NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
TOUNGOO :
The 20th January 1881.}
R. V. POWER,
Superintendent.
Annual statement No. III. of the Lock-hospital at Toungoo for the year 1880.
1
2
3
4
5
MONTHS.
RECEIPTS
.
EXPENDITURE.
How PAID.
REMARKS.
R e g i s t r a t i o n f e e s f r o m p r o s t i t u t e s .
F i n e s l e v i e d u n d e r t h e r u l e s .
T o t a l r e c e i p t s .
P a y o f m e d i c a l o f f i c e r s .
P a y o f e s t a b l i s h m e n t .
A l l o t h e r e x p e n s e s .
T o t a l e x p e n s e s .
B y G o v e r n m e n t .
F r o m c a n t o n m e n t f u n d s .
O t h e r s o u r c e s .
T o t a l .
Rs.
R s .
Rs.
Rs.
Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P.
A l l p a i d b y G o v e r n m e n t .
Rs. A. P.
January ..
. .
. .
..
..
. .
..
..
50
45
18 5 9 113 5 9
.. ..
113 5 9
February ..
..
..
..
..
. . ..
..
50
45
32 3 9 127 3 9
. .
. .
127 3 9
March ..
..
. .
. .
..
. .
. .
. .
50
45
94 8 3 159 8 3
. . ..
159 8 3
April ..
..
..
..
..
. .
13
13
50
45
49 13 6 144 13 6
. .
..
144 13 6
May
..
..
..
..
..
. .
5
5
50
45
39 14 1 134 14 1
..
..
134 14 1
June
..
..
. .
. .
..
..
..
..
50
45
42 1 6 137 1 6
. .
. .
137 1 6
July
..
. .
..
..
..
. .
..
..
50
45
31 15 4 126 15 4
. .
..
126 15 4
August ..
..
..
..
..
. .
..
..
50
45
13 13 6 108 13 6
. .
. .
108 13 6
September
..
..
..
..
..
..
. .
50
45
29 12 6 124 12 6
. .
. .
124 12 6
October ..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
50
45
17 7 0 112 7 0
..
112 7 0
November ..
..
. .
. .
..
. .
. .
. .
50
45
24 4 0 119 4 0
..
. .
119 4 0
December ..
..
. .
. .
..
. . ..
..
50
45
35 15 0 130 15 0
..
..
130 15 0
Total ..
..
18
18
600
540
400 2 2 1,540 2 2
..
..
1,540 2 2
( 55 )
IP/16/HG.4 4-
REPORT
ON THE
LOCK-HOSPITALS, BRITISH BURMA ,
FOR THE YEAR 1881.
RANGOON : PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRESS, 1882.
RESOLUTION
ON THE
REPORT ON LOCK-HOSPITALS
IN
BRITISH BURMA
FOR THE YEAR 1881.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Chief Commissioner, British Burma, in the General Department,—
No. 15, dated the 11th April 1882.
READ
Annual Reports on the working of the several lock-hospitals in the province of British Burma for
the year 1881.
Read also
The Review on the working of the lock-hospitals by the Deputy Surgeon-General, British Burma
Division.
RESOLUTION.—Lock-hospitals are at present maintained at six towns in British
Burma. At Rangoon, Toungoo, and Thayetmyo they are worked under the Can-
tonment Act, 1880, while at Moulmein, Akyab, and Bassein the Contagious Diseases
Act, 1868, is in force. At Rangoon, Thayetmyo, Toungoo, and Moulmein, where
troops are stationed, the lock-hospitals are no doubt a necessity, but the Chief Com-
missioner has doubts whether it is either necessary or desirable to maintain
such institutions at Akyab and Bassein. In the year 1880 Deputy Surgeon-
General Joseph reported that, in his opinion, the lock-hospitals at these stations
were not carrying out the intentions of Government, and that large sums of money
were being annually expended upon them without any benefit. It was found, how"-
ever, that the balance of local opinion was in favour of retaining both hospitals.
It was admitted that these institutions were of little, if any, benefit to the Burmese
population, who do not as a rule consort with registered prostitutes, but it was
argued that they were of great value to the European and other sailors visiting
the ports. No statistics were adduced in support of this view. Such statistics
are, however, now being collected, and in the meanwhile the lock-hospitals are
being maintained as before.
2. The statistics of venereal diseases contracted by British soldiers at Ran -
goon, Thayetmyo, and Toungoo for the past three years have been as follows :—
Stations.
Average strength.
