( 6 )
In compliance with suggestions received from the Quarter-Master-General's De-
partment (Circular No. 7, dated 14th February, 1883), suitable accommodation has
been provided, at the expense of the cantonment funds, for 27 registered women in the
sadr bazar, and 33 registered women in the European Infantry bazar. In each case the
accommodation consists of a walled enclosure with one entrance. In this enclosure
each woman has a separate well-ventilated quarter 13 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 10
feet high; general Cook-rooms, ablution-rooms, dry-earth latrines and urinals, are pro-
vided in both places. The cost to date has been Rs. 3,000, and only a small further grant
will be required. Sanction has been asked for the entertainment of a bhisti and sweeper
for each block, and the committee hope that all these advantages will result in the
registration of a better class of women.
15. The Magistrate of the district records his regret for the large increase of
venereal disease which has distinguished the year, but is not surprised at its occur-
rence, in view of the causes for it reported by the Cantonment Magistrate. To these
causes the Magistrate would add another—namely, the abolition of the city inspection-
room, a subject referred to (paragraph 14) in last year's report. The lock hospital is a
long way off from the homes of many of the city women, and some months elapsed
before they got into the way of going to the lock hospital for examination, and without
doubt in the interim they infected some of the soldiers. Also it was discovered during
the year, that leave of absence for various periods was granted to some of the regis-
tered women on various pretexts, yet that these women remained in the city occupied
as prostitutes. Of 10 women who had behaved in this way, 7 were afterwards found
diseased by the Medical Officer. Measures have been taken to ensure that registered
women on leave of absence do quit the city. The Magistrate trusts the special police
will be permanently appointed, as they are a necessary institution in a cantonment
neighbouring a large city.
16. The Commissioner notes that the distinguishing feature of the year's man-
agement is the excessive disease prevalence, and syphilis especially seems to be increas-
ing at Agra. The causes are reported by the Cantonment Magistrate. And the
Commissioner thinks special police should be again entertained, to watch the houses
of unregistered women, and bring them before the Magistrate in the event of their
permitting a soldier's visit. And also that the inspection-room in the city should be
re-established; for, to the discontinuance of these measures, the increase of disease
was in great measure due.
It is a significant fact that city women should have obtained leave only with a
view to avoid examination, being influenced to that line of conduct, probably, by
reason of the distance from their homes of the cantonment inspection place.
4.―MEERUT.
17. During the year 1883, a monthly average of 81 women remained on the
register, against 73 in 1882.
The results of the management have been very unsatisfactory. For the 10 years
1874-83 the ratios of admission to hospital for venereal disease amongst the Euro-
pean garrison have been 179, 159, 84, 144, 243,183, 149, 216, 318 and 320 per 1,000
of daily average strength.
18. The Medical Officer reports that the hospital accommodation is in every res-
pect suitable.
By statements prepared it is shown that, although 486 cases of venereal disease
amongst soldiers were admitted to hospital at Meerut, as many as 222 of those cases
represented disease contracted out of Meerut, or were cases of relapse or of secondary
syphilis.