17
REPORT ON THE LOOK HOSPITAL, SAUGOR, 1877.
From Major W. L, Noverre, Cantonment Magistrate, Saugor, to the Secretary
to the Chief Commissioner, Central Provinces, Nagpur,—No.2 7 3 ,
d a t e d
Saugor, 1st March 1877.
I have the honor to forward the Medical Officer's annual report
on the Saugor Lock Hospital for 1877.
" Attendance at inspection."
2. The attendance at inspections has been satisfactory, only 20 women
having been absent during the year, and none of these
were found on inspection to be diseased.
" A m o u n t o f d i s e a s e d u r i n g
the year and causes of preva-
lence."
3. The total number of women admitted to hospital is rather greater than
last year, being 114 against 103 in the year 1876.
The increase is however due to the increased number
(11 cases) of leucorrhœa, which is not, strictly spea
k-ing, a venereal disease.
Gonorrhœa has decreased by 20 cases as compared with the year 1876, or
by 40 cases as compared with the year 1875. Syphilis has increased by 10 cases,
but from what the Medical Officer records at the end of paragraph 10 of his
report, there would appear good reason to suppose that this increase was
due to an increase of disease amongst the men, who contracted the disease
from unregistered prostitutes ; and in the case of the 2-1 Regiment the
Royal Scotts, from women on the line of march from Lahore to Saugor.
The Medical Officer's report shows a large increase in cases of syphilis
amongst the men ; it records that many of these cases were contracted on the
line of march between Lahore and Saugor by the detachment 2-1 Royal Scotts,
and no doubt many of the Saugor women were infected by them, thus
causing a considerable spread of the disease. In addition to this cause there
is the fact that 7 women were detected, at different times during the year, carry-
ing on prostitution with soldiers, without having been registered, and on
apprehension and inspection all were found to be diseased.
"Regestration and unlicen-sed prostitution."
4. The Police in a general way look out for unregistered prostitutes, and
they appear to be generally successful as regards the
city and bazars ; with the class of women who solicit
soldiers in the vicinity of the barracks after dark, they
are not successful. Until all unusual amount of disease shows itself amongst
the men, these women usually escape notice ; pressure is then put on the Police,
civil and
m i l i t a r y , a n d t h e r e s u l t h a s u s u a l l y b e e n , t h a t s o m e w o m a n s u r f f e r i n g f r o m d i s e a s e h a s b e e n d e t e c t e d s o l i c i t i n g m e n n e a r ,
the barracks ; the
disease has then been checked for a time. At one period of the year, when a very un-
usual amount of disease existed amongst the men of the Royal Artillery, the
matter was reported to Head-Quarters ; the following is an extract from the
Commander-in Chief's order on the subject:—" Experience has proved that
when Commanding Officers and Regimental Police really interest themselves in
the suppression of venereal, the disease decreases to a great extent, and I am
accordingly to convey His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief's request that
this fact may be impressed upon the authorities at Saugor." After receipt of
this order two unlicensed women were detected by the Regimental Police of the
Royal Artillery, and both were found to be diseased. The women who have
been caught soliciting soldiers in the neighbourhood of the barracks after dark,
have invariably been destitute creatures without houses, sometimes pretending
to be oilsellers ; it is difficult for the Civil Police to interfere effectually in such
cases, as they are afraid of the men.
The unlicensed prostitution that has gone on during the year has been un-
usual, and has been chiefly confined to the class of women above referred to. I am
of the same opinion as last year with regard to the registration question gener
-ally, viz, that unlicensed prostitution does not go undetected in the city of Saugor
or in the bazars. The Medical Officer's calculation that there are only 58 regis-
tered prostitutes to 58,000 persons is misleading, for in these figures are includ-
ed women and children ; and no allowance is made for the very large propor-