35
LOCK HOSPITALS, MADRAS PRESIDENCY.
large number of women have been prevented from carrying on their trade by being admitted to
hospital when diseased, and who would otherwise have spread disease in all directions.
Of the registered women I have estimated that at least two-thirds of them have suffered
from secondary syphilis at same period of their existence, and I believe about one-half of these
have been so affected as to be never safe, that is to say, any discharge or abrasion is sufficient
in them to communicate the disease to others. I always look upon these women with suspicion
and admit them to hospital for the slightest discharge or abrasion.
The class of prostitutes to which registration extends includes the very lowest kinds of
women of all classes, namely, Burmese, Natives of India, and Europeans, the latter chiefly being
Germans or Russians. There is only one Eurasian on the list, a remarkable fact considering
the size of Rangoon. I have reason to believe that there are many women in Rangoon of a
higher class than those usually registered, who ought to be licensed as prostitutes, and who spread
disease on a much larger scale even than their sisters on the register.
Whether Registration Fees have been levied, and at what rate. —Each woman pays a monthly
fee of 1 Rupee except when in hospital. The total sum received from prostitutes was Rupees
4,630-4-0, namely, 3,969-8-0 on account of fees, and Rupees 660-12-0 fines.
Whether the women have been regular at the periodical examinations.—The periodical examin-
ations during the early part of the year were held twice a month ; since July they have been
held four times owing to a recommendation made by the Deputy Surgeon-General and sanctioned
by the Chief Commissioner.
During the year there have been 35 examinations, the average attendance at each being 65
per cent. of prostitutes on the register. From those absent must be deducted 24 per cent. sick
in hospital, leaving about 11 per cent. actual absentees, a great improvement on last year and
less than almost any other lock hospital in the province.
What are the arrangements for examining and treating the women of the Town and Canton-
ment.—The women are examined personally by the Medical Officer, and when affected with
venereal are admitted to hospital. During the early part of the year it was found that prostitutes
frequently excused themselves from being examined on the score of being unfit owing to
menstruation : this practice was put a stop to by detaining in hospital women till they were fit to
be examined. When the number of in-patients increased so largely it had to be stopped, after
which any women who pleaded the excuse of unfitness and were subsequently discovered to be
ill were punished at the discretion of the Medical Officer. There were 736 women found
diseased at the periodical examinations and admitted to hospital.
There have been 941 admissions during the year, which, with 69 remained from 1877, gives
a total of 1,010 patients treated in hospital. The daily average number of sick, 112.15, being
somewhat more-than last year. I may here observe that these 941 admissions include not only
those admitted at the periodical examinations, 736 in number, but also 205 admitted at other
periods. The Deputy Surgeon-General in his remarks on last year's report commented on the
numbers admitted at the periodical examination not coinciding with the total number of admis-
sions ; in a large hospital like the Rangoon Lock Hospital, such is not the case, as many women
are admitted at other times.
How far disease has increased among the women; to what extent it has become less virulent, its
nature as compared with that among the men. —It will be observed that the number of
admissions to the Lock Hospital during the last two years are nearly double what they were in
any preceding year. I do not, however, consider that syphilis has increased in a proportionate
manner in the town; on the contrary, I very much doubt if it has not decreased in proportion to
the increase of population.
That syphilis should be more prevalent in Rangoon than other places in India cannot be
wondered at. Rangoon is a rapidly increasing town, where the laboring classes of all kinds
rapidly make money. These classes are for the most part foreigners (chiefly Madrasees), the
Burmese being too idle and independent to compete with them. None of these imported
laborers are equivalent to the same classes in India. They are for the most part those who
cannot get their living there. It is also the same with prostitutes : all those who come to
Rangoon are of the very lowest classes, so saturated with disease that they find a difficulty
in obtaining a living in India and seek for one in foreign climes. Rangoon offering better
facilities for Madrasees than any other place, it is here where they flock. I have noticed that
quite 75 per cent. of new arrivals are diseased, many of them incurably so : in hospital there are
women who have been in-patients since their arrival in Rangoon, and there are many more who
ought to be so ; but on account of the insufficiency of space they are discharged so soon as they
get in the slightest degree better. I think it may be considered as satisfactory that venereal
has hot increased amongst the European soldiers proportionate with the increase in the number
of prostitutes.
How far Dhaies have been employed, and with what success. —Dhaies have not been employed.
Concluding remarks and suggestions.— The Chief Commissioner has sanctioned the deporta-
tion of 41 incurables to their own countries at Government expense on the recommendation