28

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

      With regard to the general health of the prostitutes, Dr. W. H. Rean, upon giving over
charge of the institution to me, thus recorded his opinion:—

      *      *      *      *      *      

      " The females on the register are, as a rule, very healthy, and if they contract any disease it is of
a mild type and easily cured. The worst cases of syphilis appear in women who have been driven
to prostitution from want, and the miserable life of poverty they lead prevents their giving any
personal attention to their malady, and at last enfeebled and maimed they seek the hospital."

      " It is noticed that if a registered female absents herself for some weeks and she is brought up
for examination she has generally some disease, her non-attendance being due to the consciousness
that she would be detained in hospital; and these facts point to the necessity of the detective agency
being particularly active in bringing up all prostitutes who absent themselves from the regular
examinations."

      Apart from the classes of women above alluded to, there were 10 others who voluntarily
applied for treatment against 14 in the previous year ; 8 of the former were treated for primary
syphilis, 1 tertiary, and 1 gonorrhœa. Of the 10, 3 had their names brought on the register
with their own consent, while 7 returned to their families. Classifying them according
to caste, 8 were Hindoos, 1 Mahomedan, and 1 Pariah (low caste). Voluntary applications
for treatment would have been much more numerous than the number given above, had it
not been for the impossibility on the part of the institution to admit them, in consequence
of want of accommodation which, during a portion of the year, was not sufficient for its own
(registered) sick. Such applicants were however referred to the Civil Dispensary.

      12. No change appears to be necessary at present in the working of the rules, which, if
thoroughly and efficiently enforced, would no doubt check unlicensed prostitution and diminish
the sick in the British troops. Greater efficiency would be secured if the detective staff were
stronger, but an average of one police constable to 64 prostitutes, scattered over an area of
seven square miles, is hardly sufficient to exercise that supervision which seems essential and
needful. I think the present number might well be raised from 4 to 6, so that the additional
men could be detached to apprehend absentees who, as previously noticed, are increasing to a
large extent.

      The suggestion was made last year by Dr. C. J. Rogers to require soldiers to point out the
woman from whom they contracted the disease, and to subject the former to a penalty if he
does not has been tried. As previously observed however there is always an unwillingness on
the part of a soldier to point out the actual woman who infected him, and on the rare occasions
when he does this the woman on examination is found to be free from disease.

      From statistics which I have obtained from the medical officers in charge of native
regiments, I find that venereal disease amongst the native soldiery is on the increase. As yet
the class of women with whom they associate have not come within the scope of the Lock
Hospital rules, and it is matter for consideration whether it would not be advisable to bring such
women under the rules.

      I only took charge of the Lock Hospital on the 18th November, and therefore at the end of
the year had been less than a month and half in charge. Accordingly when it became necessary
to draw up the Annual Report I requested Hospital Assistant A. Ragavaloo to prepare for me
such data as might enable me to do this. Instead, however, of merely doing so he has prepared
the whole of the foregoing tables and statistics, and the composition of the report is very nearly
in his own exact words. I have made but very few and altogether unimportant alterations, and
I desire therefore to say that whatever credit is due for it may be given entirely to him. It
exhibits great care, great accuracy, and a very considerable amount of intelligence. I found
the answers to the queries so exhaustively given that I felt it would be unfair to him for me to
try and recast them.

Extract from the Annual Report of the Lock Hospital, Seetabuldee, by
Surgeon F. BLENKINSOP.

Strength of Prostitutes.