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wooden building, raised about five feet from the ground, and faces south and north ; is
43 . 6 feet long and 32 feet broad, and is partitioned into a central ward, 26 by 16 feet ; a sur-
gery,16 by 9; an examination-room, 16 by 9; and on the north side, a matron's room, 18 by 7.6
feet, and a bath-room, 9 by 7 . 6 feet—these two latter are enclosed verandah spaces. In front is
a railed verandah, 43 . 6 by 7 . 6 feet, and from which juts out a porch; there is also a verandah
behind, 17 by 7 . 6 feet. The roof is shingled, but not ceiled. The accommodation afforded
is for six patients, allowing 68 superficial feet to each. The latrine is a small wooden
building (like a sentry-box) on wheels, and is placed at the north-west angle of the enclosure.
The hospital is enclosed by a high wooden-battened railing, is provided with one
entrance, from the Civil Dispensary enclosure. The site of this building has also been
pronounced objectionable, on the ground of its proximity to the pagoda, and its conspi-
cuous position courting observation ; the Deputy Surgeon-General does not, however, con-
cur in this. The Railway Department have been solicited to take over the building, and
to erect a similar one on a site to be chosen, if the terms are acceded to ; the ventilation
is by doors, windows, and a small ridge ventilator—the two former being apportioned as
below ; central ward, three doors to the south, and one to the north; examination-room,
one door to the south and one on the north, opening into the bath-room, and two windows to
the east ; surgery, one door to the south and two windows to the west ; matron's room,
one door to the west, opening into the back verandah, and two windows—one on the north,
and the other on the west ; bath-room, two doors—one on the west, opening into the back
verandah, and one on the south, communicating with the examination-room, and one
window on east side.
The drainage is effected by one artificial drain around the building, carrying the
water to the lower level on the east ; but as this latter is now being filled by the Rail-
way Department for their own buildings, it will become absolutely necessary to raise the
level of the enclosure, if the building is to be retained for its present purposes.
Water for all purposes is obtained from the river, is plentiful and good, except during
the freshes, when it contains a large proportion of silt, easily removable by subsidation
and subsequent filtration.
The conservancy of the building is carefully attended to. The latrine is provided
with a wooden seat and a glazed pan—the latter is removed twice a day : dry-earth con-
servancy is observed. There is no cess-pool.
The registration of prostitutes was formerly carried out by the Deputy Commissioner,
but this duty has devolved on the Medical Officer during the year.
On the 31st December 1874, there were twenty-five prostitutes on the register, and
twenty women were registered, during 1875, in the following months :—
May ..
. .
2
June ..
3
July ..
3
August
1
September
3
October
5
November
3
Total
20
making a total of forty-five. Of these, twenty were removed from all causes, leaving
twenty-five remaining at the close of the year.
Thirty women have been brought to the notice of the Magistrate for breaches of the
rules, but only six were apprehended, and of these five were punished by short terms of
imprisonment, and one reprimanded. The immunity from apprehension of these defaulters
has evidently tended to stimulate others also to transgress the rules.
Owing to the increase of venereal diseases amongst the patients attending the Civil
Dispensary, representations were made, on five occasions, to the effect that private pros-
titution existed to a considerable extent in the town. This was the more noticeable, as, at
the time. the registered women enjoyed a comparitive immunity from disease ; these
representations resulted in the apprehension of only three (two of whom through the
agency employed by the Civil Surgeon), all of whom, on examination, were found to be
diseased, thereby proving the truthfulness of the assertion made above ; two of these were
punished with short terms of imprisonment, the third being released.
By information received from the Deputy Commissioner's Office (to which Officer all
applications are made for resigning their licenses), two women were permitted to resign ;
but this fact not having been communicated to the Civil Surgeon, they were reported,
and are included in the number given above ; these two have been on the register since
the Act has been in force in this station, and it is most improbable to suppose that they
could have resigned their licenses with a view to reforming their lives, when the fact is
known that they are notorious opium-smokers. The total number who resigned was three—
the two above alluded to, and one who left the station for Upper Burma. Private prosti-
tution is, it is to be regretted, persistently carried on to a very great extent in the town,
and it is evident that to this cause may be attributed the increase in venereal disease,