Number of cases of vene-
real disease contracted
at the station.
Rate per mile.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1879.
1880.
1881.
Rangoon ...
...
823
706
658
132
112
89
160
159
135.
Thayetmyo
... 1,480
1,394
1,518
72
77
97
49
55
64
Toungoo ...
...
438
467
470
32
33
83
73 I71
176
Total
... 2,741
2,567
2,646
236
222
269 I
86 I86
102
\'1
REVIEW
ON THE
REPORTS ON LOCK-HOSPITALS
IN
BRITISH BURMA
FOR THE YEAR 1881.
From W. PEARL, Esq., Deputy Surgeon-General, British Burma Division, to the Junior Secretary to the
Chief Commissioner, British Burma,—No. 234-48, dated the 22nd March 1882.
I HAVE the honour to submit my review of the reports on the working of the
several lock-hospitals in the province for the year 1881 for the information of the
Chief Commissioner.
There are now six lock-hospitals in Burma, viz., at Akyab, Rangoon, Bas-
sein, Thayetmyo, Moulmein, and Toungoo. At only three of these places are Euro-
pean troops stationed, viz.; at Rangoon, Thayetmyo, and Toungoo. Akyab,
Moulmein, and Bassein being largely frequented seaports have many European
sailors to protect.
I.—The nature and extent of the hospital accommodation, whether it is suitable, and whether there has
been any change in it during the year.
At most of the hospitals the accommodation provided is ample : in Rangoon
there is still a deficiency. The hospital is built for 71 patients, and the daily
average number of inmates during the past year has been 91.41.
The Apothecary's quarters at Rangoon are much too small : the building
was intended for a Hospital Assistant, but as an Apothecary is now resident, with
his wife and family, the house is most unsuitable : one small room is the extent of
his accommodation.
The wards of the hospital are very dark and gloomy, and at my annual
inspection I recommended they should be whitewashed. This has been done as
regards the European ward and is a great improvement.
At Bassein the accommodation is ample and the building commodious.
Thayetmyo possesses a very clean, well-built hospital, with ample room.
Moulmein has a large old building in the dispensary compound, quite out of
keeping with the handsome dispensary close to it. There is sufficient accom-
modation as the in-patients have only averaged 4 during the past year.
At Toungoo the building used as a lock-hospital was formerly the dis–
pensary. It is situated at the farthest extremity of the town from the European
troops and is unsuitable both as to site and construction. The examination-room
is dark ad the wards dreary. A much smaller building, near the dispensary,
would be sufficient and more convenient for supervision.
From the great increase in venereal disease in Toungoo, as shown by the
Civil Surgeon in his report, this is a matter demanding urgent attention.
II.—Any changes in the medical charge of the lock-hospitals during the year.
Bassein.—Dr. Oswald Baker was in charge of the Bassein Lock-hospital from
1st January to 31st October, when he was relieved by Surgeon S. H. Dantra, who
remained in charge until the end of the year.
Thayetmyo.—Assistant Surgeon B. N. Chowdry was in charge until 3rd May,
Surgeon E. P. Frenchman, of the Madras Army, from 7th May to 12th June, and
Surgeon P. W. Dalzell from 13th June to 31st December 1881.
( 2 )
Toungoo.—Surgeon-Major R. V. Power was in charge from the 1st to 28th
January, when Surgeon C. S. Rundle took over charge for the remainder of the
year.
III.—The extent of venereal disease among European troops as shown by the weekly returns.
The fallowing table shows to what extent venereal disease spread among the
European troops during the year. It will be seen to have diminished in Rangoon,
but to have nearly doubled in Tounoo:—
Stations.
Average
strength.
Number of
admissions
for venereal
diseases of
all forms.
RATIO PER MILLE.
Remarks.
1880.
1881.
Rangoon
...
...
657.84
108
216.69
164.17
Thayetmyo ...
...
1,518.52
140
82.50
92.20
Toungoo
...
470-13
83
81.37
176.55
IV.—Whether a Cantonment Sub-Committee for exercising special supervision over the rules has existed
throughout the year, and what officers composed it.
In Rangoon there is a Sub-Committee consisting of the Commanding Officer,
Quartermaster, and Adjutant of the European regiment. The Town Magistrate,
however, is responsible for the effective working of the rules. At the other
stations there are no Cantonment Sub-Committees.
V.—What special measures have been taken for control of prostitution, and especially for preventing
the dangers arising from unlicensed prostitutes frequenting the lines.
