MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.

11

Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Cannanore by
Surgeon W. A. LEE.

Strength of Prostitutes.

Number of Sick.

      One Head Constable and two Constables are detailed to procure evidence against unregistered
prostitutes plying their trade in the cantonment, and to prosecute absentees fron the weekly
inspection. The Officer Commanding H.M.'s 2-16th Regiment has, on my recommendation,
selected two reliable men " for the prevention and detection of any women visiting the lines for
the purpose of prostitution, and for the supervision of such native women employed in the
lines as they may suspect to be carrying on prostitution." Clandestine prostitution is believed to
be practised largely, partly by the wives of natives in menial employ in the European lines, and
by women the servants of soldiers' wives ; and the soldiers who may contract disease from such
women are very reluctant to point them out to the police, preferring to accuse a registered
prostitute who, when brought to hospital, is generally found to be free from disease.

      During the year 20 prostitutes were registered, and 17 of the number were found diseased
when brought to hospital, viz., primary syphilis 2, gonorrhoea 5, leucorrhœa 6, ulcer of os 4
The following table shows the castes of the prostitutes on the register :—

      The attendance of the women at the periodical examinations has been regular. 124
women were reported for being absent, but many of these had left the cantonment, although
their names were still borne on the register in the event of their returning. Imprisonment
was awarded in 19 cases and fine of one rupee in two cases.

      There has been a diminution in the number of women admitted in the past year as compared
with previous years. Two-thirds of the admissions were for gonorrhœa and leucorrhœa ; the
type of the former is mild, and it yields readily to appropriate treatment. The commonest
form of leucorrhœa met with is cervical catarrh, which is frequently associated with displace-
ment of the uterus and constriction of the os externum or cervical canal ; it is very liable to
recur after apparent cure—the result of the intemperate habits and lives of the prostitutes who
do not abstain from intercourse during the menstrual period.

      There is a gratifying diminution in the number of admissions among the troops for venereal
disease contracted in the cantonment. Omitting the statistics of the 48th Regiment, which
left the station in January, the ratio per mille is 158.62 as compared with 246.47 in 1879 (and
this notwithstanding the number of cases of venereal imported by the men from Secunderabad
to Madras)—a circumstance which may be partly attributable to the longer period the women
are kept in hospital, and to the detention under observation of those suspected of being
diseased.

Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Kamptee by
Surgeon-Major B, T. SUFFREIN.

      The weekly returns of venereal disease among European troops have been received
regularly. It is gratifying to be able to report a considerable decrease in the amount of vene-
real disease among the men during the past year.

      The Cantonment Police have kept a watch on women of suspicious appearance, and have
doubtless done good work in preventing them from loitering about near the European lines ;
but the greatest amount of good in this direction appears to have been effected by the arrange-
ments made regimentally, both in the Royal Artillery and the 2-13th Regiments, for preventing