12

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

   From the increase which occurs year after year, it is evident that registration is progres-
sive. Up to the end of 1881, 382 women were on the register, and during the year under
review 80 have been added, making in all 462, which gives 1 to 7.24 of the European strength
of the year. Compared with the number registered in 1881, there has been a decrease of 54.
Whether there was scope for a larger number being brought on the rolls or not is a point which
the magisterial authorities can alone state; but, judging from the increase in the number of
admissions among the European troops, one cannot but conclude that a large number of women
are still at large, who frequent with European soldiers, unnoticed either by the Civil or Military
detective police;or that women, who obtain permission to remove their names either on the
score of leaving the station or getting married, continue to remain in the station without the
police knowing it and ply their calling unobserved. Several instances have occurred wherein it
was found that, after obtaining leave, they remain in the cantonment and disease the soldiery.
In an average strength of 323.65 females, the average number of women who attended at the
weekly examinations was 285.90. In 1881, the figures were 364.18 and 302.60 respectively.
Individual absentees rose from 171 in the past to 186 in the year under report, but the total
absences were less, that is 453 against 739 in 1881.

   Statistics relating to removal from the rolls of names of women and the causes for such
removal are given below for the past three years :—

  1880. 1881. 1882.
1. Total removed 108 74 134
2. Number permitted to withdraw their
names on the score of leaving the
Cantonment		 7 4 11
3. Number removed under Rule 2
of the Schedule C.		 2 8 ...
4. Number married 32 31 26
5. Do. died 8 5 6
6. Do. deserted 59 26 91
Total 108 74 134

   To show how far European soldiers were ready to point out the source of their contagion,
the usual statistics are given below ; from it will be seen that, as remarked by the Resident, it is
of no use to expect the soldier to point out the woman by whom he has been diseased :—

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Corps. Average Strength during Period
of Occpuation.		 Total Number of Admissions from
 Venereal Disease.		 Total Number of Prostitutes point-
ed out by European Soldiers.		 Found diseased. Found free from Disease. Detected by the Medical Officer at
the Weekly Examinations out of
the Number shown in Column 4
before being pointed out by Euro-
pean Soldiers.		 Actual Number pointed out by Euro-
pean Soldiers and found diseased.
Bolarum Station Hospital 683 62 ... ... ... ... ...
North do. 790 147 2 1 1 1 ...
South do. 1,875 472 81 25 56 20 5
Total ... 681 83 26 57 21 5

   The Medical Officer of the 9th Regiment, Madras Native Infantry, states that—

   " Weekly inspections for venereal disease of all men unmarried or without their families."

   " Clandestine prostitution is the cause of variations in the admissions, and the only remedy is the
compulsory registration of all women acting as prostitutes; their names not to be removed as long as
they reside in the station."