34

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

      Looking at the return of venereal amongst both European and Native troops the results
cannot be considered otherwise than satisfactory. Below is a comparison of the amount which
has existed amongst the former as compared with past year.

    I think that the medical authorities in charge of the troops might frequently be of
assistance by ascertaining from the soldiers from whence disease was contracted, and communi-
cating it to the medical officer in charge of the Lock Hospital. In only one instance was a
registered woman reported by a soldier for communicating gonorrhœa to him, and she on
examination was found to be cured ; in no instances were any unregistered women reported.

      A Police Inspector should periodically visit the Military hospitals and personally
ascertain from those suffering from venereal where it was contracted ; in many cases I think
women suffering from disease might in this way be detected. As a rule women when registered
reside in certain portions of the town, this should be compulsory, when it would be more easy
to detect any unregistered prostitutes. Considering the means at the disposal of the police a
fair amount of work has been done. I pointed out last year that one Police Inspector and
two constables were totally inadequate for the work expected of them, such as the registration
of women, searching out those practising clandestine prostitution, or who abscond from hospital,
with all the other multifarious duties expected of them, as well as be in attendance at court all
day ; to make matters more difficult for the Inspector he is a new man and not yet acquainted
with the various women.

    How far the registration has been efficient, to what class it extends, and over what area.—
It cannot be acknowledged that the system of registration has been perfectly efficient in
controlling disease when it is considered how extensively it exists in Rangoon, due doubtless
to the fact that there are numbers of women who are suffering from syphilis in its worst form,
and who carry on clandestine prostitution protected under the plea of marriage, and when it is
remembered how difficult it is to prove legally that such women are prostitutes, it is not to be
wondered at that disease exists and is propagated to a large extent amongst unregistered
women.

    I have frequently noticed that almost every newly registered woman is diseased, and there
is no doubt that many of these have been in the habit of prostituting themselves for some time
previous to their being brought on the register.

   The area over which registration extends is 12½ square miles, and the estimated population
110,700 by last census in 1877-78.

   The numbers registered during the year were 280, which, with 407 remaining from 1877,
gives 687, deducting 242 struck off during the year leaves 445 remaining on 31st December
1878 as per statement below :—

      From the above it will be seen that registration has been carried on effectually during the
year, and it is evident that it cacannot have been without effect, when it is considered what a.