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The area over which the registration extends is about there square miles. It is confined
to the limits of the town.
The total number of new registrations effected in 1878 was 17, as compared with 17
of the previous year. Owing to various causes—such as application for removal from the
register, departure to some other town, &c.-22 women's names were struck off the roll.
The average attendance has been 8.6 during the past year.
VII.—what registration fees or payments of any kind have been received from the prostitutes.
No payments of any kind have been received from the prostitutes, owing, perhaps, to
the fact that this might prove some hindrance to voluntary registration.
V I I I — W h e t h e r t h e w o m e n h a v e b e e n r e g u l a r a t t h e p e r i o d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n ; a n y r e m a r k s o n t h e c a u s e o f i r r e g u l a r i t y ;
the number of individual women reported for non-attendance ; the fines or other punishments awarded, and
the amounts realized.
The attendance of the women at the weekly examinations has been very fair. Some,
having left town, could not be prosecuted for non-attendance ; others—a small proportion—
occasionally absented themselves; but these were enquired about and reported to be really
unable to attend, owing to illness. The fact of all the prostitutes living in the same
neighbourhood, enables the authorities to enquire after them from their co-labourers, who
are always most willing to report upon them.
IX.—The arrangements for examing and treating the women of the town.
The prostitutes were examined on fifty-two occasions during the past year— i.e. , weekly—
in the room set apart for the purpose at the lock-hospital, by the Superintendent, who
invariably used the speculum. If any disease be detected, the possessor is detained at the
hospital at once, and suitable remedies applied by the Matron, under the supervision of the
Superintendent.
X.—How far disease has increased or decreased amongst the women ; to what extent it has become less virulent,
its nature as compared with that amongst the men ; is there any relation between the two ? how far the
admissions amongst the women are due to non-venereal affections, or to detention of women during the monthly
period.
Venereal disease has abated in a very marked manner amongst the prostitutes ex-
amined. No disease of a kind likely to produce constitutional syphilis has been detected
throughout the year. Some cases of ulcer at the os uteri were admitted, owing to the fact
that through their exposed surfaces true syphilitic virus may have been communicated to
the women by a man affected with a hard chancre or sore, which would eventually produce
constitutional syphilis. The number of cases treated under the head of "syphilitic disease"
has been larger during the year than in 1877, being 114 to 70 during the previous year.
This includes a large number of cases of gonorrhœa, which cannot be truly called a syphi-
litic disease. The increase may partly be accounted for by the fact that there was a
larger attendance at the dispensary during the year under review than the previous year,
there being a daily average attendance of 50.8, as compared with 48.4. The influx of
agriculturists was greater, likewise, from Upper Burma, during the season for the tran-
splanting and reaping of rice, which has been very abundantly produced in this district
during the year 1878. These men bring their diseases with them. There is no relation
between the cases admitted and the registered prostitutes in the station, or, if any exists,
it is not at all traceable.
XI.—How far dhaies are employed, and with what result.
No regular dhaies are employed ; but the Matron, by paying frequent visits to the
locality allotted to the regular prostitutes, makes herself acquainted with any new arrivals,
who as a rule seek the society of their own kind, on the same principle as may be found
in the adage "birds of a feather flock together."
XII.—Any information on other matters, or suggestions for improvement of rules.
The Matron who was in charge upon my arrival here had to be dismissed, owing to
her having, through negligence, permitted a prostitute under custody at the hospital (for
treatment) to escape. The post of cook was also given to her by my predecessor ; but,
seeing no necessity for the continuance of this (as an extra), it was found practicable to
obtain the services of a Matron who would also attend to the cooking of food for the
patients, when the articles were supplied in the raw state by a contractor at fixed rates.
This alteration has saved the provincial funds the sum of Rs. 70, at Rs. 10 per mensem.
A suggestion might here be offered, which would be certain to bear very profitable
results as far as the prevention of clandestine prostitution is concerned, which is at pre-
sent the chief, if not only, source of disease in the station. It is as follows :—the sum of
Rs. 10, which have been saved per mensem, or a portion of it at least, might be utilized
in the payment of rewards to the members of the police force, at the rate of eight annas
per head for each woman whom they detected practising without a license. I venture to
state that this would be the most efficient means for bringing the rules into proper force
upon the numerous unregistered women who are spreading disease all around, with perfect
impunity as far as the law is concerned.
The total expenditure during the year under review has amounted to the sum of
Rs. 1,064-2-3.