( 26 )
Years.
Total registered
number.
Average number
on register.
Cases of disease.
1877
..
..
..
..
..
53
24.9
50
1878
. .
..
..
..
..
46
24.8
67
1879
. .
..
..
..
..
44
23.6
50
Thus the prevalence of of disease among the women has not undergone much
variation during the last three years, the proportion being less last year than in
1878, but a trifle higher than in 1877.
The year 1877 however was an unusually favourable one in this particular,
so that the year of review has also been, but in a smaller degree, a favourable
period. It is a feature worthy of notice that the type of venereal disease among
the women in Thayetmyo is a mild one. Among men it is not easy to obtain
very accurate information on this point at all times, but an excellent opportunity
for contrasting the degree of severity of the disease in Thayetmyo to other places
is afforded when troops are transferred here from other stations. The severity of
venereal disease may in a practical way be estimated by the relative number of
re-admissions that it produces, the majority of which do not take place until some
considerable time has elapsed from the acquisition of the primary disease.
A reference to the table in para. 3 of this report will show that the 43rd Regi-
ment, which arrived here in March last from Madras, had 14 re-admissions in
nine months, whereas the 44th Regiment, which was stationed in Thayetmyo for
the entire year, re-admitted only six men ; and further the Medical Officer in charge
of the 43rd Regiment writes :—" I have had no case of secondary syphilis follow--
" ing the primary disease contracted at this station, so that it is of a mild nature."
The relative prevalence of contagious venereal disease among the European troops
i n g a r r i s o n , t h e c i v i l a n d c r i mi n a l p o p u l a t i o n ( a s f a r a s i t c a n b e a s c e r t a i n e d b y
the cases Aich have been treated in the civil dispensary and the jail), and the
registered prostitutes is shown in the following short table for the last three
years :—
1877.
1878.
1879.
Number. Diseases. Number. Diseases. Number. -Diseases.
Total number of prostitutes registered
. .
53
50
46
67
44
50
Patients at the dispensary and jail hospital :
total sick
..
.. ..
2,743
58
* 3,000
78
3,186
91
European troops in garrison : average strength
559
64
621
48
1,480
117
* This is approximate only.
The figures give certainly some information, but it would perhaps be fallacious
to base decided opinions upon them,
No women are received into the lock-hospital for non-venereal affections, nor
are the registered prostitutes detained during menstruation.
XI.—How far Dhaies employed and with what results.
No dhaies are employed or any other special agencies.
XII.—Any information on other matters, or suggestions for improvement of the, rules.
I have no suggestions to give for improving the present rules, which I think,
if only more strictly enforced, would lead to the achievement of even better results ;
nor has Dr. Pont, the Senior British Medical Officer at this station, who writes
in regard to the rules :—" They seem to work very well. The 43rd has only had
" about 37 admissions for venereal here, against about 200. in Madras,"