No special measures appear to have been taken to control prostitution. The
police force at the disposal of the lock-hospital authorities appears to be quite
unable to cope with the evil. The medical officer of the 2nd Middlesex Regi-
ment informs me that frequently the men of the regiment have shown the
woman. from whom they contracted the disease, but on her presenting herself
for inspection at the lock-hospital she has been found clean.
At Rangoon, where the area over which the Act extends is so large, an
addition to the police force is certainly wanted. The reports generally complain
that registered women only are looked after by the police, and it is to be regret-
ted that more energetic steps cannot be taken to check the unlicensed prosti-
tution which must take place.
VI.—How far the registration has been efficient, to what class it extends, and over what area, &c.
Registration has been most inefficient ; the number on the register cannot
represent a moiety of the prostitutes. In the report on Thayetmyo Doctor Dal-
zell justly remarks : " It is a remarkable fact that the increase or decrease of the
strength of the garrison has no corresponding effect on the number of the
prostitutes on the register," a proof that the greater number of venereal diseases
among the European soldiery are contracted from unregistered women.
Stations.
NUMBER REMAINING ON
REGISTER AT CLOSE OF
Protected area.
Population.
Ratio of
prostitutes to
population.
1880.
1881.
Rangoon
...
. . .
417
378 102 square miles...
185,723
1 in
491
Moulmein
...
...
53
51 14
ditto
...
53,107
1 in
1,041
Toungoo
. . . . . .
26
17
4 miles around
Cantonment...
20,000
1 in
1,176
Thayetmyo
...
. . .
23
24
1 9 s q u a r e m i l e s . . .
38,236
1 in
1,593
Bassein
...
. . .
27
27
14 ditto
...
33,502
1 in
1,241
Akyab
...
. . .
60
58 Town under muni-
cipality
. . .
33,989
1 in
586
( 4 )
This is a neat cruciform structure adjoining the dispensary compound admirably
suited for the purpose. Examination-room clean and well
kept as was the whole building. The water of the new well
erected between the dispensary and lock-hospital compounds
was found unfit for drinking purposes : the patients now use filtered river water. Medicines,
instruments, and clothing in good order.
A large rambling old building in a corner of the dispensary compound surrounded by
a dilapidated bamboo fence. Accommodation ample in one
large ward. Examination-room well-lighted and kept clean.
Medicines and clothing sufficient : bathroom and latrines in a
good sanitary state. Clothing clean and sufficient.
The lock-hospital is located in an old building formerly used as a dispensary. There
are 18 women on the register, of whom 5 were under treatment.
Its position at the extreme west end of the town, far away from
the Cantonment, must make it of little use. Medicines and
instruments in good order. No drainage : ground level. Latrine in fair order.
Thayetmyo.—Date of inspection,
30th November 1881.
Moulmein.—Date of inspection,
7th December 1881.
Toungoo.—Date of inspection,
6th October 1881.
6 S
Statement No. I, showing the area over which the rules for the prevention of venereal disease have been in force and the details of expenditure on lock-hospitals
during the year 1881.
1
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3
4
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7
8
9
N o .
Stations.
Date on which the lock-
hospital was established.
Act under which the rules
are in force.
Area over which the rules are
in force.
E s t i m a t e d N a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n w i t h i n t h e a r e a o v e r w h i c h
t h e y a r e i n f o r c e .
A v e r a g e n u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s o n t h e r e g i s t e r d u r i n g 1 8 8 1 .
T o t a l m o n t h l y c o s t o f e s t a b l i s h -
m e n t .
Wh e t h e r 1 s t o r 2 n d c l a s s l o c k -
hospital.
1 Rangoon
...
... 19th May 1871
... III of 1880
... 102 square miles
. . .
185,723
436.96
Rs. A. P.
1st class.
508 8 0
2 Bassein
. . .
... 11th February 1872 ... XIV of 1868
... 14
ditto
...
. . .
33,502
25.00
148 8 0
2nd class.
8 Thayetmyo ...
... 1st June 1869
... III of 1880
... 19
ditto
. . .
...
38,236
23.92
89 0 0
4 Akyab
. . .
... 8th September 1871 ... XIV of 1868
... Town under Municipality ...
33,989
58.29
166 8 0
5 Moulmein ...
... 1st October 1871
... ditto
... 14 square miles ...
...
53,107
51.25
166 8 0
6 Toungoo
...
... 19th Jung 1864
... III of 1880
... Within four miles around the
Cantonment ...
. . .
20,000
18.32
95 0 0
5