From Dr. R. PEARSE, Officiating Deputy Surgeon-General, Her Majesty's Forces, British Burma Divi-
    sion, to the Inspector-General of Prisons, British Burma,—No. 162, dated the 10th February 1886.

* Rangoon.
Thayetmyo.
Toungoo.
Bassein.
Akyab.

      I HAVE the honour herewith to return the reports
on lock-hospitals* which accompanied your No. 113-
31, dated the 8th instant, and in so doing to remark
as follows.

    2.   So far as the British troops quartered in the division are concerned
two of the reports are decidedly unsatisfactory, as both in Rangoon and Thayet-
myo there has been a very marked increase in venereal disease as compared with
former years, and in both it is mainly attributable to the same cause, namely, an
inefficient preventive staff.

    3.    Rangoon.— Both absolutely and relatively the increase in the number of
admissions from this particular cause amongst the European troops is striking, as
the following few figures will suffice to show :—

    Formerly, it is understood, the staff employed to carry out the Act was con-
siderably larger than at present, and the increase of disease would seem to have
kept pace with the reduction in the preventive staff. The introduction of a sys-
tem of " summonses " seems also to have greatly aided the women in evading
the Act and spreading disease, and seems to merit re-consideration. The type
of disease is still reported as mild for the most part, but this, it is to be feared,
will not continue unless the Act is more strictly enforced.

    4. Thayetmyo.—Here also venereal disease increased greatly during 1885
amongst the British troops, for whilst the strength of the garrison was only
increased 5 per cent. as compared with 1884 the admissions under this particu-
lar class rose 50 per cent., those from primary syphilis increasing nearly three-
fold, namely, from 18 to 49. This increase is, apparently, due to want of supervi-
sion over the Sudder bazaar and followers' lines, where the Medical Officer states
that there is not a single woman on the register, though no one can doubt that
a large number ought to be registered.

    5. Toungoo.—At this station the results are much more satisfactory, for
primary syphilis has declined, whilst the other forms of venereal disease remain
stationary or nearly so, and the attendance, &c., appears satisfactory. Further
comment is, therefore, unnecessary.

    6. In conclusion I will only observe that whilst admitting, as every one must
do, that the morality, the efficacy, and the desirability of the Act are alike denied
by many persons, still the Act exists, and is for these places law, and as such
to be obeyed, and it would seem but right, therefore, that some effort should be
made to carry out its provisions more fully, for that it is protective the Rangoon
statistics of the past five years prove beyond possibility of cavil, whilst due supervi-
sion with a staff of one Inspector and one constable in this large town is, on the
face of it, an impossibility.