Remarks by Surgeon-Major D. SINCLAIR, M.B ., Inspector-General of Jails with Civil Medical Administra-
tion, British Burma, in the various visitors'-books of lock-hospitals in British Burma.
I WAS personally in charge of the Rangoon lock-hospital whilst Surgeon-
Major H. Johnstone was on leave ; more space was required and it was suggested
that the basement be enclosed by jaffery work. Greater facilities for ablution,
local and general, appeared necessary and an arrangement similar to that recom-
mended in my remarks on the Akyab lock-hospital was proposed ; the other
changes requisite have been noticed in the body of the report.
Dr. Kelly inspected the lock-hospital at Thayetmyo on the 27th April and
his remarks on it are hereto appended : —
"Inspected this hospital today ; 27 on register ; one under treatment in hospital. The
place does not look as clean as it ought to do.
" The sweeper should be required to wash down the floors and rub them with dry sand
and cocoanut-husk once weekly. No small oil-lights should be allowed on the floors.
Proper lamps are provided.
" Bathroom and latrines are in good order. Drinking-water brought from river.
The building, is in good order and quite suitable. Medicines properly kept."
All the lock-hospitals were inspected by me and the following are the remarks
entered in the visitors'-books of the several institutions : —
Toungoo, 2nd August 1882.—Visited the lock-hospital this morning. There are
seven patients under treatment. This is a very large proportion of 13, the total,
on the list. If there are only 13 prostitutes in Toungoo, it is not surprising that
a large proportion is on the sick list. There are no Natives of India on the regis-
ter, and the patients explain that sepoys visit their countrywomen, many of whom
carry on prostitution secretly. The books, instruments, and medicines seem well
kept, but the hospital assistant, who says he writes up the first, appears to know
very little about them.
Bassein, 28th August 1882.—Inspected this institution twice within the past
four days. The books, instruments, and medicines seemed carefully looked after.
The building is in good repair and was clean on the occasion of my visit.
The outhouses, but especially the latrine, and the palisade require repairs ; and
a few brick surface drains might be put down with advantage. There are 20
women on the register, and a candidate for admission to their ranks was the
only inmate of the hospital. This being weekly inspection morning all were
examined and certified free from disease. Their quarters in the town were also
visited by me, and I would suggest to the municipality that, if it is their intention
to keep up the present arrangement, better houses be provided in a more sanitary
situation with a possible approach. Nothing, in my opinion, is more likely to foster
clandestine prostitution than the existing unsatisfactory arrangement.
Thayetmyo, 7th October 1882.—Inspected the lock-hospital this morning.
The ward was fairly neat and clean. The outhouses as well as the hospital were
in good repair. The boas were properly kept and up to date. There are three
patients under treatment,—two with ulceration and the third with gonorrhœa.
One of the ulcer cases has been about six months under treatment. Clandestine
prostitution must be carried on to a great extent in this station as there are but
34 women on the list. On this account the hospital and its establishment can
but imperfectly fulfil the functions they are capable of and were intended for.
Akyab, 29th November 1882.—Inspected the lock-hospital this morning ; the
building is in a sad state of repair and ought to be pulled down ; a smaller one
to accommodate half-a-dozen patients or so could be put up from the material in
the present erection. The main ward though gloomy was clean. The examination-
room is too exposed and can be overlooked : a coating of limewash over the
window would help to correct this. To substitute a wooden table for the rattan
bedstead, frequently in use for examination purposes, would be an improvement,
and the bringing of three or four of the unused charpoys from the dispensary on
which to place the mattresses would involve no cost, and at the same time would
help to remove an impression of untidiness which the sight of bedding on the