( 3 )
5. At
Toungoo some improvement appears to have been effected in. the
enforcement of the rules. The number of women on the register was increased
from 15 to 26, and the percentage of women present at each periodical examina-
tion was 84, as compared with 70 in 1879. The number of cases of sickness
among the women was somewhat greater than in 1879, but the increased occurred
among diseases of the less virulent type.
6. At Moulmein the number of women on the register decreased from 78
to 53. Three women were prosecuted for practising clandestine prostitution, but
they were all acquitted. Among the registered women the percentage of attend-
ance at the periodical examinations was 86. Thirteen women were prosecuted
for non-attendance, and ten of them were convicted and punished. There was
less disease among the women than in the previous year, and the diseases treated
were mostly of a mild type.
7. At Bassein a small number of Native troops were stationed for part of
the year, but the lock-hospital is maintained chiefly for the sake of the European
sailors who visit the port. The number of women on the register was 32 at the
beginning and 27 at the end of the year. The percentage of attendance at the
periodical examinations was 81. There were no prosecutions for practising
clandestine prostitution, and only two for non-attendance at examination. The
diseases among the women were, with one exception, of a mild type.
8. At Akyab no troops are stationed. The average number of women on
the register was 51.58, of whom 50.86 on an average attended the periodical
examinations. The number of registered prostitutes at Akyab is larger in pro-
portion to the population than at any other seaport except Rangoon. Neverthe-
less it is reported that clandestine prostitution is largely practised, and such
statistics as are available seem to show that the more virulent forms of disease
among the male population were contracted from unregistered women.
9. No suggestions for improving the rules, which may be said to have
worked fairly well on the whole, are made by any of the reporting officers, but
there appears to be a general opinion that the police are not so energetic as they
might be in the enforcement of the rules. There has been a general failure in
dealing adequately with the evil of clandestine prostitution. No doubt from the
habits of the people, and the general circumstances of the country, there is much
difficulty in detecting and punishing the practice, and with the best efforts the
agency of the police must frequently be found insufficient. But where clandestine
prostitution is carried on by registered women who have absconded or by unregis-
tered women in registered brothels, as appears to be often the case, it is plain
that the police omit to do their duty. The Chief Commissioner would invite the
attention of the Inspector-General of Police to this matter. A further complaint
is-made that Deputy Commissioners in some instances grant leave to prostitutes
to absent themselves from periodical examinations without consulting the Civil
Surgeon or informing the police. If this is the case, the practice should be
stopped. Leave should in no case be given without the consent of the Civil
Surgeon, and when leave is granted, the Superintendent of Police should be
informed of the fact.
10. The total expenditure on lock-hospitals in the year 1880 was Rs. 25,463,
or about Rs. 37 for each registered woman. In 1879 the total expenditure was