( 23 )
sufficient light in it. It is supplied with a good table and is provided with all
the necessary instruments, medicines, furniture, &c.
X.—How far disease has increases or decreased among the women ; to what extent it has become less
virulent ; its nature as compared with that among the men ; is there any relation between the two ;
how far the admissions amongst the women are due to non-venereal affections or to detention of women
during the monthly illness.
The total number of admissions into hospital as compared with the last year
has been small. Out of 42 prostitutes, the total treated in hospital in 1881 was
25, i.e., 60 per cent.; whereas in 1880, with a strength of 48, the total number
treated was 37, giving a percentage of 77 : with an average attendance of 22.72 in
1881 there were on an average two*found diseased and detained in the hospital.
The complaints in the majority of cases were of a
milder type. The admissions from gonorrhœa as
compared to those from syphilis were as about three to one respectively. In 1880,
in an average of 23 present at periodical examinations there were three found
diseased, and the ratio of gonorrhœa to syphilis was as two to one, whereas this
year it was three to one.
The above statements are given below in the form of a table :—
Years.
N u m b e r o f r e g i s t r e d p r o s t i t u t e s .
Number of prostitutes found
diseased at the periodical
examination and detained for
treatment.
Percentage
of disease to
number on
register.
Average
attendance
at periodical
examination.
Found
diseased and
detained.
Ratio of
gonorrhœa,
to syphilis.
1879
...
6 8
5 1 88
21.3
Average.
4
1.2 to 1
1880
...
48
37 *
77
23.
3
2 to 1
1881
...
42
25 *
60
22.72
2
3 to 1
Thus it will be seen that the prostitutes were much healthier in 1881 than
in any of the previous years ; only one very bad case of syphilis was admitted
during the year, while all the rest were of a very mild form.
The only means of judging the prevalence of the disease in the town are the
admissions at the general dispensary and the jail. In the latter there were 746
admissions during the year, and in that number there were only two with gonorrhœa
and one with syphilis ; the latter was a new arrival from Mandalay, and being very
hard up on his way down had stolen something on board one of the steamers. In
the civil dispensary there were in all 6,597 treated, and out of this number there
were 60 from syphilis and 40 from gonorrhœa, giving a ratio of nine of syphilis and
six of gonorrhœa to 1,000 admissions from all other diseases.
Last year, i.e., in 1880, the total admissions were 6,685, and out of these
118 were with syphilis and 70 from gonorrhœa, giving a ratio of 17 of syphilis
and 10 of Gonorrhœa to 1,000 of all admissions.
Years. Total admis-
sions.
Admissions
from syphilis.
Admissions from
gonorrhœa.
Ratio of syphilis to
1,000 of total admis-
sions.
Ratio of gonorrhœa
to 1,000 of total
admissions.
1880...
6,685
118
70
17
10
1881...
6,597
60
4 0
9
6
A curious fact is noticeable with reference to these admissions from syphilis
and gonorrhœa, and this is that there was not a single policeman admitted
with the disease ; and besides, the number of Burmans was in excess of the
number of Natives of India, which is a rare thing. This fact is a very important
one. It shows that the Natives of India and the policemen who visit these pros-
titutes are on the safer side (so long as there is a lock-hospital) than the Bur-
*Including the remainder of the previous year.
* Properly speaking 20/12 = 1.7.