( 21 )
Thus the good results of the Act during the year have been fully maintained,
there being a diminution in all the forms of venereal diseases from that of last
year, except in secondary syphilis.
IV.—Whether a Cantonment Sub-Committee for exercising special supervision over the rules has existed
throughout the year, and what officers composed it.
There has been no Cantonment Sub-Committee throughout the year for
exercising supervision over the rules.
The Town Magistrate is responsible for the working of the rules, while the
medical officer is in charge of the hospital.
V.—What special measures have been taken for control of prostitution and specially for preventing the
danger from unlicensed prostitutes frequenting the lines.
The usual measures authorised by the Act have been adopted during the year
for the prevention of clandestine prostitution. During the year one inspector,
Mr. Thurgood, and two constables have been set apart for carrying out all the duties
connected with the lock-hospital : this staff I consider quite inadequate for the
amount of work to be done. Mr. Thurgood does his work extremely well, and-
deserves great credit for his zeal ; but a large portion of his time is necessarily
taken up each day at the courts, generally from 10½ A.M.
till 4 P.M.
Two
3rd class constables are only allowed to assist him, though I believe one 1st class
and two 2nd class were sanctioned by the Chief Commissioner. The area has been
increased, extending now over 22 square miles. In my opinion-five peons under
Mr. Thurgood are necessary, and would be only equal to the task.
On several occasions soldiers, and also seamen from the men-of-war, were
brought to point out the women who infected them, but on all occasions when the
women were examined they were found free from disease.
Mr. Thurgood has also adopted a good plan of visiting the steamers coming
from the Madras coast with coolies. A good many prostitutes have thus been
found at once and put on the register. The subjoined statement shows the num-
ber of women arrested during the year arranged under the various sections of
the Act :—
Month.
Evading medical
examination,
section 16, Act
XXII of 1864.
Absconding from
lock-hospital
section 18, Act
XXII of 1864.
Practising un-
licensed prosti -
tution. section 9,
A c t X X I I o f 1 8 6 4 .
January
...
. . .
. . .
...
9
1
2
February
...
...
...
8
0
4
March
...
...
. . .
. . .
12
0
8
April
. . .
. . .
. . .
6
1
2
May
. . .
...
...
. . .
10
0
0
June
...
...
. . .
. . .
2
0
6
July
. . .
...
...
...
10
1
0
August
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
6
0
8
September
...
. . .
. . .
...
9
0
1
October
...
...
. . .
. . .
10
0
0
November
...
. . .
...
10
0
4
December
. . .
...
...
. . .
2
1
0
Total
. . .
94
4
35
Thus during the year 94 were arrested for evading the examinations. Seven
escaped from hospital, four of whom were recaptured. The number of escapes
have been fewer this year. The large number of. 35 were arrested for practising
unlicensed prostitution : this is more than double the number arrested for such
last year : this shows great care and zeal on the part of the inspector. During
the year 41 prostitutes were found diseased on the first examination on registra-
tion : this fact shows that there is an undoubtedly large number of women
suffering from venereal diseases who are not registered and who spread the
disease.
6