( 22 )

257, 223, 231, 286, 254, and 257 per 1,000 of strength respectively. It appears then
that the general results have not been quite so good in this as in the preceding year;
and, indeed, they have been little better than the results obtained before lock hospitals
where established. Then the annual mean ratio of admissions to hospital for venereal
disease was 275 per 1,000 of strength, and as above stated the ratio in 1879 was 257
per 1,000. The figures witness to a measure of improvement hardly commensurate
with the labour, attention, and expenditure devoted to the prevention of these diseases
since the lock hospitals were established.

      104. In considering this subject it becomes necessary to dwell forcibly upon the
fact that this general unsatisfactory result is not caused by an even continuance of
disease prevalence in all the stations influenced. Its cause on the contrary is chiefly
due to a prevalence of disease at certain stations, considerably in excess of the pre-
valence before lock hospitals were opened, this excessive prevalence almost coun-
terbalancing the advantageous result recorded in the stations of decreased prevalence.

      105. The stations of decreased prevalence in 1879, as compared with the record
of the years before lock hospitals were established, appear in the following list :—

      The causes of the comparatively successful management, in these stations of good
result, have been thus recorded.

      At Allahabad it is said to have been due to the action of the Cantonment Magis-
trate in taking measures for the detection and arrest of unregistered women who were
a cause of disease (para. 3).

      At Meerut the results, though far better than those achieved before the lock
hospitals were opened, are not such as to give much satisfaction to the Medical Officer,
who believes the soldiers contracted disease from unregistered women, and especially
from barrack women whose friends had gone to Afghanistan (para. 22).

      At Lucknow the good result is believed to have been due chiefly to the unceasing
vigilance of the authorities, exercised against unlicensed prostitution, and resulting
in the arrest of 46 unregistered women, all of whom were found diseased (para. 28).

      At Fyzabad 44 unlicensed prostitutes were arrested, of whom 14 were found
diseased (para. 42).

      At Sháhjahânpur 17 unlicensed prostitutes were arrested (para. 58).

      At Sitapur the improvement appears to have resulted from the removal of almost
all unmarried soldiers from the station (para. 71).

      At Roorkee, where the best results of any were recorded, they are believed to have
been due to the existence of stringent regulations for the discovery of disease amongst the
men, and to the interest taken in the matter by the Commanding Officer and Canton-
ment Magistrate. Owing to this interest, vagrant women were kept out of canton-
ments, and soldiers found it difficult to meet coolie and beggar women. Women
suspected of soliciting the soldier were arrested, and seven were found seriously diseased.
(para. 75).