( 2 )
appears to have been 113.5. This accounts for 417 out of the total of 463, leaving
the total average of absentees only 11 per cent. ; and of these, a large proportion
may have been absent from unavoidable causes. The number of cases of wilful
neglect to attend when the women ought to have attended and were able to attend
is uncertain. Out of the 1,865 cases of non-attendance reported to the Magistrate,
many of the women may have been dead, have left the station, or have been pre-
vented by illness from attending. The number, the Civil Surgeon states, includes
" those who were reported at each successive examination as absent, until their
names were struck off, viz . a period of two months." In case of a woman dying,
therefore, her name would be returned eight times as that of an absentee. The
Magistrate refers to certain orders issued by the Deputy Surgeon-General,
Dr. Duff, some years ago, on this subject, and states that these orders do not
appear to have been attended to. On perusing the Deputy Surgeon-General's letter
No. 1026-73, dated 22nd August 1873, however, I think it may be doubted whether
an adherence to these orders would have improved matters much. The Deputy
Surgeon-General states :—
" I am of opinion that no better rule can be laid down for the guidance of
Medical Officers in charge of lock-hospitals, as to what in. future shall be considered
evading periodical examinations, than those absenting themselves ( sic) without
sufficient cause from three consecutive periodical examinations. It will, of course,
be distinctly understood that all the prostitutes under treatment in hospital shall
be considered as having virtually attended all the periodical examinations which
may have taken place during their detention in hospital. When, therefore, it is
notified. to the police authorities that such and such registered prostitutes have,
without sufficient cause, absented themselves from three consecutive examinations,
they are to be prosecuted in terms of the Act."
It would appear therefore, according to the Deputy Surgeon-General's idea,
that a woman might be absent from two consecutive examinations without any
notice being taken of her delinquency, and only on her absenting herself from a
third consecutive examination would she be entered as an absentee. The practi-
cal effect of such an order would be to introduce a system of tri-weekly, instead of
weekly, examinations ; and returns made out on such a system would shew a
much too favourable—instead of, as at present, a too unfavourable—result. The
matter does not appear to me to be one which is beset with many insuperable dif-
ficulties, and seems to be simply this :
—
Every woman on the register, who is not already in hospital, is bound to
attend the weekly examinations.
When a woman who should so attend does not do so, the lock-hospital autho-
rities should ascertain whether she is still living within the limits over
which the rules operate, and whether she is well enough to come to the
hospital.
In the event of the woman being still within such limits, and not incapacitated
from attendance, she should be reported and classed as an absentee ;
otherwise, she should not be allowed to swell the list of absentees.
For the improvement of the state of discipline, &c., in the Rangoon Lock-
hospital, the following measures have been recommended :-
1st—" That the Inspector of Police who is employed on duties connected
with the lock-hospital should be employed exclusively on such
duty.
2nd—" That he should have one 1st class constable and two 2nd class
constables to attend lock-hospital cases only.
3rd—" That the present surrounding wall be raised, so as to prevent
escapes and communication with persons outside ; and that the gate
be protected by an inner palisading to prevent communication
between the women and people outside.
4th—" That the limits within which the rules operate should be ex-
tended, so as to include some of the villages which at present
serve as refuges for diseased women."