(2)
14. The inmates of both the institutions are reported to have behaved
themselves well. There were sixty-eight prostitutes at Moulmein on the register
at the close of the year against eighty-five at the close of the preceding year.
and sixteen at Toungoo against eleven at the close of the preceding year.
15. The expenditure including establishment of the Moulmein lock-hos-
pital during the year of report amounted to Rs. 2,036-11-6, against Rs. 2,073-5-8
in the previous year, showing a decrease in favour of the year of report.
16. The entire expenditure is contributed by Government. The receipts
from fines as above reported amounted to Rs. 35 against Rs. 495 in the previous
year.
17. The expenditure of the Toungoo lock-hospital during the year of
report was Rs. 1,415-15-4 against Rs. 661-7-7 in the previous year. The institu-
tion was opened in June 1874, and necessarily shows a less expenditure in the
previous year. The receipts from fines amounted to Rs. 8.
Annual Report of the Lock-hospital, Toungoo, for 1875.
THE TOUNGOO Lock-hospital was opened in June 1874. As there was at the time no
suitable place, a temporary bamboo-hut was erected for its accommodation near the jail.
In March 1875 the hospital was removed to the old dispensary building, situated quite at
the western limit of the civil station. The site is free and open, and the best available.
There is accommodation for twelve natives in the main ward, besides which, there is a writ-
ing-room, an examination-room, surgery, and store-room. The out-offices consist of a
good cook-room, a bath-room, and a latrine. The compound is railed all round, but which
does not prevent any of the inmates leaving the place, if they choose to do so. The main
ward measures forty feet by twenty feet, giving each a superficial area of sixty feet. The
building is raised about seven feet from the ground. Ventilation is maintained by opposite
doors and windows, and openings in the side walls under the eaves, and at the ridge. The
hospital being situated on a low piece of ground, the drainage around is not good, but as
yet there has been no injurious effect on the health of the inmates from it. The hospital
accommodation is quite sufficient for the number of women on the register.
2. Owing to the relief of the Native Regiment, there has been several changes in the
medical charge of the Lock-hospital during the past year. Surgeon Leapingwell relieved
Surgeon-Major Giraud in March last, and I relieved the former in July last.
3. During the past year there has been a marked decrease of venereal disease amongst
the European troops at this station. Out of an average strength of 476 .41 Europeans, there
has been only twenty-nine admissions from venereal disease, viz., primary syphilis, eight ;
gonorrhœal bubo, three; gonorrhoea, two; and secondary syphilis, sixteen : out of this number
one man was suffering from gonorrhœa when he arrived at this station ; fifteen out of the
sixteen who had secondary syphilis were all old cases, who had contracted primary disease
elsewhere; and the three who had gonorrhœal bubo had suffered from gonorrhœa before they
arrived at Toungoo; the remaining ten were the actual number of cases who suffered from
venereal disease at this station. The majority of the cases were admitted during the first
half of the year, and especially in January and February. During the last half of the year,
there were only two admissions from gonorrhœa. The only way I can account for this
marked decrease in the admissions for venereal diseases amongst the European troops, is to
suppose a limited number of prostitutes the soldiers can consort with.
4. A Cantonment Sub-Committee exists, and is composed of the Deputy Commis-
sioner, Cantonment Magistrate, and Civil Surgeon.
5. There has been no change in the measure adopted for the control of prostitution
since the opening of the hospital. The Police are supposed to bring up all women who they
know, or can find out, are in the habit of consorting with European soldiers. Police super-
vision, then, is the only measure in force for the control of unlicensed prostitution in the
station. The matron of the Lock-hospital, an old prostitute herself, has several times given
the names and pointed out to the Police women who were carrying on unlicensed prostitu-
tion ; but, in the instances they were brought before the Magistrate, it could not be proved that
they were in the habit of consorting with Europeans, and consequently the charge against
them was not sustained. The distinction imposed by Act XXII. of 1864 (under which
the Lock-hospital in Toungoo is worked), between prostitutes resorting to Europeans and
Natives, respectively, is a fertile source of embarrassment. Practically, no such distinction
weigh much with women who resort to the one are quite capable upon inducements to
resort to the other also. The effect of this restriction in frustrating the end in view has
been brought to the notice of the authorities by the Cantonment Magistrate (vide corre-
spondence attached), but nothing has yet been done. The entertainment of a Police Officer
and a dhai like the hospital matron to hunt up and prosecute all unlicensed women found
within the limits over which the Act extends, would facilitate the working of the Act to a