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they have not been carried out. The appointment of a Resident Apothecary is
much needed to assist the Medical Officer in the examination of cases, &c.
As regards the detective agency, Dr. Dundas reports that the Inspector
of Police is not exclusively employed on lock-hospital duties : he has to look after
police cases at the general hospital, to attend court all day, and besides to attend
to other duties. Only two constables were employed during the year to assist the
Inspector, although the Chief Commissioner sanctioned one 1st class and two
2nd class constables. .
Last year the Chief Commissioner sanctioned that the incurable women who
were a burden to the hospital should be sent back to their native country at Gov-
ernment expense. The women were, it appears, unwilling to leave Rangoon, and
so no further steps were taken in the matter.
From the Officiating Deputy Commissioner, Rangoon Town District, to the Commissioner of the Pegu Divi
sion,—No. 10-5, dated the 29th January 1880.
I HAVE the honour to forward the Junior Civil Surgeon's report on the lock-
hospital for the past year. Before submitting it to you I gave the Superintendent
of Police an opportunity of remarking thereon, and the following is what he has
said on the subject :—
1st.—I fully concur with him (the Junior Civil Surgeon) that the peons working under the Lock-hos-
pital Inspector should be increased from two to five.
2nd.—The Junior Civil Surgeon is probably not aware that Mr. Thurgood must under any circumstances
attend court for a short time every day. I consider Mr. Thurgood can very well attend the Junior Civil
Surgeon at the general as well as the lock-hospital. It simplifies matters materially to have one Police
Officer as a medium of communication in police medical cases.
3rd.—I am much gratified to find the Junior Civil Surgeon praises Mr. Thurgood's work. His opinion
of that officer I fully share.
2. I quite concur with what the Civil Surgeon says in para. 1. The hospi-
tal is decidedly crowded, and during my visits I have noticed that the place is
kept wholesome by causing the patients to vacate the wards early in the morning,
as the space in the wards being so insufficient the air becomes very impure during
the night.
3. With reference to para. IV., I would observe that the correspondence in
this office during the time that Mr. McIver was Magistrate shows that the Magis-
trate's responsibility for the working of the rules was much interfered with, and
that the Deputy Surgeon-General, Indian Medical Department, became almost
entirely in control of the institution. As an official visitor, the Magistrate exer-
cises certain supervision, and aids the medical authorities as much as possible in
police arrangements.
4. The remarks in para. VI. I do not think show that there has been any
want of vigilance on the part of the police ; for it is only fair to assume that while
the total number of prostitutes so far exceeds the number in former years, the
new arrivals have been not so numerous as formerly.
5. Regarding the remarks in para. VIII., on the subject of certain women
having been illegally detained in hospital, there was no reference made to this
office, and it is presumed that the Chief Commissioner's orders must have come
to the Civil Surgeon through the Deputy Surgeon-General.
6. A reference to the correspondence noted in the margin will show that
the subject of the incurables
alluded to was considered.
7. In conclusion, I would
remark that the matters found
fault with by the Junior Civil
Surgeon have been dealt with
in the special report submitted
to you on the 10th October 1578. It is to be regretted that the services of the
Apothecary sanctioned two years ago have not yet been given to the hospital.
Letter No. 3524-695, dated 20th December 1878, from Junior
Secretary to Commissioner of Pegu.
Letter No. 203-2, dated 23rd December 1878, from Commis-
sioner of Pegu to Town Magistrate.
Letter No. 1, dated 2nd January 1879, from Junior Civil Sur-
geon to Town Magistrate.
Letter No. 3-2, dated 7th January 1879, from Town Magis-
trate to Commissioner of Pegu.