(16)
59. The Lieutenant-General Commanding considers the working of the lock
hospital a success, but thinks venereal disease cannot be decreased so long as
unlicensed women infest the barracks. The Act, for their suppression, should be at
once put in force.
13.—ROORKEE.
60. During the year 1881 a monthly average of 34 women remained on the
register, against 22 in 1880, and 32 in 1879.
The results of the management have been very satisfactory. For the eight years,
1874-81, the ratios of admisssions to hospital for venereal disease, amongst the Euro-
pean garrison, have been 198, 146, 124, 66, 262, 132, 178, and 177 per 1,000 of daily
strength.
61. The Medical Officer reports that the lock hospital still exists, as a building
in the bazaar rented for Rs. 8 per mensem—as the erection of a suitable building
on the former site, has not yet been sanctioned by Government. The registered
women were inspected twice a week. Many of them were accused of causing disease
by the soldiers, but only one woman of those so accused was found diseased. All
prostitutes and dancing-girls, with six exceptions, are bound to be registered. As
many as 194 cases of disease occurred amongst the women, the discovery of so many
being due to more careful and continuous inspection, and to the considerable number
of women newly admitted to registration during the year.
Some women were suspected of leaving the hospital whilst under treatment.
To prevent this, a watchman has been employed. The soldiers have consorted with
village women, but to less extent than formerly, owing to the posting of policemen
on bridges which provide access to the station, the policemen having special orders
to prevent the entry of village women to cantonments. Two women were fined by
the Magistrate—and two punished by imprisonment, for leaving the hospital without
permission.
62. The Cantonment Magistrate reports the utmost economy of management,
consistent with efficiency. The police have reported that all public prostitutes at
Roorkee are registered. No effort has been spared, on the part of the Sub-Committee
to give full effect to the lock hospital regulations.
63. The Magistrate of the District notes the considerable increase of women
registered. He thinks the increase of disease discovered amongst the registered women
rather startling. In 1880 only 46 cases of disease were recorded, against 194 in 1881.
A small increase of disease amongst the soldiers is also recorded in 1881. And
viewing these circumstances in combination, together with the fact that some women
were able to leave the hospital uncured, the conclusion may be arrived at, that some
soldiers were allowed to consort with diseased registered women. The Magistrate
notes the absence, in the reports or returns, of any statement of the offence for which
Rs. 10 were recovered as fines. Sanction for the construction of a new lock hospital
building appears to have not yet been received, notwithstanding the necessity for it.
The Magistrate thinks that, on the whole, the year's management is not very satis-
factory.
64. The Medical Officer, with reference to the Magistrate's remarks, states that
the increase in admissions to hospital, recorded amongst the registered women, was
due to the admission of many cases not necessarily venereal. The great increase of
disease amongst the soldiers arose out of their habit of consorting with village women—
and he explains, as a further reason, that the registered women consort with any
man. He admits that, on two occasions, soldiers were badly diseased by a registered
woman whom they enticed away from hospital, knowing her to be diseased. After
this occurrence a chaukidar was appointed to the hospital.
The Medical Officer states that he personally examines every registered woman,
and can say without hesitation that when, amongst the soldiers, cases of disease have
occurred, they have resulted from the soldiers' own indiscretion.