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More facilities for conviction appear necessary, and the employment of female spies
would be attended with certain results.
The area over which the Act extends is contained within municipal limits,—about 14
square miles.
The number of women on the register at the end of 1876 was 15, .22 were added during
the year, 15 absconded or removed their names from the register, and 22 remained.
The year, as far as numbers is concerned, has been a great improvement on previous
ones.
The average number of prostitutes on the register (viz., 23 .7) shews an increase of 10.3
over the past year.
This, however, is not the correct figure for comparison with the previous year. Dur
ing this year women were not struck off the list until two months had passed from date
of absconding as per order of Inspector-General of Hospitals. In a few cases, owing to delay
in the Magistrate's Office, a longer date elapsed. For comparison with the previous year
(when women absconding were at once struck off), the number on the register was 18.1,
sheaving a corrected increase of 4.7.
VII. What registration fees or payments of any kind are levied on prostitution in Bassein.
No fees nor fines appear to have been levied.
VIII.—Whether the women have been regular at the periodical examinations ; any remarks as to the
cause of irregularity, the number of individual women reported for non-attendance, the fines and other
punishments awarded, and the amounts realized.
The average number of prostitutes attending the periodical examinations (viz., 16.4)
shews a considerable improvement on the previous year, when only an average of 10 .4 was
registered. In 1874, the average attendance was seven.
Twenty-three reports for non-attendance were made. The number of individual
women reported was 21 : two, therefore, were reported twice. The number failing to attend
shews a great increase on the previous year. This, however, was due almost invariably
to the women transferring themselves to Rangoon. I am of opinion that intimation should
be furnished to the Rangoon authorities in these cases.
Some trouble has been experienced during the year with the women in hospital : this
has been due to the defective construction of the building. Three women escaped twice. On
one occasion the doors of the ward were pulled open at night : the doors had warped, and the
bolts of the locks did not hold; iron bar bolts are now provided with. Chubbs' padlocks. One
woman eseaped from the punishment-room, getting between the wall-plates and roof. The
space has been boarded up. The other escapes were over the railing. A new plan is now
adopted with the prostitutes : on admission, they are told that trust will be placed in them,
but, if they once escape over the railings, they will be put in the punishment-room, there to
remain until cured. With this plan, a repetition of the present year's escapes is not likely
to occur.
The statement accompanying shews the punishments awarded.
IX.—The arrangements for examining and treating the women of the town.
The internal arrangements of the hospital, as regards furnishing, &c., are satisfactory.
The periodical examinations have been held fortnightly, and have on each occasion been
conducted by the Superintendent in person. Twenty-five complete examinations were held
during the year,—two in each month, except in July, when three occurred.
X.—How far disease has increased or decreased amongst the women ; to what extent it has become less
virulent; its nature as compared with that amongst the men ; is there any relation between the two ?
how far the admissions amongst the women are due to non-venereal affections or to detention of
the women during the monthly period.
Twenty-three admissions are shewn during the year, as against 31 admissions in 1876
and 27 in 1875.
As regards syphilis, two admissions were made,—both cases of soft chancre. Admissions
for gonorrhoea shew a considerable decrease,—six, as against 14 in the previous year. Ulcers of
cervix figures as the most prevalent disease of the year. In my last report I made the
remark that such cases were of doubtful venereal character, and was considered to have
admitted cases of improper character into the lock hospital.
In a prostitute, any ulceration or any discharge may cause disease in the male, and
I think that no medical man will be prepared, in the case of a woman of ill fame, to stake his
reputation as to the specific or other character of such complaint.
I have had experience during the year that these diseases were, in the case of respect-
able persons, capable of causing a considerable amount of inconvenience in the male.
There is no very particular relation between the diseases of the men and those of
the women. This is due to the complaints of the men having mostly been contracted
elsewhere.
Women are not detained in hospital during the menstrual period.