( 11 )
4. The Prome Lock-hospital was closed on the 31st August 1880 under the
orders conveyed in No. 4771-4-62, dated the 15th July 1880. The report on it
therefore only relates to a period of eight months.
5. The area to which the lock-hospital rules apply differs from that of last
year by their extension to all places within a radius of seven miles from the
boundary of Rangoon cantonment under notification No. 390 (Home, Agricultural,
and Commerce Department), dated the 10th November 1879. It may be doubted
if any proper effect has been given to the rules outside the former area of . 22 square
miles, with a population of 99,827 souls, for the Junior Civil Surgeon has repeated
these figures in his report, and the Deputy Commissioner of Rangoon has not
corrected them. Moreover, Dr. Johnstone comments on the insufficiency of the
existing detective system as applied to this smaller area. It is of little use to
extend rules if no practical measures are taken for their being efficiently worked.
6. The number of prostitutes in Rangoon at the close of the year was only
417, against 476 on the 31st December 1879. Most of these are Telinga women,
all of a low type, but 81 were Burmese.
There can be no doubt that secret prostitution is practised by many Burmese
women ; but it is extremely difficult to detect, and, when detected, it is even more
difficult to bring the charge home to them.
An increase is shown in the number of European prostitutes.
At Bassein the yearly average number of prostitutes shows an increase ; but
the year commenced with 32, and ended with only 27, registered women. The
practice which is reported to exist of prostitutes having periods of leave from the
Deputy Commissioner without reference to the Civil Surgeon would seem to
require some check. If the women really absent themselves from Bassein during
their leave, the working of the rules as regards Bassein is not materially affected ;
but the report of the Civil Surgeon implies that the object of the Act is frustrated
by the procedure adopted. At Thayet-myo there is a slight increase of prostitutes
on the register..
7. The figures would seem to show that much more disease occurred amongst
prostitutes in Rangoon than in any former year. It is, however, satisfactory to
learn that the true explanation of these figures is to be found in the increased
vigilance and energy with which detection has been carried on under the special
inspector. The disease at all the hospitals has been, with a few exceptions, of a
very mild type.
8. Examinations were conducted regularly at Rangoon, where the attend-
ance has been fairly regular. Weekly examinations were held at Bassein, Prome,
and Thayet-myo.
9. The following table shows the number of patients treated for venereal
diseases at the different hospitals :—
Military.
Jail.
General hospital.
1878. 1879. 1880. 1878. 1879. 1880. 1878. 1879. 1880.
Rangoon
..
...
. . .
...
107
152
153
45
39
72 1,278
908 1,268
Thayet-myo
...
...
...
48
117
115
*
*
* 78
101
*
Bassein
. . .
...
...
...
1
...
4
4
3
83
211
189
Prome ...
...
. . .
. . .
Nil.
*
* *
213
189
*
10. Among the troops at Rangoon, the total admissions from venereal dis-
eases during 1880 was 153 ; but in 41 cases the disease was contracted out of
Rangoon.
There has been a remarkable decrease of admissions during the latter half
of the year. If cases contracted out of Rangoon be excluded, the ratio per mille
*Not given.