6                                           ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

strength of 508.11 compared with 375.85 for the previous year. Of these, 22.20
per cent. were for primary syphilis against 23.49 in 1888.

     14.   St. Thomas' Mount.―The total admissions for venereal diseases among
British Troops at the Mount were 176 against 126 for 1888, giving a ratio per
mile of strength of 558.73 compared with 453.23 for the previous year. Of these,
13.63 per cent. were for primary syphilis against 15.07 for 1888.

     15.   Wellington.―The total admissions for venereal diseases among British
Troops were 463 against 222 for the previous year, giving a ratio of 486.85 com-
pared with 296.39 for 1888, and of these, 10.15 per cent. were for primary syphilis
against 8.55 in 1888.

     16.   General Remarks.―The following is a tabular statement of the figures
given in the preceding seven paragraphs :―

Stations. 1888. 1889. Remarks.
Total admissions
 for venereal
 disease.		 Ratio per mile
 of strength.		 Percentage of
 primary sy-
philis.		 Total admissions
 for venereal
 disease.		 Ratio per mille
 of strength.		 Percentage of
 primary sy-
philis.
Bangalore     681 308.14 28.78 697 361.14 46.05 Venereal increased ; primary syphilis increased 17.27 per cent.
Bellary     177 220.69 24.29 279 402.59 58.78 Venereal increased ; primary syphilis increased 34.49 per cent.
Belgaum     515 447.82 32.81 558 489.04 40.50 Venereal increased ; primary syphilis increased 7.69 per cent.
Cannanore     46 460.00 2.17 21 210.00 ... Venereal decreased ; primary syphilis decreased 2.17 per cent.
Secunderabad     1,043 375.85 23.49 1,315 508.11 22.20 Venereal increased ; primary syphilis decreased 1.29 per cent.
St. Thomas' Mount   126 453.23 15.07 176 558.73 13.63 Venereal increased ; primary syphilis decreased 1.44 per cent.
Wellington     222 296.39 8.55 463 486.85 10.15 Venereal increased ; primary syphilis increased 1.60 per cent.

     It is apparent from this table and the foregoing remarks that there has been
an enormous increase of venereal disease at every station with the exception of
Cannanore, the garrison of which is very small. This increase has, as before
observed, been particularly marked in cases of primary syphilis, and dates from
the time when compulsion ceased at these stations. It is idle to hope that venereal
diseases, which have so grave and far reaching effects as far as the British soldier
in India is concerned, can be held in check without the re-introduction of the
Contagious Diseases Act or some satisfactory modification of it The maintaining
of lock hospitals on the present "voluntary" system is expensive without pro-
ducing any adequate return. As a rule, only those seek admission whose condition
is one of extreme disease and absolutely precludes them from carrying on their
occupation.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

J. A. HANBURY, M. B.,
Surgeon-General, Her Majesty's Forces.