IP/30/HG. 4

SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

WORKING OF THE LOCK HOSPITALS

IN THE

NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCES AND OUDH,

For the year 1879.

PRELIMINARY NOTE.

                  THIS report commences with the usual summary of the results and remarks,
recorded in the annual papers submitted to Government, by the local authorities con-
cerned with the management and improvement of the Lock Hospital scheme, paras. 1
to 101.

         The hospitals here, and in the returns accompanying this report, being ranged
in order of importance as regards the number of women controlled.

         Following the concise summaries of locally recorded results and opinions of the
year, the report will continue with such remarks, recommendations, or expressions of
opinion, as a full acquaintance with the subject and close study of its official records
for a period of six years, seem to warrant.

         These remarks being specially directed towards elucidating the exact working of
the system as it now exists, and pointing the way to better future results, paras. 102
to 115.

         And the report will conclude with a record of the points of the local records
calling for the especial attention of Government, para. 116.

(1).—ALLAHABAD.

         1. During the year 1879 a monthly average of 171 women remained on the
register against 137 in 1878.

         2.The results of the management have been fairly satisfactory. The ratios of
admissions to hospital for venereal disease amongst the European garrison, for the
six years 1874-79, have been 290, 244, 177, 185, 354 and 241 per 1,000 of strength
respectively.

         3. The Medical Officer reports that the lock hospital accommodation at Allahabad
still remains insufficient. The average daily number of patients during the year 1879
has been 34, whereas the existing accommodation is for from 18 to 20 only.

         There has been a satisfactory decrease of disease amongst the soldiers in 1879.
This decrease was due to the satisfactory results recorded during the last five months of the year.

         This satisfactory record resulted from the action of the Cantonment Magistrate,
who offered a reward out of his own pocket for the arrest of the unregistered women
who were believed to have been the cause of the excessive disease of the first two
months of the year. Asa result a number of such women were arrested, and, on
examination, nearly all were found diseased. The Magistrate of the district, however,
did not consider it advisable to continue this system of rewards, and then very few
arrests were made.

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