( 7 )
ing unlicensed prostitution, with the punish ment given by the Magistrates. In each case
an order was made to have them registered :—
January
..
.. ..
Number of arrests
each month.
Punishments inflicted by Magistrates for practising
prostitution without a license.
6
Four women fined Rs. 5 each ; two discharged.
February
..
..
..
Nil.
Fined Rs. 4.
March
..
..
. .
1
5
Do. „ 5 each.
April
. .
. .
. .
8
Six discharged; two fined Rs. 25 each.
May
. .
..
. .
7
Two fined Rs. 5 each ; one fined Rs. 8 ; two fined Rs. 10
each ; one fined Rs. 25 ; one discharged.
June
. .
. .
. .
5
July
..
..
..
Two discharged ; one fined Rs. 5 ; one fined Rs. 10 ; one
fined Rs. 25:
August
..
..
. .
3
Discharged.
September ..
. .
..
1
Do.
Nil.
October
. .
..
..
Nil.
November
..
. .
. .
Nil.
December ..
..
..
I think that the medical authorities in charge of the troops might frequently be of
assistance, by ascertaining from the soldiers from whence disease was contracted, and com-
municating it to the Medical Officer in charge of the lock-hospital. In only one instance
was a registered woman reported by a soldier for communicating gonorrhœa to him, and
she, on examinination, was found to be cured. In no instances were any unregistered
women reported.
A Police Inspector should periodically visit the military hospitals, and personally ascer-
tain from those suffering from venereal where it was contracted. In many cases, I think,
women suffering from disease might in this way be detected. As a rule, women when regis-
tered reside in certain portions of the town : this should be compulsory, when it would be
more easy to detect any unregistered prostitutes. Considering the means at the disposal of
the police, a fair amount of work has been done. I pointed out last year that one Police
Inspector and two constables were totally inadequate for the work expected of them,—such
as the registration of women, searching out those practising clandestine prostitution or who
abscond from hospital, with all the other multifarious duties expected of them, as well as
be in attendance at court all day. To make matters more difficult for the Inspector, he is
a new man, and not yet acquainted with the various women.
VI.—How far the registration has been efficient, to what class it extends, and over what area.
It cannot be acknowledged that the system of registration has been perfectly efficient
in controlling disease, when it is considered how extensively it exists in Rangoon, due doubt-
less to the fact that there are numbers of women who are suffering from syphilis in its
worst forms, and who carry on clandestine prostitution protected under the plea of mar-
riage ; and when it is remembered how difficult it is to prove legally that such women are
prostitutes, it is not to be wondered at that disease exists and is propogated to a large
extent amongst unregistered women.
I have frequently noticed that almost every newly-registered woman is diseased, and
there is no doubt that many of these have been in the habit of prostituting themselves for
some time previous to their being brought on the register.
The area over which registration extends is 12 square miles, and the estimated popu-
lation 99,000 by last census in 1877.
The number registered during the year was 280, which, with 407 remaining from
1877, gives 687: deducting 242 struck off during the year, leaves 445 remaining on 31st
December 1878, as per statement below :—
Month.
R e m a i n e d .
R e g i s t e r e d d u r i n g t h e y e a r .
T o t a l .
S t r u c k o f f .
R e m a i n i n g o n t h e 3 1 s t D e c e m b e r 1 8 7 8 .
European
Native
..
..
..
..
..
..
19
388
17
263
36
651
15
227
21
424
Total
..
407
280
687
242
445