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69. The Commanding Officer forwards the report without remark.
70. The Commissioner of the Division desires to place on record the opinion,
that the lock hospital system is not confined, as the Medical Officer appears to think,
to the medical treatment of the sufferers from disease, but embraces every means for
the prevention of disease and detection of offenders. This can be effected only by
the military authorities, including the Medical Officer, and the lock hospital report
should include a resumé of all efforts made in this direction.
As a remarkable fact, Naini Tal swarmed with hill women, during the season of
1881, employed on protective works—yet venereal disease decreased amongst the
soldiers, and was of milder type. These facts warn us against laying the fault of
failure, at the door of these hill women only. They are immoral doubtless, and soldiers
do contract disease from them. But the military authorities, alone, can prevent the
soldier's intercourse with these women, by the adoption of proper methods of preven-
tion.
The real reason for the decrease of disease in 1881 was, that a better class of
men joined the Depôt.
The Commissioner understood, from the Ránikhet report, that soldiers cannot
now be punished in any way, for making themselves non-effective by venereal disease.
If that is so, it is hopeless to expect the lock hospital system to mitigate this
great evil. The soldiers who contract venereal disease will never be deterred from it
by hospital treatment—rather they enjoy the enforced idleness of hospital life, and
if such men cannot be punished, the money spent on lock hospitals is wasted.
15.—JHÁNSI.
71. During the year 1881 a monthly average of 15 women remained on the
register, against 29 in 1880. The results of the management have been satisfactory.
For the eight years, 1874-81, the ratios of admission to hospital for venereal disease,
amongst the European garrison, have been 112, 58, 185, 89, 188, 136, 133, and 154
per 1,000 of daily average strength.
72. The Medical Officer reports that the lock hospital is a mud-built structure
with accommodation for four, or perhaps six, patients. It has been repaired and colour-
washed during the year. Amongst the registered women very few cases of primary
disease occurred. All their diseases were mild in type and speedily cured. In all 22
cases of disease were admitted to hospital, of these five were cases of syphilis and
three of gonorrhœa. The women were regular in their attendance for examination.
Amongst the soldiers there were 12 admissions for syphilis and 43 for gonorrhœa.
This shows an increase of disease as compared with the record of 1880. Most of
these cases were due to consort with unlicensed women. As a rule, the soldiers accused
the registered women of causing their diseases, and when a soldier was able to point
out the accused woman, she was brought to hospital for examination. In no case has
the woman so pointed out been found diseased—a fact in some instances verified by the
senior or other Medical Officer of the station. A system of regimental police was in
force during July, August, and September, with little good results. And in October,
when the drill season commenced, the endeavour ceased. No women were arrested,
and the Medical Officer has not the slightest doubt that the soldiers contracted disease
from women met, probably, in cantonment outskirts, or in Jhánsi city—which is not
out of bounds to the soldier. The Medical Officer is of opinion that the number
of registered women is insufficient, there having been only an average of 15 through-
out the year. The greater number of these, although of good appearance, complained
that soldiers rarely visit them. A comparison of disease prevalence, amongst the
registered women, and amongst the soldiers, will suffice to indicate that the latter
must have contracted disease from unregistered women.
73. The Deputy Commissioner of the district forwards the report, with an expres-
sion of concurrence in the Medical Officer's opinion, as to the source of the soldiers'