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VIII.—Whether the women have been regular at the periodical examination, &c., &c.
The attendance at the periodical examinations has been fairly satisfactory.
The total number of examinations has been 51, and the mean number of
prostitutes on the register during the year 496.3. At each of the examinations
there has been an average attendance of 323.1 ; out of these 21.7 on an average
were found diseased and detained in hospital and 29.86 escaped examina-
tions on the score of unfitness. The average number of absentees was 40.33.
The total number during the year reported to the Magistrate was 2,057; of these,
some, such as those who absconded, were absent from each succeeding examination
till their names were struck off, a period of two months, while others had leave
of absence from the Magistrate. Making these deductions, the total number of
absentees was 400, and these were disposed of by the Magistrate in the following
manner :—
Deserted...
...
. . .
. . .
... 188
Excused on the score of sickness
. . .
...
... 79
Sent to jail on hard labour
...
. . .
...
... 21
Fined ...
...
. . .
...
. . . 99
Cautioned
...
...
...
...
. . . 13
Total
... 400
Through fear of being detained in hospital, the women adopt any imaginable
excuse to avoid examination if diseased, such as sickness, having their menstrual
period, &c. Finding that such excuses are of little use, they have rented a house
close to the lock-hospital, where they congregate before the hour for the weekly
examination, and go through a process of syringing to remove all discharges for
the time being, and applying various medicines to hide sores, endeavouring thus
to escape being detained in hospital, and no doubt sometimes with success,
especially in cases of chronic discharges without inflammation.
IX.—The Arrangements for examining and treating the women of the city and cantonment.
All are treated and examined at the lock-hospital, the position of which is
convenient as regards the prostitutes. The medical officer has been present at
nearly all the examinations, and on the few occasions when unavoidably absent, the
apothecary, Mr. Fonseca has conducted them. Mr. Fonseca, with two hospital
assistants and two matrons, also assist. Mr. Fonseca and the two hospital assist-
ants see after the carrying out of the treatment of the in-door patients, bringing
special cases to the notice of the medical officer, who visits every day and examines
all cases before they are discharged.
X.—How far disease has increased or decreased among the women ; to what extent it has become less
virulent, &c., &c.
The following table will show the number of admissions under the various
heads for each month of the year :—
Months.
P r i m a r y s y p h i l i s .
S e c o n d a r y s y p h i l i s .
G o n o r r h œ a .
L e u c o r r h œ a .
B u b o .
U l c e r s a n d a b r a s i o n s o f o s u t e r i .
O t h e r v e n e r a l d i s e a s e s .
T o t a l .
January
. . .
...
56
16
7
. . .
...
6
3
88
February
. . .
...
17
26
4
...
1
6
2
56
March ...
. . . . .
. . .
53
14
3
7
...
5
2
84
April ...
. . .
. . .
46
12
3
8
1
6
3
79
May ...
. . .
...
43
22
6
13
. . .
2
. . .
86
June ...
. . .
. . .
34
13
11
10
2
8
5
83
July ...
. . .
. . .
60
23
6
8
...
5
3
105
A u g u s t
. . .
...
39
12
20
41
1
7
2
122
September
. .
...
19
21
32
30
. . .
6
1
109
October
. . .
...
39
9
17
20
...
3
. . .
88
November
. . .
. .
40
10
23
33
. . .
6
2
114
December
. . .
...
25
13
26
40
...
7
4
115
Total
...
471
191
158
210
5
67
27
1,129