EXTRACTS

FROM THE

ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS,

FOR THE YEAR 1879.

Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital, Bangalore,
by Surgeon-Major W. PEARL.

Strength of Prostitutes.
Remained on the register on the 31st December 1878 ... 103
Registered during the year ... 63
Total ... 166
Number who removed their names or absconded ... 63
Died, registered prostitutes ... 2
Remaining on the register on the 31st December 1879 ... 101
Number of Sick Registered Prostitutes.
Remained on the 31st December 1878 ... 53
Admitted during the year ... 639
Recovered ... 655
Died ... ...
Remaining in hospital on 31st December 1879 ... 37
Daily average number of sick ... 43.56
Number of Sick Unregistered Prostitutes.
Remained on the 31st December 1878 ... ... ... 1
Admitted during the year ... ... ... 72
Recovered ... ... ... 68
Died ... ... ... 2
Remaining in hospital on 31st December 1879 ... ... ... 3
Daily average number of sick ... ... ... 5.58
Average number of days in hospital ... ... ... 21.32
      RS. A. P.
Average cost of each patient dieted in hospital   European 5 0 10
Native 3 15 3
Do. do. for contingencies ... ... 1 4 3

      There has been a great increase in primary syphilis, but a decrease in gonorrhœa and
only a slight increase in secondary syphilis, which, at a first glance, would tend to show the
inefficiency of the institution ; but it must be remembered that the soldiers in the garrison
seldom contract venereal disease from the registered prostitutes ; they usually consort with
grass-cutters, sweepers and other women in the topes and quarries which abound in the vicinity
of Bangalore, as will be seen from the statement of the Assistant Police Superintendent where
he says that no cases have been detected from the information given by the soldiers. Two
European Chief Constables are detailed for this special duty, namely, finding out from the
soldiers the source of infection, and it is a well-known fact that the soldiers themselves are not
only unwilling, but are unable to point the women from whom they have contracted the disease.

      The Assistant Superintendent of Police keeps a register of all brothels and prostitutes, and
no brothel is allowed to exist without his sanction within the area of 14 square miles as implied
by the Act. The same applies to prostitutes who consort with Europeans; the female keepers
of brothels under 40 years of age are registered prostitutes. Tickets are given them and are

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