75112385.htm

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

Twenty women (one of them twice) were reported for non-attendance, and 10 others
(one of them twice) for absconding from hospital.

How far disease has increased or decreased among the women, &c.— The admissions into
the lock hospital for venereal diseases during the past three years were as follows:—

1876	...	...	...	...	...	...	...	...	67
1877	...	...	...	...	...	...	...	...	47
1878	...	...	...	...	...	...	...	...	59

only one of the 59 came whilst I had charge. With reference to the remainder I find on
referring to the admission and discharge book that they have been entered under 9 different
headings, and as four of these are evidently non-venereal the admissions they include (8)
should be deducted, and there would then remain a balance of 51.

The following table shows the relative number of admissions for venereal diseases for each
month amongst the British troops and the registered prostitutes:—

Months.	Admission amongst British Soldiers.	Admission amongst Prostitutes.	Months.	Admission amongst British Soldiers.	Admission amongst Prostitutes.
January	10	7	July	3	4
February	4	8	August	4	2
March	3	3	September	5	5
April	6	5	October	2	3
May	1	2	November	5	9
June	5	2	December	...	1
Total	29	27	Total	19	24

There appears therefore to have been some slight connection, notably in December, between
the amount of admissions from these causes amongst the (possible) infecters and the infected.
As regards the civil population I think the data procurable are too few and uncertain to draw
conclusions from, but they are as follows:—

	1876.	1877.	1878.	Remarks.
Total admissions for primary venereal diseases.	19	26	32	Both in-door and out-door are included in the totals.
Total admission for small causes.	2,601	2,416	3,245
Percentage of former to latter	0.73	1.7	0.98

The type of disease throughout the year was, I am informed, in no way virulent, and my
short experience bears out this statement. The Senior Medical Officer, British Troops, has told
me that the same remark applies to the European troops.

Any information on other matters.—As the Native troops are not allowed to have their
families with them, they are almost on the same footing with respect to sexual intercourse
as the European soldiers, and it is probable therefore that they resort a good deal to the
registered prostitutes. The returns of venereal complaints amongst them would therefore also
have some bearing on the efficacy of the rules in force. In the 32nd Madras Native Infantry,
since its arrival in the middle of April, there have been only 2 admissions of venereal complaints.

Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital, Tonghoo,
by Surgeon R. V. POWER, M.D.

The following table indicates the strength and admissions for venereal affections amongst
the European troops stationed here during the year 1878:—