Lock hospital

A Lock Hospital was a hospital that specialised in treating sexually transmitted diseases. They operated in Britain and its colonies and territories from the 18th century to the 20th. The military had a close association with a number of the hospitals. By the mid 19th century most of the larger army bases in India were home to a lock hospital. There were more military than civil lock hospitals in India, due to the prevalence of venereal diseases amongst British troops. In 1858 the Admiralty paid to have one opened in Portsmouth and in 1863 another in Plymouth.