NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
( 3 )
5. The total receipts from fees and fines amounted to Rs. 1,946. Fees were
only levied at Thayetmyo. The practice of levying fees has been prohibited and
must be at once discontinued. The expenditure of the year amounted to
Rs. 24,064, of which Rs. 5,606 was borne by Government and Rs. 18,458 by muni-
cipal, town, and cantonment funds.
By order,
E. S. SYMES,
Offg. Secretary.
REPORT
ON
LOCK-HOSPITALS, BRITISH BURMA,
FOR THE YEAR 1882.
IN accordance with instructions conveyed in Juniors Secretary's endorsement
No. 327-9S., dated the 13th February last, the form in which the lock-hospital
report is this year submitted is somewhat different from that adopted in previous
years. The statistics of the various hospitals have been tabulated together and
the facts dealt with in the divisional reports embodied in one general report for
the province. The divisional reports were submitted to the Deputy Surgeon-
General : his remarks thereon will be found in the appendix in his letter No. 359,
dated the 11th April.
The delay in submitting this report is principally due to the fact that one of
the divisional reports submitted through a municipality did not reach this office
till the 8th of the present month, when and for some time after I was engaged on
work that could not be delayed.
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.
Under this head last year's remarks are applicable. Except at Rangoon,
the lock-hospital accommodation has been much in excess of the requirements.
The Rangoon institution was built for 71 patients : the daily average has been 89.
Two suggestions have been made for its enlargement,—the one to give up the
European ward to the Natives, the other to enclose the basement. The former
would necessitate the provision of a new building for the Europeans. Free quar
ters for the apothecary are to be built towards the north end, but beyond the
enclosure, as the existing ones are much too small and very unsuitable for a man
with a wife and family. At Toungoo a new lock-hospital to replace the dilapi-
dated structure there in use was in course of construction at the beginning of this
year.
The hospital at Akyab, originally built for a military hospital, is not suited
to its present use ; it is far too large, in a position too exposed and too accessible ;
its reconstruction in a more convenient form is likely to engage the attention of
the municipality soon.
The buildings at Bassein, Thayetmyo, and Moulmein are the same as have
been in use for some years past, and with the exception of that at Moulmein are
well placed and efficient.
II.—Any changes in the medical charge of the lock-hospitals during the year.
Akyab. —Dr. C. W. E. Foster was in charge of the lock-hospital from the 1st
January to the 14th August, when he was relieved by Surgeon P. W. Dalzell, who
remained in charge until the end of the year.
Thayetmyo.—Surgeon P. W. Dalzell was in charge from the 1st January to the
26th July, and Surgeon E. P. Frenchman, of the Madras Army, until the end of the
year.
( 4 )
The cause of the failure of the lock-hospital system generally is embodied
in the foregoing remarks.
The following table shows the number of women arrested, punished , and
acquitted during the year :—
Stations .
Number
arrested.
Number im-
prisoned.
Number
fined.
Number ac-
quieted or
released.
Moulmein
. . .
. . .
...
21
6
10
5
Bassein
.....
. . .
. . .
1 7
1
8
8
R a n g o o n . . .
. . .
. . .
128*
1 7
1 0 6
5
Thayetmyo . . .
. . .
. . .
11
1
10
0
Toungoo
. . .
. . .
. . .
5
2
1
2
Akyab
. . .
. . .
. . .
6 +
. . .
. . .
. . .
VI.—How far the registration has been efficient, to what class it extends, and over what area.
Judged by the extent to which venereal disease spread amongst the
troops (vide supra), registration has been very inefficient.
Dr. Dalzell argues that registration must have been faulty at Akyab, because
amongst a population of nearly 34,000, the majority of whom are Arakanese, not
a woman of this race is on the register. Yet men complain that it is from this
source the disease is most frequently contracted. " It is clear," he says, " that
" registration is faulty, and that the authority of the Law exercised by the police
" is necessary to place and keep unlicensed women on the register."
This is the opinion of all Medical Officers who have any experience of the
working of the system.
