REPORT

ON

LOCK-HOSPITALS, BRITISH BURMA,

FOR THE YEAR 1880.

ARAKAN DIVISION.

From Colonel E. B. SLADEN, M.S.C., Commissioner of the Arakan Division, to the Officiating Secretary to
Chief Commissioner, British Burma,—No. 90-12―1, dated the 20th January 1881.

        I HAVE the honour to submit, for the information of the Chief Commissioner,
a report in original by the Civil Surgeon on the working of the lock-hospital,
Akyab, during the year 1880, with remarks thereon by the Assistant Commis-
sioner in charge of the Akyab town sub-division.

        2. It appears to me that the difficulty relating to want of effective supervi-
sion in working the Act exists everywhere. The police have been tried, and,
not unnaturally in a matter of this kind, have been always found wanting. If
the head of the town police and the Magistrate were in earnest in their
endeavours, I cannot account for the non-registration of Arakanese prostitutes,
who are rightly said by the Civil Surgeon "to be seen going about in any number
"in open day in search of the unwary." The fault, in my opinion, does not rest
entirely with the lower grades of Police Officers.

        3. I am not in favour of appointing a special officer, as I do not think the
population large enough to justify an extraordinary measure of the kind. The
salary, if any, would necessarily be small, and the officer so salaried might be
expected to abuse his power, and make matters worse than they are at present.

        4. On the whole, I am in favour of the Act, and believe that, in spite of
statistical returns and imperfections in its operation, caused by inefficient super-
vision, it answers a beneficial purpose, and fulfils the object for which it was
intended, by limiting to a large extent the spread of venereal disease.

AKYAB.

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.

        The lock-hospital buildings were described in the report for 1877. There
has been ample accommodation during the year. The average number of
patients has been 4.9, with a maximum average of 5.8 in May and September.
The buildings are old, but have been repaired during the year.

II.—Any changes in the medical charge of the lock-hospital during the year.

        The writer of the present report has held charge throughout the year.
Kurrim Khan, 3rd class Hospital Assistant, has performed the subordinate
duties.

III.—The extent of venereal disease among the European troops, &c., &c.

        There are no European troops in this station. The amount of venereal
disease treated, as shown in the general hospital returns, is the only available
information that can be gained for comparison. The same number of cases, viz.,
226, as was treated in 1879, is recorded. The total number of all diseases at the
general hospital rose from 2,563 to 4,157 in 1880. Whether to this fact is to
be attributed the absence of any apparent decrease of venereal disease during the
year, I leave an open question.