Progs. No. 263-2.
From the Commissioner of the Tenasserim Division to the Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, British
Burma,—No. 200-128, dated the 12th February 1879.
I HAVE the honour to forward the reports on the lock-hospitals at Moulmein
and Toungoo, the only institutions in this division, for the year 1878. The for
mer is worked under Act XIV. of 1868, and the latter under Act XXII. of 1864.
2. The hospital at Moulmein is supervised by the Town Magistrate, and
visited from time to time by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. The
registration is carried out by an Inspector of Police specially appointed to the
lock-hospital under the orders of the Town Magistrate. At Toungoo there is no
Sub-Committee to superintend the administration of the Act, but the Canton
ment Magistrate and Civil Surgeon practically act in that capacity. A native
Police Sergeant watches over the prostitutes.
3. There has been no change in the accommodation provided during the
year of report. The accommodation has apparently been found ample.
4. The situation of the Moulmein Hospital is objectionable, and has been
commented on in last year's report.
5. There were 59 admissions amongst the European troops stationed at
Toungoo during the year of report. Of this number, it is remarked that 11 men
contracted the disease at Rangoon and six at Shwe-gyeen. The comparative
immunity of the Native troops from venereal affections noticed in the report is a
matter for congratulation, there being only two admissions in the year of
report.
6. Amongst the civil population, the admissions increased from 167 in 1877
to 226 in 1878 ; and this increase is accounted for by the importation of the
disease from Upper Burma and the Shan States.
7. A wing and head-quarters of the 33rd Regiment M. N. I. has been
stationed at Moulmein during the year of report, amongst whom there were only
two admissions.
8. The number of admissions amongst the civil population in Moulmein
for the past five years is given :—
1874
...
...
. . .
. . .
159
1875
. . . . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
191
1876
. . . . . .
...
...
214
1877
. . . . . .
. . .
...
. . .
...
292
1878 ...
. . .
...
...
...
...
295
shewing an increase of three cases in the year of report compared with 1877.
9. The number of prostitutes on the register during the year of report in
each of the two stations is given below :—
Toungoo
. . .
...
...
...
...
15
Moulmein
...
...
...
...
...
54
10. The number on the register in Moulmein at the beginning of the year
1878 was 49, 38 were newly registered during the year, and 33 struck off, leaving
54 on the register at the close of the year of report. The Civil Surgeon remarks
that this can scarcely be regarded as representing the number practising prosti-
tution, and much undiscovered prostitution it is feared exists.
11. At Toungoo, there were 16 remaining on 1st January 1878, and seven
were registered during the year, making a total of 23, from which has to be deducted
two absconded and six removed from the register, leaving 15 on the register at the
close of 1878.
12. At Toungoo, five women were punished for breaches of the rules, with
imprisonment, in the year of report ; and at Moulmein, 15 women were brought
before the Town Magistrate, of whom two were fined, four imprisoned, and nine
acquitted.
13. Registration fees are not exacted at either Toungoo or Moulmein. The
institutions are therefore not self-supporting. Rupees 10 only were realized as
fines at Moulmein, and credited to the funds of the institution.
14. The expenditure during 1878 of the lock-hospital at Moulmein
amounted to Rs. 2,133-7-9, leaving Rs. 136-10-9 less than in 1877 ; and at