From the following table it is seen that there has been a slight increase in
the numbers on the register at Rangoon, Moulmein, and Thayetmyo, and that
there has been a slight decrease at Toungoo, Bassein, and Akyab:—
Stations.
Number remaining on
register at close of
Protected area.
Population. Ratio of prostitutes
to population.
1881.
1882.
Rangoon
...
. . .
378
424
102 square miles ...
185,723
1 in
438
Moulmein
...
...
51
60
14 square miles ...
53,107
1 in
885
Toungoo
. . .
. . . 17
14
4 miles around
cantonment.
20,000
1 in 1,429
Thayetmyo
...
. . .
24
25
7 miles round the
cantonment.
38,236
1 in 1,529
Bassein
. . .
. . .
27
25
14 square miles ...
33,502
1 in 1,340
Akyab
. . .
. . .
58
56
Town under muni-
cipality.
33,989
1 in
607
VII.—Whether registration fees have been levied and at what rate.
No registration fees were levied except at Thayetmyo, where in January
1882 the Cantonment Committee imposed a fee of one rupee per head per men-
sem, which was reduced to two annas on the women representing that it was
excessive.
VIII.—Whether women have been regular at the periodical examination, any remarks as to the cause of
irregularity, the number of individual women reported for non-attendance, the fines or other
punishments awarded, and the amount realised.
The following is a comparative statement showing average attendance and
average number on the register for 1881 and 1882:—
* Besides these there were 95 persons arrested with what result no information obtainable.
+Particulars are not given.
(5)
Stations.
1881.
1882.
Average attend
ance at periodical
examination.
Average number
of women on
register.
Average attend
ance at periodical
examination.
Average number
of women on
register.
Akyab
...
. .
58.10
58.29
59.57
60.78
Rangoon ...
...
289.15
436.96
255.84
387.69
Bassein ...
...
. . .
22.72
25.00
20.1
23.1
Thayetmyo
...
. . .
21.00
23.92
23.2
26.5
Moulmein
... ...
49.67
51.25
55.1
68.5
Toungoo ...
. . .
13.90
18'32
7'26
13.23
In. Rangoon Dr. Johnstone complains that the Burmese attend very irregu-
larly. The Natives of India, on the other hand, are very regular in their attend-
ance he says.
The attendance of the women at Toungoo is not good, and no satisfactory
explanation of the circumstance is given in the divisional report. The number of
prostitutes reported for non-attendance and the amount of the fines realised are
shown in column 10, statement II, and column 3, statement III, in the Appendix.
IX.—The arrangement for examining and treating the women of this city and cantonment.
Same as in last year's report.
X.—How far the disease has increased or decreased among women ; to what extent it has become less viru-
lent ; 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 number of prostitutes found diseased and the daily average number
in hospital for the past two years is shown at columns 11 and 12 of statement II.
There has been a satisfactory decrease in the number admitted to hospital at all
the stations except Toungoo, where the increase is entirely due to gonorrhœa.
The number of cases of syphilis show a very marked reduction at all the hos-
pitals, and the disease is generally reported to be of a milder type, readily yield-
ing to treatment.
The following statement shows the admissions for the past two years for vener-
eal disease to dispensaries :—
Stations.
Total admissions from venereal dis-
ease in civil dispensaries.
1881.
1882.
Rangoon
...
...
...
...
...
...
1,110
1,926
Moulmein ...
...
...
...
...
...
700
539
Toungoo
...
...
...
...
...
...
225
137
Thayetmyo ...
...
...
...
...
183
119
Bassein
...
...
...
....
100
176
Akyab
...
...
...
...
...
156
136
Prostitutes are not detained in any of the lock-hospitals except when suffering
from venereal disease.
XI.—How far dhais are employed and with what success.
The services of a dhai have not been required.
XII.—Any information on other matters or suggestions for the improvement of the rules.
