( 38 )
was 1,394 Europeans and 1,675 Natives, besides the larger population in
the town. The above fact shows what a meagre number of women are regis-
tered for so large a town, and how unlikely they can satisfy the desire of so large
a population. Prostitution on the sly is on its increase. Native sepoys are daily
seen in Burmese houses talking and joking with the women, and when this is
often the case at night, their object is easily understood. Several Madrassee women,
especially of the grass-cutter class, are now and then seen after dark with Euro-
pean soldiers in the jungle and other secluded places of cantonment.
Registration has decreased considerably, probably owing to the increase of
clandestine prostitution and to the absence of any active measure to suppress
the latter practice. The area over which the registration extends is computed at
196 square miles, the estimated Native population of which area is about 38,000.
VII.—Whether registration fees have been are levied, and at what rate.
No fees of any kind are levied.
VIII.—Whether the women have been regular at their periodical examinations, any remarks as to the cause
of irregularity. the number of individual women reported for non-attendance, the fines or other
punishments awarded, and the amount realized.
The attendance of women at the weekly examinations has been fairly
satisfactory.
The following table shows the attendance of women at periodical examina-
tions as compared with other years :—
Years.
Average number
of women on the
register.
Average number
attended. periodi-
cal examinations.
Number of indi-
vidual women
reported. for
absence, &c.
1878 ...
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
24.83
20.0
32
1879 ...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
23.6
19.8
21
1880 ...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
25.59
20.14
21
Of the twenty-one women reported for absenting themselves from periodical
examinations, or absconding from the hospital, 14 were convicted, 13 fined, and
one imprisoned ; out of the 13 five went to jail in default of payment of fines.
The amount of fines levied under the rules was Rs. 250, out of which
Rs. 90 only were realized.
As a rule, diseased women are generally irregular in their attendance for
fear of their detention in the hospital ; they either feign some sort of sickness,
or say that they have got menstruation, or take leave from the Cantonment Magis-
trate on the plea that some of their relatives are sick or dying.
IX.—The arrangements for examining and. treating the women of the city and cantonment.
The arrangements for the examination and. treatment of women are satis-
factory. Periodical examinations are held every Wednesday morning at the lock-
hospital : those that are found diseased are detained in the hospital till cured.
X.—How far disease has increased or decreased. among the women ; to what extent it has become less
virulent ; its nature as compared with that among 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 illness.
The prevalence of disease among the women was much the same as in last
year. All the cases that came under treatment during the year were very mild
types of venereal diseases. Gonorrhœa is the principal disease among the women.