MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.

7

EXTRACTS

FROM THE

ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE MILITARY LOCK HOSPITALS,
FOR THE YEAR 1889.

Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Bangalore,
by Surgeon D. S. E. BAIN.

     Women are examined and treated whenever they come to hospital of their own accord.

     Under the new system it is impossible to state how far disease has increased or decreased
among the women, but with the Act in force for the first twenty-three weeks in 1888 there
were only 5 women admitted for primary syphilis, whereas 8 were treated in 1889 of their own
free will, and these were the worst cases of the disease I have ever seen, the women having
gone on as long as they possibly could without treatment.

     The voluntary system has now had a fair trial with disastrous results, not only for the
British troops, but also for the women themselves, for whereas under the Act the latter came
quickly under treatment, they now come only as a last resort and require prolonged treatment.

     If venereal diseases are to be controlled at all, the Act must be re-introduced .

     Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Bellary,
                                 by Surgeon-Major T. C. H. SPENCER.

     Under the present arrangement the hospital is kept open for the treatment of any woman
voluntarily attending.

     There are no statistics to show how far the women are diseased, but those attending suffer
from a chronic and severe type of the disease.

     The ratio of admissions amongst the British troops for venereal diseases was 396.22 against
185.40 last year, showing an increase of more than double.

     This result is due to the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act, and is in accordance with
what was anticipated by Surgeon Reckitt, M.S., in last year's report.

    Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Cannanore,
                                           by Surgeon C. QUARRY.

     The attendance at the periodical examinations fell off quickly when the women understood
the compulsory system was abolished.

     No rules were in existence in consequence of the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act.

     Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at Wellington,
                                             by Surgeon H. H. BROWN.

       Attendance at the hospital is optional.

       It is not known how far disease has increased or decreased among the women owing to
the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act.

     The Contagious Diseases Act should be rigorously enforced.

     Extracts from the Annual Medical Report of the Lock Hospital at St. Thomas'
                                     Mount, by Surgeon T. B. A. TUCKEY.

      Attendance of the prostitutes for examination has not been compulsory, and they do not
come to hospital. No measures of control are available.

      Ten cases presented themselves for treatment.