I am inclined to think that the subject has received due attention. The Act is in
operation, without reference to class, with all who live within the area of municipal boun-
daries.
The population in these limits consists of 18,345 Burmese and 4,072 natives of India,
with others ; among whom there were during the year 39 registered prostitutes,—38 Bur-
mese, and one a native of India. But the average number of licensed women was only 18.7,
providing a ratio of one prostitute to every 1,200 of population.
In connection with the foregoing paragraph, it is interesting to note that, of the total
female population of the town, 9,157 are Burmese and 1,441 natives of India and others.
IX.—What registering fees or payments of any kind are levied on prostitution in Bassein.
No fees have ever been levied in Bassein, and no fines have been inflicted during the
year of report.
X.—Whether the women have been regular at the periodical examinations ; any remarks as to the cause of irre-
gularity ; the number of individual women reported for non-attendance, the fines and other punishments
awarded, and the amounts realized.
The average number of prostitutes on the register for 1877 was 23.7 ; average attend-
ance at periodical examination, 16 .4 ; while 21 women were reported for absence. The
corresponding figures for the year 1878 were 18.7 registered, 16.8 attended, and 16
reported.
The comparison shows that the attendance has been decidedly more regular,—a circum-
stance easily understood if it be remembered that no compulsory registration has been
resorted to. There was but one escape from hospital, and only fifteen instances of absence
on examination days; while none of those charged with these infractions of the Act seemed
to have deserved a punitive award.
That there has been so much regularity of attendance, and apparently so little
unregistered practised, are two very satisfactory features in the working of the Act for the
year 1878.
XL—The arrangements for examining and treating the women of the town.
The examinations are held fortnightly, and the arrangements for conducting them
both good and sufficient.
XIL—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 detention of women during the
menstrual period.
During the past year there were 19 admissions into hospital, resulting from an aggre-
gate of 449 examinations distributed between 39 women ; while the corresponding numbers
for 1877 were 23 admissions, 393 aggregate examinations among 37 women.
Thus there would appear to have been a diminution of venereal disease, and, as all the
inspections, with one exception, in both years were made by the same Medical Officer
(namely, Mr. Foster), it is more than probable that there was an actual reduction of disease.
In the Deputy Surgeon-General's review of the working of the lock-hospitals in Burma for
1877, it is remarked, with reference to the amount of disease, "it will be seen that the
admissions into the hospital depend very much on the views held by Medical Officers ;" and it
is with respect to this representation, the justice of which is freely admitted, that I have
stated who conducted the examinations for the last two years ; and the reason I am per-
suaded of the diminution of venereal disease among registered prostitutes in Bassein is
altogether the result of this circumstance.
An endeavour to shew any comparison between the diseases in men and the licensed
women will scarcely be instructive until the same classification of venereal disease in the
two sexes is observed. The contagious venereal disorders which men can acquire from
women are, according to the nomenclature adopted by Government, syphilis and gonor-
rhoea ; while the names given to the contagious venereal diseases for which prostitutes have
been admitted to hospital has not always been regulated on this recollection.
In the record of disease, in No. 2 of the statements which accompany this report,
I have acted up to the suggestion offered by the preceding paragraph, by referring all
the admissions to hospital to either syphilis or gonorrhoea.
XIII.—How far dhaies are employed, and with what result.
No dhaies are employed.
XIV.—Any information on other matters, or suggestions for improvement of the rules.
The Act appears to have worked in a satisfactory manner during the past year, and
I have no suggestion to make to increase its efficiency. Mr. Foster stated, at the time
I received charge from him, that in his opinion it would be advisable to incorporate the
lock-hosPital with the civil dispensary, attach the same subordinate to the two institu-
lions, and amalgamate their funds. I presume the suggestion originated in motives of
economy, as I fail to see what other advantage the project has.
11