(41)
The following table will shew the extent to which registration has been carried out :—
Remained on 31st December 1876
..
. .
..
8
Registered during 1877 as follows :—
February
..
..
. .
..
. .
1
April
..
..
. .
. .
..
1.
June
..
..
. .
..
..
3
August
..
. .
. .
. .
..
2
September
..
..
..
..
..
1
October
. .
..
. .
. .
..
6
November
..
..
..
..
..
1
December
. .
..
..
..
..
2
Total ..
17
making a total of 25. Of these, nine were removed from all causes, leaving 16 on the
register at the close of the year, shewing an increase in the number as compared with the
previous year of eight. The average number for the whole year shews an increase of one
over the previous year.
VII.—What registration fees or payments of any kind have been received from prostitutes.
No fees are levied from the women.
VIII.—Whether the women have been regular at the periodical examinations ; any remarks on the cause
of of irregularity, the number of individuals women reported for non-attendance, the fines or other
punishments awarded, and the amounts realized.
The average number attending the periodical examinations was nine, as compared with
8.2 of the previous year.
The number of women reported during the year was 14. Of these, eight were prose-
cuted,—seven before the Assistant Commissioner and one before the Deputy Commissioner.
With the exception of the latter, all the others were discharged. The remaining six who were
reported escaped. With the above exceptions, the attendance has been fair. No fines were
realized. The woman convicted was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.
IX.—The arrangements for examining and treating the women of the town.
From the beginning of the year to the end of July, the periodical examinations were
held fortnightly, and during that period 16 examinations were held on the 13th August.
The examinations were held weekly, with two exceptions, when the Superintendent was absent
from the station, or otherwise performing some important duty. There were in all 34
examinations : these are conducted by the Superintendent aided by the Matron ; in each case,
the women are carefully examined, and, if found diseased, detained and admitted into hos-
pital. The speculum is used in all cases.
X.—How far disease has increased or decreased amongst the women ; to what extent it has become less
virulent ; its nature as compared with that amongst the men ; is there any relation between the
two ? how far the admissions amongst the women are due to non-venereal affections or to detention
of women during the monthly period.
There are 15 admissions during the year, against six in 1876. Of these, two were from
syphilis and 13 from gonorrhœa. One of the former to my own knowledge was in a young
robust woman, who had only been prostituting for a short poriod. All were of a mild
character, readily yielding to treatment within a fortnight.
The tabular statement in the 3rd paragraph of this report shews a decrease in the num-
ber of cases of venereal disease treated in the dispensary and jail as compared with the pre-
ceding year, viz., 70, against 95, the majority being under the head of " Secondary syphilis,"
evidencing that at some previous period primary syphilis had prevailed to a great extent.
None of the women are detained for other than purely venereal affections, nor at their
monthly periods.
XI.—How far dhaies are employed, and with what results.
None are employed.
XII.—Any information on other matters, or suggestions for improvement of the rules.
Previous to my assuming charge of the lock hospital, the names of women were
retained for indefinite periods, and it was difficult to ascertain who were still on the register
or who had absconded. The rule has now been brought into practice of removing all names
who are absent for two months.
There is in my opinion no absolute supervision over unregistered prostitution : the
police are expected to exercise this power ; and that they neglect this work is apparent, as
unregistered prostitution prevails to a very great extent. I would suggest that an Inspector or
some such officer should be appointed for this work. There is another fact in connection
•with the Act, and that is that the registered women are permitted to resign their licenses
whenever they wish to do so. A representation was made on the subject, suggesting that
some guarantee be required from the women further than their own statement of reformation