( 2 )
There are no Arakanese on the register. This is partly to be accounted for by
the fact that their place is in a great part supplied by women from India, and partly
to the fact that the Arakanese women, however immoral their habits may be, do
not, except in rare instances, follow prostitution as a trade. When an Arakanese
woman is put on the register she either leaves the town or nominally takes a hus-
band. The venereal disease in the town, according to Dr. Foster's report, is very
small, and I think it would be unwise to order the police to interfere more in the
matter than at present. The building is in a disgraceful state.
The Assistant Commissioner has explained how it is that delay and con-
fusion are caused by the women not waiting for their tickets.
Remarks by D. J. A. CAMPBELL, Esq., c.s., Assistant Commissioner, Akyab, on the Akyab Lock-hospital
report for 1881.
THE marked decrease in the percentage of cases of venereal disease noted
in paragraph 3 affords proof that the control of prostitution cannot be so defective
as alleged in paragraph 5.
Paragraph 5.—All women who apply for registration are furnished with
tickets and put on the register. Delay and confusion is caused by the women
themselves, who leave court without waiting for their tickets and have to be
hunted up ; others present themselves in the first instance at the lock-hospital and
have to be referred to the Magistrate.
Paragraph 8.—Of the five women reported for non-attendance at the periodi-
cal examinations, one was convicted and sentenced to seven days' rigorous imprison-
ment under Act XIV of 1868. In the other four cases the women had been per-
mitted to leave Akyab, but the notification of their having been struck off the regis-
ter had not time to reach the Superintendent before the next weekly examination.
AK Y A B.
I.—The nature and extent of the hospital accommodation, [whether it is suitable, and whether there has
been any change in it during the year.
The lock-hospital buildings were described in the report for 1877.
There has been no overcrowding during the year. The average number of
patients has been but 3.55, with a maximum average of 5.16 in May. The build-
ings are old, but answer all purposes ; they are being repaired.
II.—Any changes in the medical charge of the lock-hospital during the year.
The writer of the present report has held charge throughout the year. Third
Class Hospital Assistant Kureem Khan was relieved in July by Second Class
Hospital Assistant Sona Mull. Both performed their duties to my satisfaction.
III.—The extent of venereal disease among European troops as shown by the weekly returns.
There are no troops in this station. The amount of venereal disease treated
in the General Hospital shows a favourable decrease of 2.01 per cent. on the pre-
vious year and of 5.15 per cent. on 1879. The percentage of cases of venereal
disease is the lowest during five years. Syphilitic affections show a marked
decrease. Gonorrhœal affections, &c., remain about the same.
As stated in last year's report, a considerable number of the cases of venereal
disease treated in hospital were contracted elsewhere.
IV.—Whether a Cantonment Sub-Committee for exercising special supervision over the rules has existed
throughout the year and what officers composed it.
No Committee ; the Magistrate has continued to have charge of the working
of the Act.
V.—What special measures have been taken for control of prostitution and especially for preventing the
danger from unlicensed prostitutes frequenting the lines.
The police appear to have accomplished but little during the year in control-
ling unregistered prostitution. As far as I can ascertain, even regular prostitutes
living in the prostitutes' quarters have failed to be brought up. Several of these
women have of their own accord applied to me at the lock-hospital for examina-
tion : the names of these women were sent to the Magistrate, and yet a number of
them remain unregistered. I leave it for the Magistrate to .explain how this
occurred.
No Arakanese women were brought on the register.