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Annual Report on the Lock Hospital at Thayetmyo for 1877.
DR. OSWALD BAKER, who took over medical charge of the civil station in October 1877,
submits the report of this lock hospital for the past year, and has taken such pains over it,
and gone so fully into the subject, that few remarks remain to be made.
2. The cook-house should be supplied as soon as possible, and so render the institu-
tion perfect in all respects. The D. P. W. will be addressed on the matter.
3. Dr. Baker's remarks as to the importation of the disease with the incoming of new
troops is nothing new. When the reliefs consist of a large body of men, the importation of
the disease is more apparent by tabulated statements ; but it is equally true throughout the
year, as it continues with every draft of men which arrive.
4. The segregation of the public women can be legally effected under the rules ; but
during the past two or three years there has existed a difference of opinion, chiefly amongst
the medical men, as to the real benefit to be obtained thereby. There is plenty of available
space for additional houses in the existing locality.
5. The artillery horse-keepers' line, and the rudder bazaar, where the camp-follow-
ers reside and live with their so-called wives, are most productive of illicit prostitution ; and
the police are quite at fault, and find the greatest difficulty in detecting the same, especially
amongst the Madrassee grass-cuts.
6. Lieutenant-Colonel Hand, commanding H. M.'s 44th Regiment, informs me that when
at Secunderabad he got two native policemen, and associated them with his provost sergeant
and military Police, for the detection of prostitutes and prevention of dram-selling, and was
most successful. The men were made chums of, and, where the European could not go
without instantly being noticed, the native slipped in, and the European came up to his
assistance when required. I recommend a similar plan here, and that two selected police-
men be placed as an experiment under the orders of Colonel Hand for the purposes of
detection of illicit prostitution and sale of liquor in connection with his military police.
7. In paragraph VI. of his report, Dr. Baker has some interesting remarks with refer-
-ence to the number of registered prostitutes and extent of the disease in comparison with the
population, &c., of the prescribed area ; and Dr. Baker is right in his conjecture. As a rule,
the Burman does not go with the public prostitute, but finds what he wants in a somewhat
similar fashion to that in vogue amongst the lower orders of the Welsh. The argument
set up, however, somewhat spoils and refutes the deduction drawn from the pretty table in
paragraph 10 of the report, " comparing the relative prevalence of venereal disease among
the troops in garrison, civil paupers and criminal population, and registered prostitutes."
8. The prescribed area was increased, so as to take in Taragoon, where military are
stationed now and then, and which is in the immediate vicinity of Allanmyo and Yuatoung.
This increased area must be productive of benefit whenever troops are sent across the river.
9. The decrease in the disease amongst the registered women is evidently the satis-
factory result of the improved regularity in attendance for periodical examination.
10. The fees collected from the prostitutes during 1877 came to Rs. 219,—an increase
of Rs. 44 on 1876. The amount continues to appear too small, as Statements II. and III.
would indicate that full and true collection was not made. For example, take the month of
May 1877: there were 27 women on the register, 24 attended examination, one was absent, and
no one was detained sick ; consequently, the fees collected in that month should have been
Rs. 24 at the very least, or Rs. 27, and not only Rs. 20 as entered in Statement III. The
same occurred last year. This calls for enquiry, and the officer in charge will be addressed
on the subject ; and I would suggest that column 2 of Statement II. be divided into two heads,
shewing those healthy and sick ; and that the fees be collected on counterfoil receipts.
11. The total expenditure and receipts during the past two years were as follow :—
Receipts.
Payments.
1876 .. Rs. 392 7 0
..
Rs. 1,301 5 10
1877 .. „ 424 0 0
. .
,, 1,147 1 2
showing the receipts increased by Rs. 31-9-0, and expenditure decreased by Rs. 154-4-8,-
a total money improvement of Rs. 185-13-8. Government paid the full sum, Rs. 1,147-1-2 ;
and the receipts, Rs. 424, were credited to Government : Rs. 723-1-2 was the net cost of
the institution, which is nearly self-supporting, as Rs. 600, the allowance to the Civil Surgeon,
is always paid as a Government charge. For the above sum of Rs. 723-1-2, 47 women were
treated. This gives an incidence of about Rs. 15 per head.
12. The fence round the hospital should be removed, and a much higher and stronger
one put up. This might be done at the same time as the building of the cook-house
recommended.
Annual Report on the Lock Hospital at Thayetmyo for the year 1877.
I. —Nature and extent of hospital accommodation ; whether suitable, or any alterations or additions taken
place during the year.
THE Thayetmyo Lock Hospital is a substantial and well-constructed teakwood build-
ing, with one large central ward for the sick, efficiently protected from extremes of weather
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