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pean garrison, have been 370, 341, 479, 479, 333, 470,486, and 295 per 1,000 of daily
average strength.
37. The Medical Officer reports a slight decrease in the number of women regis-
tered during the year, there having been 60 on the register on the 1st January and 49 on the 31st December.
Amongst the women 143 cases of disease were detected, chiefly of mild type, and
only 22 cases in all of syphilis—in marked contrast with the greater prevalence
of previous years. The women were regular in their attendance for examination.
Almost invariably women accused of causing disease by soldiers were found
healthy. As a rule the registered women are old and ugly, and several of the worst of
them were removed from the register, during the year, and have left the station. The
recommendations of the Sub-Committee, for the location of the women at one place,
have been sanctioned and may be carried out.
Amongst the soldiers there was a marked decrease of disease in 1881, as com-
pared with the prevalence of previous years. The greatest number of cases occurred,
as usual, in January and February—a circumstance due to the location of the soldiers
in camp at Harorah, then, for musketry practice. At Harorah a large amount of
disease is contracted from unregistered women.
The Medical Officer believes the better results of the year's management are due
entirely to improved regimental and police supervision ; aided by the facts, that
most of the men were young soldiers, unable to speak the language and less prone
than old soldiers to wander into villages, and that several well-known women of bad
character have been banished from the station.
38. The Cantonment Magistrate records the satisfaction of the Committee, in
regard to the marked decrease of disease recorded amongst the soldiers. He notes
that the temporary location of the soldiers, at Harorah, is again complained of, as
providing opportunity for much illicit intercourse and consequent disease. He
remarks upon the decrease in the number of women registered, but gives no reason
for it. The Cantonment Magistrate reports that an estimate is being prepared for the
establishment of a locality of habitation, for the registered women, in cantonments—
a measure to likelyhave good results.
39. The Magistrate of the District is happy in recording improvement in lock
hospital results at Benares, and thinks it due entirely to more efficient regimental
supervision. The estimate for erecting proper dwelling-places for the women has
been sanctioned, and when complete, and inhabited by the women, it will be easier
than now to prevent their intercourse with native men. But it will be essential, to
take care, that the new occupants are women of decent appearance, and not repulsive
wretches. All authorities desire the decrease of venereal disease amongst the soldiers,
and for that reason to restrict them in sexual intercourse to the registered women—
an absurd expectation so long as the women are old, ugly, and repulsive. The gift
of decent houses, rent-free, may induce a better class to register. If not, other
attractions should be held out to them. A proper class of women being provided, it
will remain with the regimental authorities, to take care that the soldiers do not
consert with unregistered women.
The Magistrate is of opinion that the Medical Officer, Surgeon Major Carew, has
taken the greatest interest in the working of the lock hospital and its connected
system of management—an interest influencing the success of the year's opera-
tions.
40. The Commissioner of the Division notes the improvement in results and
thinks it satisfactory, whatever the causes may have been. He hopes the better
arrangements, for the location of the women and their control, will have further satis-
factory results.