As already indicated, greater vigilance and activity on the part of the police
are absolutely necessary to the satisfactory enforcement of the rules in this con-
nection, and till this is thoroughly realized and acted on no very pronounced
2
( 6 )
favourable results can be looked for. No one can question the probable result of
intercourse with a diseased woman. Gonorrhœa and primary syphilis are, it may
be said, invariably contracted in this way and in no other. On no subject in the
whole field of medicine and surgery are men more unanimous. There is no mys-
tery as to how these diseases are propagated. It remains therefore for the execu-
tive to determine whether the subject of prevention is too gigantic and therefore
t oo expensi ve for t hem t o cope wi t h. Surgeon Dal zel l says
: —
" It is often argued that it is useless to keep up, at a considerable cost to Government,
an institution like the lock-hospital, where the result of its working is not immediately
apparent, and when it fails to fulfil to some extent the object for which it was instituted.
" In refutation of this argument it is sufficient to consider what an incalculable amount
of disease might be spread by the number of women now on the register were they allowed
to carry on their calling without let or hindrance.
" From such a focus as this disease would rapidly spread over a large area. But the
paucity of names on the register is not the fault of the lock-hospital system but of the
non-enforcement of the extant law. Let the law be enforced and the lock-hospital will
become as patent a factor in preventing the spread of venereal disease as is vaccination
against small-pox.
" As long as human nature continues to be what it is so long will illicit intercourse
between the sexes continue, but the Government must look to it that the effects of this
inevitable evil shall be minimized and that the health of unborn generations shall not be
undermined by the spread of a disease which was almost unknown in this country until
the invasion of civilization."
Statement No. III in the appendix shows the total expenditure, net cost, and
how paid.
Each registered woman costs about Rs. 41 per annum.
RANGOON :
The 23rd May 1883.
D. SINCLAIR, M.B.,
Offg. Inspector-General of Jails with
Civil Medical Administration, B. B.
( 2 )
floor suggests. An isolated building used as a bathroom and apparently not
long since put up is very unsuited to its purpose. It was imperfectly equipped
and, from its look, I should imagine was but rarely resorted to. A bathroom in
connection with an institution of this sort should have a reservoir of water in an
elevated position with a flexible tube and nozzle reaching to the floor : this
arrangement is inexpensive but is invaluable to the patients, who should have con-
stant access thereto. The other outhouses are in fair order and seem to answer
their purpose. The enclosure was generally tidy, but is too large and must cost
a deal to keep in order during the rains. If any alterations in respect to the extent
of its area is undertaken, a fence more suited to the requirements of a lock-
hospital should be provided. There are 57 women on the register ; of these 3
were under treatment. The medicines were neatly arranged in suitable almirahs ;
and the surgical instruments appear to be carefully looked after. One of the
specula was cracked : this should be returned to the Medical Storekeeper. The
office records were up to date. Dr. Dalzell reports favourably of the hospital
assistant.
Moulmein, 26th and 27th December 1882.- Made the annual inspection of the
lock-hospital on the above dates. The premises, including the cookhouse and
latrines, were fairly clean, but the buildings are all old and have a tumbledown
appearance ; their position too by the side of a public thoroughfare, and overlooked
by several residences on the hill and by the inmates of the dispensary, does not
seem well chosen. As at every other station in Burma where an institution of this
sort is maintained, the Civil Surgeon complains that its usefulness is much
impaired by the lax police supervision under which much clandestine prostitution
is practised. There are but 60 on the register, 5 of whom are on the sick list. The
sick have every comfort and are well provided with the means of ablution.
Medicines and records are kept in the General Hospital.
From the Deputy Surgeon-General, Her Majesty's Forces, British Burma Division, to the Inspector-General
of Prisons with Civil Medical Administration, British Burma,—No. 359, dated the 11th April 1883.
W I T H
r e f e r e n c e t o y o u r l e t t e r N o . 3 7 9 - 3 9 , d a t e d t h e 9 t h A p r i l 1 8 8 3 , I h a v e t h e h o n o u r
to return the reports of the lock-hospitals as per
margin and would wish to state that they appear of
great use to our Soldiers and sailors and if only for
that reason alone ought to be maintained. Their
progress during the past year has been marked by an increase of registration and diminu-
tion of disease.
The reports most interesting to me are those of Rangoon, Thayetmyo, and Toungoo.
