The second is the removal of the idleness which curses our soldiery in an army of occupation.
The first indispensable condition in the prevention of disease is the steady discouragement of promiscuous intercourse.
Now, I assert positively that such discouragement has never been seriously and steadily tried in the army by Government, but only by unofficial efforts—efforts which are most valuable, but which are entirely lacking in the force of organization and in the important recognition and help which Government alone can afford.
In the ‘Memorandum of the Army Sanitary Commission,’ No. 2, published this year, on the first page appears the following noteworthy statement—so utterly misleading as to amount to virtual falsehood:
‘The efforts to teach the soldiers habits of self-control having so signally failed, those responsible for the maintenance of the efficiency of the army in India may well be excused if they look about for some effective means of arresting the progress of the disease and preserving their battalions fit for service.’
Now, what are the Government efforts here referred to which are said to have failed?
In examining the circulars issued from the Quartermaster-General’s Department from 1870 to 1884 for the adoption of stringent measures ‘to reduce the chances of venereal disease,’ it is found that the recommendation consists in instructing the soldiers how to cleanse themselves after dangerous sexual indulgence! No circular is issued from the Quartermaster’s Department requiring that the soldier shall be taught how to control his ignorant instincts and honouring such control (that is left to scattered individual effort), but official instruction is confined to the vain endeavour of teaching him how to satisfy lust without extreme risk! Surely this is adding hypocrisy to culpable disregard of the national welfare.
It is encouragement to continence which the young soldier needs; and remember that numbers of these soldiers are enlisted between eighteen and twenty-five years of age—an age when every physician knows that the male organization is being consolidated, and when continence is invaluable in helping the physical forces to build up a fine strong manhood. Encouragement to self-control, therefore, must be afforded from the soldier’s first introduction to Her Majesty’s service.
It must begin with the recruiting sergeants, who should be moral men, and understand that continence in the soldiers will be regarded with the highest honour, as preservative of physical efficiency and moral bravery.
The inspectors of recruits, and especially the medical staff, must give the important instructions needed by soldiers of how to restrain their passions.