1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS,
351
35
the objections of those who consider these Acts as one-sided, it is especially provided in our local Ordinance, that all seamen known to be diseased, residing in any boarding house, must under a heavy penalty be reported to the Harbour Master for the purpose of transference to hospital. There only remain therefore the higher class of transgressors against whom it is more difficult to proceed, and as if to balance this, the numerous Portuguese and European prostitutes who now frequent the Colony appear to be equally exempted from all interference on the part of the Executive. And here a very important question presents itself, viz. whether disease has increased among the class of young men who formerly frequented the native establishments. For my own part I am inclined to the opinion that it has so increased, but I am not prepared with statistics on this subject.
Lastly, I come to consider the question of the sanitary result of legislative interference in this Colony—and I am glad to be able to point to some very substantial benefits.
In 1859 I wrote: "Both among naval and military invalids, the syphilitic amount to nearly 25 per cent. of the whole, and this is very nearly the same proportion in the Government Civil Hospital. In one ship numbering in all 523 hands, of which 300 had been on the sick list during the last quarter, 77 of these were for venereal diseases, being at the rate of 25·66 per cent. of the total sick, or 14·72 per cent. of the total strength, and that be it observed in one quarter. In the Government Civil Hospital the proportion of venereal cases was 138 out of 591 admissions, being in the proportion of 23·18 per cent." Now if the Returns accompanying this Report be contrasted with that former state of matters, it is seen that during the year 1869, as the result of the working of the Contagious Diseases Ordinance, that disease has greatly decreased. In the Government Civil Hospital, even in spite of the great number of cases sent by the Harbour Master, the percentage of syphilitic cases was reduced to 15·82. In the garrison, the percentage of primary disease to the total strength was only 6·83, according to a Return compiled from data furnished to me by Dr. Heffernan, the Deputy Inspector-General. In the police, it was 16·GG against 31·00 per cent. in 1862 as shown in Table XV., and in a most interesting letter addressed to me by Fleet Surgeon Dr. Maccoun, of the United States ship Delaware, on the eve of his departure from the Colony, he says: "Since my arrival on this station in the spring of 1868, I have been struck with the benefit derived from the system of registration and inspection of public women, so ably carried out in this Colony.".. "During our visits to Hong Kong, but few have been infected, and the type of the disease is very mild.".. "Out of a crew of 470 men, only five cases of chancre have been noticed." "But the whole letter deserves to be carefully perused, and I think, coming as it does from a perfectly independent source, it is one of the most valuable testimonies that could be adduced in support of the good results of the system. And if we turn to Table X, we find that the type of the disease must have equally improved; at least the average duration of treatment, which may be considered to be a fair test of the severity of a case, has diminished from 13·8 days in 1868 to 24·8 in 1869. I admit that the working of the Ordinance is by no means perfect, and I am still of opinion that all prostitutes, whether in so-called purely Chinese houses, or others, should be examined.. In this opinion I am not supported by some of those who are supposed to be peculiarly conversant with the habits of the natives, and in deference to their opinion those houses are exempted from the action of the Ordinance, independently of the question whether the Chinese are not equally entitled to share in its beneficial action, if its operation is really for good, I am confident that until all prostitutes are subject to the requirements of the Ordinance, this result will be limited—for I am aware that the inmates of the so-called purely Chinese brothels will visit the houses of Europeans, although they may not admit them into the brothels, under the dread of losing their licence.
But
The only question that remains to be referred to, and that very cursorily, is whether the Ordinance under discussion has had any effect in withdrawing the fear of syphilitic infection from those upon whom it has had a deterrent effect. Such an idea will not bear investigation. The frequenters of brothels are either under the influence of drink at the time, or have lost all dread of the consequences—and in no case I believe will young men be led into temptation for the first time because they can fall with impunity. As long as men are men vice will continue, and it is clearly the duty of the Legislature to protect, if not the actual transgressor, at all events the innocent, from the fearful consequences of disease.
The Hon. J. Gardiner Austin,
&c. &c..
&c.
(Signed) J. I. MURRAY, M.D.,
Colonial Surgeon.
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