At the former of these places venereal disease has been very rife amongst the British
soldiers. The men have constantly been asked to point out the infecting woman ; they
naturally try to evade this, but when their natural repugnance is overcome the woman
generally turns out on examination to be healthy. This can be explained in two ways,—
either the woman procures a substitute to appear for examination, or the police do not
carry out the provisions of the Act in so efficient a manner as to be desired.
The strength and admissions from venereal disease among European soldiers at the
different stations are contrasted in the following table :—
Station.
Strength.
Admissions from
venereal.
Imported cases.
Remaining.
Rangoon
..
..
..
666
150
31
119
Thayetmyo
..
..
..
662
87
26
61
Toungoo
. .
..
..
395
92
17
75
The great increase of syphilis among the Toungoo force may be attributed to the
regiment being young and having brought many cases with them which were probably
contracted en route at Rangoon or elsewhere.
At Rangoon the men doubtless consort with unregistered women, and until the police
are more alive to their responsibility, registration will continue in the same unsatisfactory
condition and the usefulness of Act III of 1880 be set aside.
Rangoon.
Bassein.
Thayetmyo.
Toungoo.
Akyab.
Moulmein.
Statement No. I.—Showing the area over which the rules for the prevention of venereal disease have been in force and the details of expenditure on lock-hospitals
during the year 1882.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
No.
Stations.
Date on which the lock-
hospital was established.
Act under which the
rules are in force.
Area over which the rules
are in force.
E s t i m a t e d N a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n w i t h i n t h e a r e a o v e r w h i c h t h e r u l e s a r e i n f o r c e .
A v e r a g e n u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s o n t h e r e g i s t e r d u r i n g 1 8 8 1 .
T o t a l m o n t h l y c o s t o f e s t a b l i s h m e n t .
W h e t h e r 1 s t o r 2 n d c l a s s l o c k - h o s p i t a l .
1 Rangoon ...
... 19th May 1871
... III of 1880
... 102 square miles
185,723
387.69
Rs.
A . P .
520 8 0
.1st class.
2 Bassein
...
... 11th February 1872
... XIV of 1868
... 14
ditto
...
33,502
23.1
109. 8 8
3 Thayetmyo ...
... 1st June1 8 6 9
. . . III of 1880
... Within seven miles around the
cantonment
...
38,236
26.5
89 0 0
4 Akyab
...
... 8th September 1871
... XIV of 1868
... Town under municipality ...
33,989
60.78
166 8 0
2nd class.
5 Moulmein ...
... 1st October 1871
...
Ditto
14 square miles
...
53,107
68'5
94 0 0
6 Toungoo ...
... 19th June 1874
... III of 1880
... Within four miles around the
cantonment
...
20,000
13.23
95 0 0
(III)
Statement No. II.—Showing the operation of the rules for the prevention of venereal disease in the stations of British Burma during the year 1882.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
N o .
S t a t i o n s .
N u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s r e m a i n i n g a t c l o s e o f 1 8 8 1 .
N u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s a d d e d t o t h e r e g i s t e r d u r i n g 1 8 8 2 .
T o t a l n u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s o n t h e r e g i s t e r d u r i n g 1 8 8 2 .
N u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s w h o r e m o v e d t h i e r n a m e s , d i e d , a b s c o n d e d , & c . , i n 1 8 8 2 .
N u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s r e m a i n g o n t h e 3 1 s t D e c e m b e r 1 8 8 2 .
A v e r a g e n u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s o n t h e r e g i s t e r i n 1 8 8 2 .
A v e r a g e n u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s a t t e n d i n g p e r i o d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n s i n 1 8 8 2 .
N u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s r e p o r t e d f o r n o n - a t t e n d a n c e a t e x a m i n a t i o n s i n 1 8 8 2 .
N u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s f o u n d d i s e a s e d a n d d e t a i n e d f o r t r e a t m e n t i n 1 8 8 2 .
A v e r a g e d a i l y n u m b e r o f p r o s t i t u t e s i n h o s p i t a l i n 1 8 8 2 .
1
Rangoon
....
378
282
660
236
424
387.69
255.84
1,748
797
89.52
2
Bassein
...
