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TENASSERIM DIVISION.
From Major M. FURLONG, M.S.C., in charge of the current duties, Commissioner's Of f
ice, Tenasserim
Division, to the Officiating Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, British Burma,—No. 396-95, dated
the 23rd February 1881.
I HAVE the honour to forward the report on the operations of the lock-hospi
tals of Moulmein and Toungoo for the year 1880.
2. The Moulmein Hospital is worked under Act XIV of 1868, and is under
the superintendence of the Town Magistrate, and visited from time to time by the
Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. Registration is carried on by the
inspector of police specially appointed for the purpose under the orders of the
Town Magistrate.
3. The Toungoo Lock-hospital is worked under Act XXII of 1864. The
Officer Commanding the Royal Artillery and the Officer Commanding the 43rd
Light Infantry were appointed additional members of the Cantonment Committee
for the purpose of facilitating the working of the Contagious Diseases Act. The
Cantonment Magistrate, aided by the Superintendent of Police, attends to the
enforcement of the Act, a policeman watching over the prostitutes.
4. At Moulmein a small garrison is stationed. The average strength of the
garrison in 1880 was 327, and four cases of venereal disease occurred among the
men, against nine in the previous year. The number of admissions among the
civil population during the year of report was 514, against 425 in 1879. The
number of women on the register was 78 at the beginning and 53 at the end of
the year 24 were newly registered during the year, and 49 struck off the register ;
of these, 30 absconded, 14 had their licenses cancelled, and five, died out of
hospital.
5. At Toungoo the number of prostitutes on the register at the beginning
of the year was 15 ; 17 were registered during the year ; of this number, four
absconded and two had their licenses cancelled, leaving 26 on the register at the
close of the year.
6. Amongst the Native troops stationed at Toungoo, out of an average strength
of about 700 men, there were altogether three admissions from venereal disease,
and among the Native details, of a strength of about 300, there were only seven
admissions. Out of an average strength of 467 European troops, there were 38
admissions from venereal disease ; many of these are reported to have been con-
tracted elsewhere; There were 159 admissions among the civil population from
venereal disease ; but it is urged that the disease may have been contracted out of
the station, as patients of all descriptions are admitted, not only from British Bur
ma, but also from Upper Burma, from the Shan States, and from the Karen
hills.
7. The expenditure during the year of report of the lock-hospitals is given
below :—
Rs. A. P.
Moulmein ...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
2.508 13 9
Toungoo ...
...
. . .
...
...
1,540 2 2
The expenditure at Moulmein increased by Rs. 373-14-8, as compared with that
of 1879, and is explained as being due to the hospital assistant's pay being wholly
debited to the lock-hospital instead of, as in previous years, half of the salary only.
8. The average cost per patient at Moulmein was Rs. 40-13-9, against
Rs. 36-12-1 in 1879 ; and at Toungoo Rs. 40-13-10, against Rs. 36-9-2 in 1879.
The enhanced rate at Moulmein is attributed to the higher rate of pay of the
hospital assistant, as explained above, while the establishment remained the
same and the number of admissions decreased.
9. The attendance of the prostitutes at Moulmein is reported to have
improved during the year ; 41 women were reported for non-attendance, against
115 in 1879 ; of this number, five were found too ill to attend the examination ;
of the remaining 36, 13 were sent up for trial ; three women had made a
mistake in the date fixed for examination and were discharged ; the others were