8

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

a ratio of 453.23 per mille of strength in 1888 compared with 286.68 for the
previous year. Of these, 15.07 per cent. were primary syphilis against 5.95 for
1887.

   19. Wellington.—The total admissions for venereal disease among British
troops at Wellington in 1888 were 222 against 263 for 1887, giving a ratio of
296.39 per mille of strength in 1888 compared with 364.26 for the previous year.
Of these, 8.55 per cent. were primary syphilis against 28.13 for 1887.

   20. General Remarks.—The figures given in the eight preceding paragraphs
may be tabulated thus :—

Stations. 1887. 1888. Remarks.
Total admissions
for venereal
disease.		 Ratio per mille
of strength.		 Percentage of
primary sy-
philis.		 Total admissions
for veneral
disease.		 Ratio per mille
of Strength.		 Percentage of
primary sy-
philis.
Bangalore 532 257.50 34.58 681 308.14 28.78 Venereal increased ; primary sy-
philis decreased 5.80 per cent.
Bellary 416 448.75 34.85 177 220.69 24.29 Venereal decreased; primary sy-
philis decreased 10.56 per cent.
Belgaum 388 492.38 5.15 515 447.82 32.81 Venereal increased ; primary sy-
philis increased 27.66 per cent.
Cannanore 44 283.87 2.27 46 460.00 2.17 Venereal increased ; primary sy-
philis decreased 0.10 per cent.
Kamptee 459 522.18 1.31 352 446.70 7.10 Venereal decreased ; primary sy-
philis increased 5.79 per cent.
Secunderabad 870 305.69 14.14 1,043 375.85 23.49 Venereal increased ; primary sy-
philis increased 9.35 per cent.
St. Thomas' Mount 84 286.68 5.95 126 453.23 15.07 Venereal increased ; primary sy-
philis increased 9.12 per cent.
Wellington 263 364.26 28.13 222 296.39 8.55 Venereal decreased ; primary sy-
philis decreased 19.58 per cent.

   The decrease in admissions for general venereal disease at Bellary is remarkable.
It appears to be due to local accidental circumstance and not an effect of lock
hospital administration. The Medical officer in charge of the Station Hospital,
on being asked for his views of the cause of this decrease, writes as follows :—

   " I have the honor to submit the following particulars, which are all I have been able
to gather from available sources :—

   " (a) In 1887 the average strength of the British troops in Bellary was 927, whereas the
average strength for 1888 was only 802. This difference is mainly due to the withdrawal of
one battery of Field Artillery which proceeded to England on the 6th October 1888.

   " (b) The number of registered first-class prostitutes in both years was exactly the same,
and taking into consideration the difference in the strength of the troops above quoted, the
probability of a higher rate of admission for venereal diseases in 1887 is easily conceivable.

   " (c) In March 1888 the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, a regiment new to India,
replaced the Bedfordshire Regiment which had been some years in India, and on comparing the
admissions for venereal diseases from each regiment during corresponding months in each year,
a remarkable contrast is at once seen. Subjoined is shown, in tabular form, the admissions of
both regiments for the months of May, June, and July, with the average strength for those
months :—

Months. Admissions. Average strength.
Bedfordshire
Regiment.		 1st D.C.L.I. Bedfordshire
Regiment.		 1st D.C.L.I.
May 40 6 532 419
June 21 7 525 418
July 25 4 522 418

   " (d) The prevalence of primary syphilis and of gonorrhœa among the prostitutes for the
years under reference, as shown by the admissions to the lock hospital, is in a ratio very
nearly proportional to that of the men admitted under similar circumstances. In 1887 there
were in all 62 admissions into the lock hospital for primary syphilis, whereas in 1888 there
were only 22. In the station hospital the numbers were 145 and 43. The number of admis-
sions into both hospitals for gonorrhœa bears a still closer proportion.

   " In the lock hospital the numbers were 332 in 1887 and 213 in 1888.