ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PACHMARHI LOCK HOSPITAL
FOR THE YEAR 1878.
1. The Lock Hospital is a hut with a bamboo enclosure in front situated
near the Chakla* and about 400 yards to west of the Cantonment bazaar ; it is
suitable and affords accommodation for six patients. The arrangement for
cooking is unsatisfactory, the women at present having to cook in the hospital
itself ; if a hut or shed could be. erected for this purpose it .would be an improve-
ment in my opinion. Also a hut for the Dai† is necessary ; just now she lives in
the hospital.
2. There has been. no change in the medical charge of the Lock Hospital
during the year.
3. There were 26 admissions for venereal affections amongst the troops
during the year, giving a ratio of 183.28 per 1,000, showing a diminution of
disease as compared with last year, when the annual ratio per 1,000 was 235.45.
The cases were as follows, viz. :—10 of primary syphilis, 1 of secondary
syphilis, and 15 of gonorrhœa; of which number 9 cases of primary syphilis and
2 of gonorrhœa brought the diseases with them; and the case of secondary
syphilis was of old standing in a man sent up to recruit his health ; so that only
I case of primary syphilis and 13 of gonorrhœa were contracted at Pachmarhi.
The diseases were mild in type and readily amenable to treatment, but
gonorrhœas were apt to recur in the same individual.
4. There is no Cantonment Committee. The Officer Commanding the
Station exercises supervision over the Lock Hospital rules.
5. Two unregistered prostitutes were discovered in the station, one of
whom was said to have accompanied the troops from Piparia ; the other living
in the Pachmarhi bazar was pointed out by a native servant. They were both
arrested, and on examination were found to be diseased and detained in hospital
for treatment ; subsequently on discharge one was ordered to leave Cantonments.
The fact of the registered prostitutes making it a practice of frequenting the vici-
nity of the barracks at night, also meeting men in the jungle, was reported to the
Officer Commanding the station, and the offenders were fined ; also all natives
were prohibited from having intercourse with the registered prostitutes, who are
only for the Europeans.
6. The registration of prostitutes is efficient : it has been extended to those
frequented by Europeans only, and the area over which the rules are in force
is 3.62 square miles. There were 7 prostitutes remaining at the end of last year,
to which number 3 were added, making a total of 10, of whom 2 left the sta-
tion, leaving 8 on the register on 31st December.
7. No registration fees have been levied.
8. The women attended the periodical examinations regularly.
9. The examinations of the women took place weekly, and those found
diseased were admitted to hospital for treatment; they were also examined at
irregular periods.
10. There were only 2 cases of gonorrhœa among the women, which
readily yielded to treatment : the case of secondary syphilis was of old standing;
and the cases of leucorrhœa, the result of unhealthy wrecked constitutions.
11. The Dai† is useful ; she examines the women during the interval be
tween the Medical officer's inspections, and a check was always kept on the exa-
minations made by her.
*Chakla—Prostitute's quarter.
†Dai—Matron.