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AGRA

No. 16, the 28th, January, 1878.

       From—A. J. LAWRENCE, ESQ., Magistrate, Agra,

       To—Commissioner, Agra Division.

       SIR,—I have the honour to forward the lock-hospital committee's report for
1877. It, is not a satisfactory one, partly owing to the views held by the late medical
officer of the committee's duties, partly owing to the pressure of the times, which has no
doubt driven village women to prostitute themselves for almost nothing, and partly
to the lax way the regimental police have been worked.

       2. The committee was only called together when special circumstances arose;
the consequence is we have now heard for the first time of the increase of venereal
disease among the European troops. This increase is in each corps, and so we cannot
altogether ascribe it to having a, regiment fresh from, England among us, but I am
inclined to think that the regimental, police should, if possible, be old hands.

       3. That this police has been lax is, I think, unquestionable. But one prosecution
has been instituted: by them, while cases have come to light through other means.

       4. It is a common recommendation that a special native police should be enter-
tained, but the plan never answers. Any constable who is on this work above a month
gets contaminated.

       5. Native women of the city do not, as a rule, consort with our European soldiers,
and as it seems established that it is the unregistered coolie women who disease the
men, we must look to the regimental police; and no doubt they want supervision
and direction.

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE AGRA LOCK-HOSPITAL FOR 1877.

       1. Accommodation.—On the 3rd August the lock-hospital was removed from the
building formerly occupied in the Boileauganj Bazár to another in the same locality
of a much superior description as regards size, ventilation, and arrangement.

       2. Officers in charge.—Surgeon-Major Verchere held: charge of the institution
from the 1st January to the 26th November, and Surgeon A. S. Reid from the latter
date to the close of the year I have therefore performed. the duties of the appoint-
ment for little more than one month, and my report must consequently be rather a
meagre one.

       3. Venereal disease among European troops.—I am sorry to be obliged to state
that the results under this head compare very unfavourably with those of the previous
three years. The total average strength of European troops of the Agra garrison during
1877 was 838.94; and the total number of cases of venereal disease admitted among
them dining the same period 218, from which latter number must be deducted 10
"contracted at other places," leaving a balance of 208 cases contracted at Agra, giving
a ratio of 247.93 admissions per 1,000 of strength, a figure which shows a very great
increase in the prevalence of disease, as will be seen by the following comparative
statement of the last four years:—

       This rise seems to have been general in the different corps resident in the station
thus the ratio per 1,000 is for—

       Why the amount of venereal disease should for a succession of years gradually
diminish, and then in one year suddenly become doubled, I am not in a position to