...
27
23
50
25
25
23.1
20.1
4
23
0.8
3
Thayetmyo
. . . ...
...
24
14
38
13
25
26.5
23.2
28
29.
2.68
4
Akyab
...
...
58
25
83
27
56
60.78
59.57
6
75
3.14
5
Moulmein
...
. . .
51
31
82
22
60
68.5
55.1
20
74
4.5
6
Toungoo
...
17
12
29
15
14
13.23
7.26
5
85
4.63
(IV)
RANGOON :
The 23rd May 1883.
D. SINCLAIR, M. B.,
Offg . Inspector-General of Prisons with
Civil Medical Administration, British Burma.
Statement No. III.—Showing the receipts and expenditure on account of lock-hospitals during the year 1882 and also the fund from which this expenditure has
been paid.
1
2
3
4
5
6
N o .
Stations.
RECEIPTS.
EXPENDITURE.
HOW PAID.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
R e g i s t r a t i o n f e e s f r o m P r o s t i t u t e s .
F i n e s l i e v e d u n d e r t h e r u l e s .
T o t a l r e c e i p t s .
P a y o f M e d i c a l O f f i c e r s .
P a y o f e s t a b l i s h m e n t .
A l l o t h e r e x p e n s e s .
T o t a l e x p e n s e s .
B y G o v e r n m e n t .
F r o m c a n t o n m e n t f u n d s .
O t h e r s o u r c e s .
T o t a l .
D e d u c t a m o u n t r e a l i z e d b y f e e s a n d f i n e s .
N e t c o s t G o v e r n m e n t .
Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. RS. A. P. Rs. A. P.
RS. A. P.
Rs. A. P.
Rs. A. P.
RS. A. P.
Rs. A. P.
Rs. A. P.
Rs. A. P.
Rs. A. P.
1 Rangoon ...
...
1,660 3 0 1,660 3 0 1,200 0 0
5,062 4 0
7,630 5 10 13,892 9 10
3,423 0 4 ... 10,469 9 6* 13,892 9 10 1,660 3 0 12,232 6 10
2 Bassein ...
...
57 0 0
57 0 0 600 0 0
757 0 0
73 10 1
1,430 10 1
423 6 7 ... 1,007 3 6* 1,430 10 1
57 0 0 1,373 10 1
3 Thayetmyo
66 12 0
22 0 0
88 12 0 750 0 0
555 0 0
283 9 6
1,588 9 6
285 6 0 ... 1,303 3 6† 1,588 9 6
88 12 0 1,499 13 6
4 Akyab ...
...
5 0 0
5 0 0 600 0 0
1,398 0 0
286 9 0
2,284 9 0
559 8 6 ... 1,725 0 6* 2,284 9 0
5 0 0 2,279 9 0
5 Moulmein...
...
1 2 5 0 0
125 0 0 450 0 0
494 3 7
378 4 6
1,322 8 1
489 3 1 ...
833 5 0* 1,322 8 1
125 0 0 1,197 8 1
6 Toungoo ...
...
10 0 0
10 0 0 600 0 0
510 0 0
2,435 1 8
3,545 1 8
425 4 0 ... 3,119 13 8‡ 3,545 1 8
10 0 0 3,535 1
* Paid by
municipality.|† Paid by town fund.|‡ Includes Rs.2,200 contribution from Toungoo Cantonment Fund.
(V)
IP
IP/16/HG.4 REPORT
ON THE
LOCK-HOSPITALS, BRITISH BURMA,
FOR THE YEAR 1883.
RANGOON : PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRESS, 1884.
ON THE
REPORT ON LOCK-HOSPITALS
IN
BRITISH BURMA
FOR THE YEAR 1883.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Chief Commissioner, British Burma, in the General Department,—
No. 10S., dated the 30th April 1884.
READ—
Report of the Sanitary Commissioner on the working of the several lock-hospitals in the province
of British Burma for the year 1883.
