It would be possible (without restoring the C.D. system) to enact law providing for the compulsory detention in hospital till cured, all persons who entered the Hospital (voluntarily); but I submit that such would defeat its own purpose, because a positive Enactment of compulsory detention would increase the reluctance which Eastern women already feel against going into hospital. Moreover, I have not seen any practical difficulty that they have in keeping in hospital till cured those who enter voluntarily. The difficulty is to get them to enter.
There is one possible way of trying to meet this last difficulty, viz., the method proposed in par. 5 of despatch Lord Ripon's of 17 Apr. 1894, p. 14, para. 55 off. The appointment of doctors to look after the special Women's Hospitals. This has already been tried in Ceylon, and the last Annual Medical Report (Colombo) says: - "The Lock Hospital at Colombo is in charge of the Lady Doctor, and I believe she will be the means of inducing more of these unfortunate women to voluntarily avail themselves of the treatment liberally provided for them by being able to liberally provide for them."
This lady doctor is not of course confined to the Lock Hospital, but she has charge over the Lady Havelock Hospital for Diseases of Women and Children. "A new 'Jubilee' Hospital is being built at Houghing for Women and Children; and I submit that it would be a good plan to appoint a Lady doctor to take charge of that Hospital, & of the Women's special venereal Ward for Women. It seems to me that only in this way can a fair & full trial be given to the voluntary system before finally condemning that system & returning to the compulsory system. Hongkong (& Straits too) could easily afford the additional Lady Doctor if the plan met with any success; there would eventually be a saving of expense all round by the diminution of disease.
I hardly make the suggestion on the assumption that the voluntary system is maintained, it would be difficult if not impossible to get a Lady Doctor, who would consent to work the compulsory (C.D.) system.
As to the separate question of Excessive number of brothels raised in this despatch, the difficulty could be met without returning to the practice of Registering Brothels, by enacting that "In Government may from time to time by notification in the Gazette prescribe certain limits...
Page XX
(The last three lines of the original page are kept as is, assuming "Page XX" represents the actual page number, e.g., "Page 363")
Page XX
Page XX