( 2 )
The percentage of venereal diseases to total diseases treated fell from 8.58
in 1879 to 5.44 in the year under report.
The practice has been adopted during the year of asking infected persons
where they obtained the disease, and it has been proved that a considerable part
was contracted from unregistered women in the town. Some of the disease, how-
ever, was contracted in the district, and some also in India and in other parts of
this province.
A decrease of syphilitic affections is noted, and an increase of cases of
gonorrhœa.
The comparative statement, as I have previously remarked, must be taken
for what it is worth.
IV.—Whether a Cantonment Sub-Committee for exercising special supervision over the rules has existed
throughout the year ; and what Officers composed it.
No Committee. The Magistrate has had charge of the working of the Act.
V.—What special measures have been taken for the control of prostitution, &c.
The police appear to have done little more during the year than look after
the registered women.
In July the prostitutes on the register complained to me of the number of
unregistered prostitutes in the town. A list of these latter was made out and
forwarded to the Magistrate, and the result was a considerable increase of women
on the register.
It has been the custom of the registered women to apply for leave to return
to their own country, generally Chittagong. It was the duty of the police to
report the departure of these women. The reports of the departure were, I
believe, made, but the women remained behind. If I am not mistaken, several
policemen were found co-habiting with them. I mention these facts simply to
show the necessity for other persons being found for the control of prostitution.
VI.—How far the registration has been efficient ; to what classes it extends, and over what area.
All the prostitutes on the register continue to be natives of India.
Any number of Arakanese women can be seen going about in open day in
search of the unwary ; still it would appear that nothing can be done to check
this evil. I believe a list of the most noticeable Arakanese prostitutes was sent
in by the police, but the matter went no further.
As to the number of these women diseased, I have had full proof by the
amount of venereal affections treated amongst that class of the community with
whom they usually consort.
The average number of women on the register shows a decrease on the
previous three years. The following table shows the number for four years :—
1877.
1878.
1879.
1880.
56 .81
69.5
56.3
51.58
It appears that 45 women remained from last year, 38 were added this year,
and 23 struck off, leaving 60 remaining at the end of the year : this is but slight
improvement,
VII.—What registration fees have been levied, and at what rate.
No fees of any kind are levied in this town.
VIII.—Whether the women have been regular at the periodical examinations, &c., &c.
The women appear to have given less trouble during this year than in the
previous one, 37 reports only of non-attendance having being made to the Magis-
trate, as compared with 114 last year.
The number of individual women reported was 20. A list of punishments
awarded has been received, and shows but two cases.
IX.—The arrangements for examining and treating the women of the city and cantonment.
Satisfactory. The same remarks as were made in the report of 1879 will
apply to the present year.