65
MYSORE DIVISION.
voluntarily for admission, thus making in all 691 admissions, and the average daily sick 43·66.
There were 7 deaths in hospital, of which 6 were of unregistered women.
The total cost of the hospital was
The average cost of each patient,
including contingencies, was—
...
...
...
...
RS.
A. P.
7,451 2 9
Europeans
...
...
9 1 2
Natives
...
...
...
6 8 4
In Bellary the average number on the register during the year was 104, total treated
412, average daily sick 45 . 70, died in hospital 8.
The total cost of the hospital was Rupees 6,508-4-5, average cost of each patient,
including contingencies, Rupees 12-1-3.
In Bangalore 19·45 per cent. of the admissions among the registered women were for
primary syphilis, and 59 per cent. among the unregistered, or those who applied voluntarily.
In the Bellary hospital 28·88 per cent. of all admissions were for primary syphilis.
BRITISH TROOPS.
There was a large increase of venereal disease among the British troops at both stations,
as might be anticipated from the foregoing facts. In Bangalore the admissions were at the
rate of 223·60 per 1,000 of strength, while in 1876 they were only 91·45. The cases of
primary syphilis were in 1877 137·02, and in 1876 26·89 ; a similar increase is noted in
Bellary. The admissions for primary syphilis alone were last year at the rate of 238 . 7 per mille,
and in 1876 153·94. The total admissions last year for all forms of the disease were at the
rate of 465·81 per mille.
In Bangalore and in Bellary 4·5 per cent. of the primary cases were followed by
constitutional symptoms.
Changes.—No change has taken place in the constitution of the Committees of Manage-
ment, which were described in last year's report. The special detective agency was increased
in Bangalore to 5 constables, and a chief constable was sent from the constabulary to supervise
them. In Bellary the detective agency consisted of 1 head constable and 3 constables. The
Regimental authorities also aided the special agency in carrying out their duties.
It seems to be the conclusion to which all authorities are tending, that, while lock hospitals
have been instrumental in mitigating the severity of venereal diseases among the comparatively
few women who enroll themselves as professional prostitutes, they have failed to diminish the
frequency of such diseases among the soldiers.
The cause of this failure is, I think, not difficult to discover. To be successful the system
should be thorough in other words, it should be carried out to its logical conclusion.
prostitutes should be brought under its operation, and be treated as public servants, recognised
by the State, and under its protection.
To that length, however, Government has not been willing to go ; and it therefore,
becomes a question whether it be worth while to continue an institution which does not fulfil
the primary object of its introduction, and whether its acknowledged benefits could not be
obtained by other means less open to objection, and more in harmony with the general spirit
of our institutions.
A few more annual returns may perhaps be necessary before a definite answer can be
given to this question.
Changes.
H e a d - Q u a r t e r s , S a p p e r s a n d
M i n e r s .
STATION—BANGALORE.
Average strength
... ...
...
...
...
... ...
1,071
Do.
do.
present
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Admissions
...
...
... ... ... ... ... ...
797
Daily sick
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
28
Deaths in hospital
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
15
Do. out of do.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
5
Pensioned
... ... ... ... ... ...
...
...
21
Sick leave...
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
3 1
The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding as
contrasted with previous years:—
17