs. 12
per mensem. She has gained experience, so as to detect
gonnorrhcea, leucorrhcea and primary syphilis, as she has
opportunities to make herself acquainted with such disease; while the dhais who
are employed in the regimental and battery chaklas are quite ignorant of the
above disease.
Matron.