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Surgeon-General has been already requested to draw up a few simple rules for
the guidance of Medical Officers in preparing their statistics; and it is to be hoped
that a greater degree of accuracy and uniformity in future reports will result.
3. The statistics of the Rangoon Lock-hospital shew that the average num-
ber of women on the register during 1878 was 472, as compared with an average
of 443 in 1877. Of the women not in hospital, an average of 85.5 per cent. attended
examination, of whom seven per cent. were, on an average, found to be diseased at
each examination. The total number of women reported as absent from examina-
tion is said to have been 1,862, but this number evidently includes, as separate cases,
successive absences of the same women, some of whom proved ultimately to have
died or gone away from. Rangoon. Only 103 women were arrested and brought
before the Magistrate for non-attendance ; 89 were convicted and punished,
and 14 were discharged. The number of arrests should apparently have borne
a larger percentage to the number of absentees. The statistics of venereal disease
among the troops in Rangoon are untrustworthy ; but it is believed that there was
a diminution both in the number and in the virulence of the cases. No parti-
culars have been given by the Civil Surgeon of the number of cases of venereal
disease treated at the General Hospital in the course of the year, but as he points
out, the number of patients treated in hospital affords no criterion of the amount
of disease prevalent among the populace, for natives, both of India and of Burma,
generally prefer their own remedies and only come to hospital as a last resource.
The Civil Surgeon attributes the propagation of the disease in great measure to
unregistered women ; and the fact that, of the 280 women who were brought on
the register, nearly all were found to be diseased to some extent bears out his
opinion. Thirty-six women were arrested in the course of the year for practising
clandestine prostitution, of whom 21 were fined and 15 discharged. Proposals
were under consideration during the year with a view to the more efficient work-
ing of the Act in Rangoon ; and sanction has since been given to an increase to
the Lock-hospital Police, and to the entertainment of an Apothecary for the lock-
hospital. The Commissioner has proposed that the limits within which the rules
operate should be extended ; and he has been asked to specify the limits which he
would recommend.
4. At Akyab the average number of women on the register was 69.5, and
92 per cent. attended on an average the periodical examinations. Forty-nine
women were reported for non-attendance, and 151 women were found to be
diseased. The average number of women in hospital was 9.68. This hospital
is said to have been neglected during the latter part of the year by the officer in
charge, and his report is a very meagre and unsatisfactory document. An
enquiry was instituted into the matter, but, owing to the death of the officer con-
cerned, it was not considered necessary to continue it. The delay in the sub-
mission of the Akyab report has been the main cause of the lateness of the general
report for the province. At Moulmein, the average number of women on the
register was 52.2, and the average number attending examination 50.4. Eighteen
women were reported to the Magistrate for non-attendance; but the number
punished is not stated. A sum of Rs. 10 is said to have been realized from fines ;
but the amount is not entered in the statement attached to the report. Seventy-
four women were found to be diseased, the diseases being mostly of a mild type.
The percentage of disease among the women appears to have steadily decreased
during the past five years. The actual number of prostitutes in Moulmein is
admittedly far in excess of the number on the register ; but no explanation of the
incomplete registration is given, nor are any suggestions made for a more
efficient working of the Act. The attention of the authorities will be drawn to
the necessity of devising some remedy for this state of things. Only two cases
of venereal disease occurred during the year among the native troops stationed
at Moulmein. Of the civil population 295 were admitted to hospital for
venereal complaints, as compared with 292 admissions in 1877. At Thayetmyo,
the average number of women on the register was 24.83 and the percentage of
attendance among them was 80. Thirty-two women were reported for non-
attendance ; but it is not stated in how many bases punishments were inflicted,
Fifty-nine women in all were found to be diseased, and the average number in