MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.

7

The number of cases admitted into the Lock Hospital was 754, or exactly the same
as in the previous year ; but there was a slight difference in the amount of primary
syphilis, the admissions for this cause having been 487 in 1881 against. 517 in 1880.
Out of an average of 364.18 on the register, an average of 302.60 presented them-
selves at the weekly inspections. The form of disease is reported to have been
mild amongst registered, and severe amongst unregistered, women.

   Amongst the troops the admission rate per 1,000 strength for venereal com-
plaints was 247.39 against 329.24 in 1880. Of these admissions, 191, or 321.54
per mille, were for primary syphilis. There was, therefore, a reduction in venereal
disease amongst the troops in this large station.

   16. Wellington.—Owing to the isolated nature of this station and the limited
amount of the native population in the neighbourhood, there apparently exist great
facilities for suppressing venereal disease, but practically it is found very nearly as
prevalent at the depôt as at stations which have no such advantages. The number
of prostitutes on the register was 38.36 against 43.44, and the average daily sick in
the Lock Hospital 5.96 against 6.31 in 1880. Of the total admissions 13, or 206.35
per mile, were cases of primary syphilis.

   Amongst the troops at the depôt the admission rate per 1,000 of strength
was 143.87 against 185.68 in 1880. There was, however, no reduction in primary
syphilis, the number of cases having been at the rate of 395.06 per mile of total
admissions for venereal complaints against 344 per mille in 1880.

   17. General Remarks.—There was a reduction in the number of women on the
register at all the stations, except Secunderabad, and the total number of women
treated in Lock Hospitals in 1881 was 2,318 against 2,316, and the average daily sick
154.24 against 189.64, in 1880. On the other hand, there was a general reduction
in the amount of disease amongst European troops, showing that there is but little,
if any, relation in the shape of cause and effect between the working of the Contagious
Diseases Act and the prevalence of venereal complaints amongst the troops. Indeed,
so universal is the opinion amongst Medical Officers in charge of Lock Hospitals,
that much, if not most, of the disease seen amongst soldiers is acquired from unregis-
tered women that the fact cannot be doubted. It follows, therefore, that Lock
Hospitals can be of little service in reducing the amount of venereal disease amongst
the troops, except indirectly, viz., by rendering it less prevalent amongst the civil
population generally. At the same time it is satisfactory to record, that venereal
diseases in general and primary syphilis, the most destructive of all, were less
frequent than in 1880. The only drawback to this is the knowledge that the
reduction will not probably be lasting, and that it is, so far as we know anything
of the causes of such variations, an accidental fluctuation.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

C. D. MADDEN,

Surgeon- General, H.M.’s Forces.