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the women, by frequent unexpected examination. Even at night time, in many cases,
the registered women have been, roused from their beds for examination, so that it
might be impossible for them to hide disease by the practice of ablution before exa-
mination. And the women were examined every second day as a rule.
Amongst the soldiers there was more disease than in 1881. This was due in
some measure to the fact that one battery of artillery, which remained only 16 days
in the station, provided seven cases of disease. The artillery encamped at Kicha for
practice contracted less disease than usual, because registered women were sent to
camp with them. Consort with unregistered women met upon the roads in the dusk
is the great source of the soldiers' disease—the native police cannot, or will not, pre-
vent the solicitation of these women. And soldiers also probably contract disease
while on ''shooting pass," and frequently confess to the fact.
The Medical Officer does not commend the punishment of the soldier for contract-
ing disease, on. the grounds that it induces concealment of the disease so conducing to
its spread. Especially the employment of soldiers after cure, on venereal picquet, is
considered useless—yet it is still practised at Bareilly.
The Medical Officer praises the lock hospital system for the good it effects both
to the soldiers and the registered women. So far as Bareilly is concerned, disease
can have been contracted only in few cases from the registered women.
32. The Cantonment Magistrate remarks that the prevalence of disease during
1882 was not excessive.
The lock hospital was admirably managed, and it is certain little, or no, disease was
contracted from the registered women. The difficulty lies in apprehending unregister-
ed offenders ; and when apprehended, their proper punishment is difficult. The Act
permits a fine of Rs. 50, but the fine cannot be realized.—It permits eight days' impri-
sonment, but eight days' imprisonment is not sufficient to deter 'from future offence.—
It permits the registration of the woman, but it also permits the woman to remove her
name from the register, whenever she can convince the Magistrate of her intention
to relinquish prostitution.
The Cantonment Magistrate thinks the remedy lies, more in dealing with the
woman, than in punishing the soldier. He would deal with the woman, by placing
her, after the French system, in a reformatory, until claimed by some person who
would become responsible for her future good conduct. The regulation forbidding the
employment of women in cantonments by the Public Works Department should be
more strictly observed.
The Cantonment Magistrate strongly recommends a continuation of the lock
hospital system as it protects the comparatively steady class of soldiers.
The Magistrate of the district is of opinion that although, beyond doubt, the
soldiers contract almost all their disease from unregistered women, the police cannot
possibly prevent it ; and especially at Bareilly, where chaukidars only are employed
as police. The provincial police would be better suited for the enforcement of lock
hospital rules.
The Magistrate disapproves of the Cantonment Magistrate's proposed reformatory
method of dealing with women offenders. It would gravely aggravate the hardship
and abuse, now happily inconsiderable, arising from the operation of the lock hospi-
tal rules.
34. The Commissioner summarises the report quoting the necessary figures.
He notes that at Bareilly as elsewhere complaint arises of the evil influence of
the soldier's consort with unlicensed women.
The Medical Officer thinks that, to prevent this, the police should be more alert.
The Cantonment Magistrate thinks that, to prevent it, the women offenders
should be punished.