RESOLUTION.—During the past year six lock-hospitals were maintained in
British Burma. Of these the hospitals at Rangoon, Thayetmyo, and Toungoo are
regulated by rules made under the Cantonment Act, 1880, and are kept up pri-
marily for the benefit of the European garrison. At Moulmein, Bassein, and Akyab
the chief reason for the maintenance of the lock-hospitals is the benefit alleged to
be derived from them by sailors visiting those ports, and the rules for their manage--
ment are framed under Act XIV of 1868. Under arrangements made in 1882,
the hospitals at Thayetmyo, Toungoo, Moulmein, Bassein, and Akyab were sup-
ported from municipal funds, assignments from provincial revenues being made
to enable the Committees to bear the charge. In August 1883 the Municipal
Committee of Rangoon, where up to that date a similar system prevailed, were
relieved of the care of the lock-hospital, and the institution was again brought
under the control of the local District and Medical Officers. The same arrange-
-ment was made at Moulmein at the close of the past financial year. The total
cost of the maintenance of the lock-hospitals was Rs. 22,651-6-3 as compared
with Rs. 24,064 in 1882.
2. From the Sanitary Commissioner's report it appears that there were,
during the year under review, on an average 658 women on the registers of the
six towns where prostitution is under legal restrictions. The numbers varied from
475 at Rangoon to 19 at Bassein and 15 at Toungoo. The total number of
registered women at the close of the year was 643. The numbers do not greatly
10th June 1881, that the Civil Surgeons of those towns should arrange to collect
statistics bearing on the prevalence of venereal disease among the sailors and
on the protection afforded by the lock-hospitals and should report the result.
Nearly three years have elapsed but these reports have not yet been received.
In his annual report for the past year Mr. Foster, the late Civil Surgeon of
Akyab, points out that at that town the number of registered women decreased,
while the number of cases of venereal disease treated in the General Hospital
increased, and that these latter cases were much more severe than those treated
in the lock-hospital. Mr. Foster believes that the rules under the Act give great
protection to sailors during the shipping season though, unless special measures
are taken, the maintenance of the hospital at other times is of doubtful benefit.
The Civil Surgeon of Bassein has been at some pains to collect statistics but
without much success. He is in favour of retaining the hospital, and the Deputy
Commissioner and the Port Officer concur in his views. The Civil Surgeon of
Moulmein does not discuss the subject. The following table gives the principal
statistics in all the places where lock-hospitals are maintained for the past five
years :
( 3 )
Place.
Average number of registered women,
Percentage of cases of disease among
women.
Ratio per mille of cases of disease
among European troops.
Admissions to civil hospitals of per-
sons suffering from venereal diseases.
1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883.
Rangoon
...
...
...
...
...
... 467
496
437
388
475 153.29
2 2 3 . 0 2 207.80
2 0 5 . 5 8 209.80 184.51 216.69 164.17 225.03 192.36
908 1,268 1,110 1,926 1,628
Akyab
...
...
...
...
...
...
56
52
58
61
51 271.76 201.63 138.96 123.40 116.49 ...
...
...
...
...
220
226
156
136
214
Bassein
...
...
...
...
...
...
25
28
25
23
19 200.79 119.76 80.
99.57 124.35 ...
...
...
...
...
211
188
100
176
385
Thayetmyo...
...
...
...
...
...
24
26
24
26
23 211.86 261.82 221.57 109.43 156.52 79.05 82.50 92.2 131.42
6 8 . 2 9 101
1 1 1
183
1 1 9 122
Toungoo
...
...
. . .
...
. . .
...
16
18
18
13
15 115.38 117.85 398.47 642.48 217.10 93.61 81.37 176.55 222.44
2 6 8 . 4 4 239
159
225
137
97
Moulmein ...
. . .
...
. . .
. . .
...
58
61
51
68
75
1 5 8 . 6 2 143.28 161.95 108.03 106.67 ...
...
...
...
...
565
710
700
539
668
Total
... 646 .681
613
579
658
1 6 7 . 2
2 0 8 . 7
198.7 187.0
186.6 86.1
86.48 101.66
1 3 2 . 7 5
1 6 8 . 5 1 2,244 2,662 2,474 3,033 3,114
( 4 )