III.—Extent of venereal disease among the European troops.
There have been no European troops in the station during the year.
IV.—Whether a cantonment sub-committee has existed throughout the year.
There has been no such committee. The working of the Act has been watched by the
Town Magistrate, who has taken every means in his power to enforce regular attendance at
the examinations.
V.—Special measures adopted.
There are two Inspectors of the Akyab Local Police, who look after the district where
the prostitutes chiefly reside, and who are expected to detect and bring to the notice of the
Town Magistrate any cases of clandestine prostitution. For the first time, this year eight
Arakanese were detected carrying on clandestine prostitution, and were sent to the hospi-
tal for examination, all of whom were found diseased.
VI.—How far registration has been effected ; to what it extends, and over what area ; and whether any
increase or decrease in numbers.
It is a difficult matter to say exactly how far the working of the Act is efficient.
clandestine prostitution is difficult to discover, more especially among the Burmese.
Among the Bengalees, who comprise the greatest number of the prostitutes here—in
fact, the whole of those registered at the end of the year—I think it is efficient, and I do
not think there is any clandestine prostitution carried on to any great extent among them.
Regarding the Burmese, I am not at all sure. It is difficult to believe that in Akyab, with
such a large population, there is no prostitution among the Arakanese. It is evident, from
the fact that this year eight Arakanese were detected carrying on clandestine prostitution
and found diseased. To what extent it is carried on I am not prepared to say. In practice,
I have seen a few cases of primary syphilis, and, on asking whether they had contracted the
disease from a Bengalee or a Burmese, they said Burmese, which at once informed me that
it was a case of clandestine prostitution, as at that time there were no Burmese on the
register. What I regret most is that you never can get any information from the indivi-
dual which will enable you to bring up the diseased parties. Perhaps the Town Magistrate,
in his remarks, may be able to give some information regarding this point, as my
duties do not extend beyond the examination of the women and the detention and treat-
ment of the diseased.
The area over which the Act extends is confined to that within the municipal limits ;
but it extends, I am sure, very beneficially to another class,—and that is the sailors coming
to this port during the shipping season. Although I have not had sufficient experience of
the port yet, still I can speak from what I have seen of the comparative small amount of
venereal diseases among the sailors. I have seen none as yet contracted in this port ;
what little I have seen (four or five cases) have been contracted at other ports before coming
here ; and I believe that sailors are more likely to bring it to this port than taking it
away with them. The number on the register at the end of 1876 was 45 ; added during
this year, 44 ; removed from the register or absconded during the year, 24 ; and remaining
on the register on 31st December 1877, 65 : so that during the year there has been an
increase of 20. I append a statement of the number on the register at the close of each
year :—
1874. 1875. 1876. 1877.
50
44
45
65
VII.—Registration fees.
No fees of any kind are levied on prostitutes in Akyab.
VIII.—Whether the women have been regular at the periodical examinations.
The weekly examinations were in force when I took over charge, and I have still carried
them on. During the year the attendance has been very regular. In all 15 were reported
to the Magistrate for non-attendance ; five were fined by the Magistrate two rupees each,
and another one three rupees ; the rest were reprimanded, as they had some excuse, and
were ordered to proceed to the hospital for examination ; and some also had absconded or
left the station ; but 15 was the number who appeared before the Magistrate for non-attend-
ance. There were four also reported to the Magistrate for absconding ; these were Ara-
kanese ; these four were sentenced to 15 days' imprisonment. The other cases shewn as
absent in Statement No. II. were cases of sickness, being unable to attend, suffering from fever,
dysentery, or diarrhœa. All those so reported were visited in their own homes by the
Native Doctor in order to verify their statements.
IX.—Arrangements for examining and treating the women.
There is a small side-room, furnished with an examination table; the light supplied
both from a window in the roof and one in the wall ; and the arrangements on the whole
are satisfactory.