( 2 )
It will be seen that at Rangoon the number of cases has been gradually diminishing
from year to year, whereas at Thayetmyo there has been an annual increase. At
Toungoo the number of cases in 1879 and 1880, was about the same, while in 1881
the number of cases of venereal disease increased from 33 to 83, and the ratio per
mille was thus more than doubled. In the year 1880 the Major-General, with the
concurrence of the Chief Commissioner, appointed the Commanding Officers of
the European regiment and of the Royal Artillery to be additional members of
the Cantonment Committees at Rangoon, Toungoo, and Thayetmyo. The intention
was that these officers should be appointed members or sub-committees to be
formed for the purpose of supervising the working of the lock-hospital rules. It
would appear, however, that no such sub-committees have as yet been appointed.
The attention of the Committees was invited to this matter in 1881. Reports
will now be called for as to the action that has been taken in the matter. It is
very desirable that the cordial and active co-operation of the officers of the
European regiments should be obtained in the enforcement of the lock-hospital
rules at military stations.
3. The Native troops appear to have enjoyed, as in previous years, a remark-
able immunity from venereal disease. There were only 18 cases at Rangoon, 3
at Thayetmyo, 6 at Toungoo, and 19 at Moulmein. The Civil Surgeon at Toungoo
is of opinion, however, that the sepoys frequently treat themselves for diseases of
this class, and it is possible therefore that more cases may have occurred than
are shown in the returns.
4. The average number of prostitutes on the register at Rangoon was 436,
as compared with an average of 496 in the previous year. The average attend-
ance at the weekly examinations (including women in hospital) was 87 per cent.
of the total number on the register, as compared with an average attendance of
85 per cent. in 1880. The Civil Surgeon is of opinion that the rules were more
strictly enforced in 1881 than in the previous year, a view which is to some extent
borne out by the improvement in the attendance at the periodical examinations and
by the fact that 110 women were prosecuted for soliciting or practising prostitution
without a license, as compared with 35 so prosecuted in 1880. The number of women
prosecuted for non-attendance at the periodical examinations was 212 in 1880 and
216 in 1881 ; the number of convictions was 120 in the former and 136 in the
latter year. It is satisfactory to find that there was less disease both among the
women themselves and among the European troops than there was in 1880, and
also that the character of the disease throughout the year was, as stated by the
Civil Surgeon, " exceedingly mild. " The net cost of the institution to Govern-
ment was Rs. 12,800, or an average of Rs. 29 for each prostitute on the register.
In 1880 the net cost was somewhat higher, but the average cost for each prostitute
was about the same. The lock-hospital building is not large enough for the require-
ments of the town. It has not hitherto been enlarged, as the site was consider-
ed objectionable and it was proposed to erect a new building elsewhere. The
attempt to find a better site has, however, proved a failure, and it appears necessary
therefore that either the present building should be enlarged or else that an
entirely new building should be erected on the same site. The Civil Surgeon is
of opinion that the number of constables told off specially for the enforcement of
the lock-hospital rules should be increased from three to five. The Commissioner