( 2 )
in the fees which were levied at the Rangoon and Thayetmyo Lock-hospitals in
the early part of the year. Under the orders of the Government of India, the
levying of these fees was discontinued in the month of April 1879.
3. Owing to the disturbed state of affairs in Upper Burma, the number of
European troops in this province was greater than usual during the year under
review. The average strength of the garrison was 2,741 men; and the number
of cases of venereal disease which occurred among them was 310, or 11 .3 per
cent. of the average number of men. The percentage was highest at Rangoon,
where it amounted to 18 . 4, and lowest at Thayetmyo, where it was 7.9. These
results compare favourably with those of the Bengal and Madras cantonments.
The desirability of appointing Regimental Officers to Cantonment Commitees
formed the subject of correspondence during the year, and the Chief Commis-
sioner has intimated to the Major-General commanding the division that he would
concur in the appointment by the Commander-in-Chief, under Chapter II., para-
graph 1 of the Cantonment Rules, of the officers commanding the British regiment
and the Royal Artillery at each station to be ex-officio members of the Cantonment
Committee at that station. The suggestions made by the Government of India
at the close of the year 1878, regarding the advantages of regimental control and
good regimental institutions in keeping men from contracting venereal disease,
have been communicated to the military authorities, and have no doubt received
due attention at their hands.
4. The Rangoon Lock-hospital is by far the largest and most important in
the province, and its condition and administration formed the subject of careful
enquiry during the year under report. An Apothecary on Rs. 200 a month has
now been appointed to the charge of the hospital, and orders have issued for the
exclusive employinent of an Inspector of Police and three constables in lock-
hospital cases. From the Junior Civil Surgeon's report it would appear that this
order has not been fully carried out, and that the Inspector has been employed on
other duties than those of the lock-hospital. An explanation of this circumstance
will be required. The average number of women on the register during the year
1879 was 467, as compared with an average of 472 in 1878. Of the women not in
hospital, an average of 91 per cent. attended the weekly examinations, and 19
per cent. of these on an average were found to be diseased on each occasion.
Last year's figures were 85.5 and 7 respectively. The total number of absentee
during the year 1879 was 336. Of these, 164 absconded and have not been
traced, 95 were excused on the score of sickness, and the remaining 77
were sent up to the Magistrate for punishment, 66 being convicted and 11 dis-
charged. These figures show that there was no laxity in enforcing the attendance
of the prostitutes at the periodical examinations. The amount of venereal disease
among the European garrison was somewhat greater than in the previous year,
but the figures contrast favourably with those of most Indian stations. There can
be no doubt that clandestine prostitution is very extensively practised in Rangoon,
and that much disease is spread in this manner; but the detection and prosecu-
tion of such cases is a matter of much difficulty, and only 16 convictions were
obtained throughout the year. With a view to the more efficient working of the
Act, the area within which the rules are enforced has been extended so as to
include all villages within a radius of seven miles of the cantonment.