2
Services; but their occurrence and the severity of the consequences are familiar to medical men connected with the East.
The Chinese, both in Hongkong and the Straits, unquestionably regarded the Acts with favour, and deplore the extension of sly brothels and the lessened control over kidnapping of women and girls that has resulted from their withdrawal. The inmates of the Registered Houses used, it is understood, to submit willingly to examinations which they found to be protective in every sense.
For a time indeed they continued to attend voluntarily, after compulsion had ceased; but the support of the law was necessary to sustain them against influences adverse to the continuance of their visits, and the continuance and extension of disease, through the want of timely and efficient medical assistance, has gone on with appalling results.
This Association would be travelling outside its province in alluding more precisely to the Straits Settlements; but the cases of the two Colonies are so similar, and communication between the two is so intimate and frequent, that the representations of Hongkong cannot but be strengthened by showing that similar harm has been caused in both.
Table showing the Statistics of Venereal Disease among the troops in Hongkong and the Straits Settlements combined in 1884, during the prevalence
1884.
Admissions Primary Syphilis. Secondary Syphilis. Gonorrhoea. Sequel of Gonorrhoea. Total. 62 46 154 26 288 Ratio of Admissions per 1000 of strength 31.2 23.2 77.5 13.1 145 Constantly sick per 1,000 of strength 2.92 1.68 5.15 1.04 10.79Tables showing Statistics of Hongkong and the Straits separately, in 1895, eight years after the repeal of the Ordinances.†
HONGKONG. THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. Primary Syphilis. Secondary Syphilis. Gonorrhoea. Sequela of Gonorrhoea. Total. Primary Syphilis. Secondary Syphilis. Gonorrhoea. Sequela of Gonorrhoea. Total. Admissions. 67 96 163 292 455 330 190 287 807 Ratio of Admissions per 1000 44.2 63.4 192.7 300.3 241.2 138.9 209.8 589.9 Average constantly sick 5.93 6.54 22.50 34.97 28.82 14.49 16.05 59.36 Constantly sick per 1000 3.91 4.85 14.99 23.08 21.07 10.59 11.73 43.393
The case may be safely left in presence of these figures. To remark upon the reduction of the garrison in defensive strength would be to labour an obvious point. The reflection suggests itself, equally, that the increased subsidies which have been lately demanded are proportionately neutralised by these increasing inroads of preventable disease. The garrisons are admittedly small for the services that may at any time be required of them, and are based apparently on the calculation that every man, or nearly every man, will be fit for duty. The inference seems inevitable that, steps to reintroduce the Ordinances are not taken, the strength of the garrisons ought to be raised to meet the deficiency which arises from their withdrawal. Confidence is felt, however, that other considerations will prevail. The steps which have been taken lately, with the approval of Parliament, for the better protection of our Army in India, show that public opinion has been awakened to the evil consequences that have ensued from the abandonment of precaution in that great Dependency, and the Committee trust that the facts which they have the honour to adduce will convince H.M.'s Government that the re-enactment of ordinances which were wholly beneficent during their operation, equally necessary in the Farther East.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Schanden.
Hon. Sec. China Association
1895.
* See Army Medical Department Report for 1884, p. 188.
† See Army Medical Report for 1895, p. 200-3.