( 2 )
Excluding imported cases and relapses, of . which there were 25 at Rangoon, 37 at
Thayetmyo, and. 49 at Toungoo (altogether 111 as against 22 in 1885), the admis-
sions at these stations, which numbered 370 in 1885, amount to . 353 in the year
under review, the ratios per thousand of average strength being 198.8 and 261.73
respectively. Venereal disease has consequently been relatively more prevalent
during 1886 than in any other year of which the foregoing table takes cognizance.
It will be observed that the excess rate is entirely due to the admissions at Ran-
goon, the admissions at the other two stations being absolutely and relatively
smaller than during 1885. Surgeon-Major Baker attributes the exceptional pre-
valence at Rangoon to the constantly changing garrison and novelty of surround-
ings which, in his experience, invariably conduce to this result.
The large number of imported cases met with at Thayetmyo and at Toungoo
are attributed by Surgeons Frenchman and Rundle to similar causes. The
former writes : " The large number of military posts and detachments that were
" out of the station accounts for the rise in imported cases. I am not able to give
" here the number of cases imported from each military post as the statistics are
" not at hand, but the general impression is that more cases were imported from the
" other side of the old frontier, especially from Minhla ; " and the latter says
: ".During the months of October and November the Royal West Surrey Regiment
" (strength 769) and South Wales Borderers (strength 378) together contributed
" 49 cases."
In the following statement, from which importations and relapses are excluded,
the admissions of the soldiers to hospital for the past two years are classified :—
Rangoon.
Thayetmyo.
Toungoo.
1885. 1886. 1885. 1886. 1885. 1886.
Primary syphilis
...
...
... 119
130
42
2
15
5
Secondary syphilis
•••
•••
12
36
5
15
5
5
Gonorrhœa ...... 105
98
32
15
35
47
The increase of syphilis at Rangoon and the decrease of the same disorder
at Thayetmyo and Toungoo during the year under review compared with 1885
is remarkable. The rise in the number of cases of secondary syphilis at
Thayetmyo is ascribed. to the exceptional prevalence of primary syphilis during
1885, which was commented on in the report for that year.
IV.—Whether a cantonment sub-committee for exercising special supervision over the rules has
existed throughout the year and what officers comprised it.
The control of the Rangoon Lock-hospital continued under the local Govern-
ment throughout the year. The Akyab (which was closed on the 1st Sep-
tember), Bassein, Thayetmyo, and Toungoo Lock-hospitals were under the control
of their respective Municipalities. There are Cantonment Committees at Ran-
goon, Thayetmyo, and Toungoo ; but, as pointed out in previous reports, they do
not seem to .exercise any special supervision over the rules referred to.
V.—What special measures have been taken for control of prostitutes, and especially for preventing
the danger from unlicensed prostitutes frequenting the lines.
During the latter part of the year the police establishment attached to the
Rangoon Lock-hospital was increased. In place of one Inspector and one constable
as formerly there are now one Inspector and. four constables ; :but, as Surgeon-
Major Baker observes, " it is far from being obvious that this augmentation of
" agency has led to any improvement in the registration. Indeed, seeing that only
" Rs. 17 have been collected in fines during the last four months of the year for