Remarks by Surgeon-Major D. SINCLAIR, M.B., Inspector-General of Jails, with Civil Medical Administration
British Burma, in the various visitors'-books of the lock-hospitals in British Burma.
Rangoon.—Inspected the hospital this afternoon (11th February). Books up
to date and properly kept. Medicines neatly arranged and properly labell ėd.
Premises generally tidy. Women seem to object to latrine. Vicinity of well
perhaps a little untidy, and the temporary quarters for the durwan give main
building untidy appearance. Enclosure infested with rats which burrow in
search for food and shelter. Something should be done to exterminate these
pests. There are 82 women in hospital : this is in excess of the accommodation.
Not much inconvenience arises however, as the excess sleep in the veranda.
Patients seem comfortable and well cared for.
Toungoo.—Inspected the hospital this afternoon (31st July). New quarters
admirably suitable. Compound low and at this season very sloppy. Main
building commodious and well arranged. Outhouses, including latrines, cook-
house, and peon's godown, fairly suitable. Latrine seats should have had less
timber in them. No outlet for spilt water in compartment for ablutionary pur-
poses. Outhouses, fairly clean, appear but little used as yet. Main ward and
back veranda disgracefully untidy and filthy. Eighteen women on register, of
whom 2 absent, 4 sick, and 12 effective. Plentiful supply of medicines well and
carefully kept. Instruments clean and in repair. No complaints from women
under treatment. Hospital assistant should be made to take greater interest in
his work and to show progress of cases more fully in the bed tickets.
Bassein. —Lock-hospital and dispensary inspected on 13th and 14th June.
Compound of former clean and tidier than on last occasion. Entrance gate
ought as a rule to be under lock and key. One female sick (gonorrhœa). Only
11 prostitutes on present list, very inadequately representing the prostitution in
a seaport with 28,000 population. Records of hospital kept in dispensary. Pro-
perly kept and up to date.
Thayetmyo. —Inspected hospital this morning (12th October). Main building
clean and general arrangement suitable. Almiras containing medicines should
have locks. Access to room in which almira stands easily had, even though
door be locked. Twenty-four women on list, 4 on sick list, 2 of them for
a considerable time. All examined weekly, and from records appear regular in
attendance. Abundant supply of water for ablutions from a well under fence
separating hospital from dispensary. Records up to date and in order.
Akyab.—Went over the lock-hospital yesterday (19th August) evening.
Main building in same disrepair as on previous inspection. My remarks on
examination room and table, the bathroom and appurtenances, apparently
unheeded ; and my suggestion regarding cots for in-patients seems not to have
met with approval of Committee. Only 3 patients,
—2
with
gonorrhœa, 1
with ulcer. Gate was not locked. Arrangements to exclude stray visitors or to
safely detain sick inmates susceptible of improvement. Whole enclosure, hospi-
tal, latrine, bathroom, cookroom, &c., as clean and tidy as circumstances
permit.
Moulmein.—Made the annual inspection this afternoon (17th December). Five
in-patients out of an aggregate of 60 women on list, 4 syphilis and 1 gonor-
rhœa. All progressing favourably. There were 79 in-patients during current
year. Hospital, cookhouse, latrine, and bathroom, though dilapidated, clean and
fairly well equipped. Daily average sick has been 5. First Class Hospital
Assistant Mobarick Ali in immediate charge of this and surgical ward of General
Hospital. There being a matron, and the medicines being made up by a com-
pounder, much of Mobarick's time is at the disposal of the Superintendent for
General Hospital duty. It would be to his own interests that he should under-
take part of the clerical duties in the office.