CO882-6 — Page 34

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

56

ally shewn by a little childish outbreak of petulance, which is over in half an hour, to being detained in hospital, and absolutely no objection to examination. If they are taken to hospital they have no objection to remain there, the attitude of the girls them- selves being one of indifference, the only objection, à pecuniary one, being on the part of the brothel-keepers. With regard to European and Japanese women, they come here avowedly to practise their profession, and are willing to submit to the consequences thereof so far as any regulations are concerned. Conditions here are widely different from those which prevail in Ceylon; there, as in India, the natives will come for Euro- pean medical treatment, but the natives and the imported and migratory population of the Straits Settlements will not.

5. We are further of opinion that without registration, any attempt to decrease the number of brothels (5) on the lines suggested in paragraph 6 of the letter of the Secre- tary of State would only lead to the increase of clandestine prostitution.

6. We are aware that, even were the Contagious Diseases Ordinance introduced, it would not eradicate venereal disease from the Colony, but that it would, as it has done before, largely decrease it, there is, in our opinion, no doubt; and the decrease would be larger in proportion with increase in the completeness of registration of brothels and the consequent diminution in the number of clandestine houses. On the whole we are strongly of opinion that the only means by which venereal disease can be held in check at all in the Straits Settlements is the re-enactment of the Contagious Diseases Ordinance, with the re-introduction of the registration of brothels, and this randum by means we strongly recommend for adoption. Any other measure which falls short of this will, in our opinion, be open to all the objections urged against the entire system, and will fail to effect any real benefit.

(1) Memo ralum by Dr. Simon. (5) Memo-

Lt. Col. Penne-

father.

(6) Evi- dence of Rev. W. G. Shellabear.

7. We have done our best to consult any opponents of the Ordinance in Singa- pore, and to ascertain if they could offer any alternative suggestion on the subject (6) without success.

H. H. STOKES, B. Surgeon, Lieutenant-Colonel, A.M.S., Chairman.

ALEX. Gentle, President, Municipality.

E. PENNEFATHER, Lt.-Colonel, Inspector-General of Police, S.S.

W. EVANS, Protector of Chinese, S.S.

W. R. C. MIDDLETON, M.B., Municipal Health Officer.

MAX. F. SIMON, M.D., Principal Cívil Medical Officer, S.S.

A.

COPY OF QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO DRS. MUGLISTON AND ROGERS, AND MR. WISPAUER.

1. What nationalities of prostitutes do you for the most part attend?

2. Do they come to you, or do you visit them at their own houses? Do you see them regularly?

3. Are you employed by the brothel-keepers, or by the women themselves?

4. Do women ever come to you of their own accord, absolutely independently of the brothel-keepers? If so, women of what nationalities?

5. Do you, from your experience, know that venereal disease is very prevalent among prostitutes in Singapore? Among the prostitutes of which nationality is it most prevalent?

6. What-forms of disease do you most commonly meet!

7. Do you treat many cases of primary chancre?

8. Do you see many cases of secondary syphilis? Among what nationalities

principally?

9. When you find a woman diseased, do you tell her or her keeper that she must not have intercourse? Have you any assurance that she does not do so?

10. Over what period has your experience of venereal disease in Singapore ex- tended?

11. Has venereal disease increased in Singapore during the last ten years, in extent and virulence?

12. Is it still increasing, and, if so, can you give any figures in support of your opinion?

13. Had you any experience of the working of the C.D. Act in Singapore?

14. Did you find any objection on the part of the prostitutes to submit to periodi- cal examination?

57

15. What, in your opinion, has been the effect of the repeal of the C.D. Act? 16. Do you think that prostitutes are aware that there is a hospital for treating them in, if they desire to attend it?

17. What is their objection, if any, to be treated in a hospital?

18. Can you suggest any means by which they could be induced to go to hospital for treatment without compulsion?

19. Could you give roughly the number of brothels and public prostitutes in Singapore?

20. Have you seen any deaths among prostitutes the result of venereal disease? If so, how many?

21. What is the average number of prostitutes under your treatment per month?

B.

REPORT of evidence taken by a Committee appointed by Government on the spread of

venereal disease in Singapore.

At the first meeting held in the board room, Municipal Offices, Singapore, on Monday, May 2nd, 1898, there were present, Brigade Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel Stokes, Chairman; Dr. M. F. Simon (P.C.M.O.); Dr. Middleton (Municipal Health Officer); Mr. Evans (Protector of Chinese); Colonel Pennefather (Inspector General of Police); and Mr. A. Gentle (President, Municipal Commissioners).

Mr. M. WISPAUER, of the Medical Hall, Singapore, was the first witness called. The Chairman-I understand that you do work amongst prostitutes; what class of prostitutes?

Witness Yes, Japanese, Chinese, and Europeans; mostly Japanese.

You do work amongst Europeans?

Yes, very few; they form the least of the three classes.

Do they come to you, or do you visit them in their homes?

I am engaged by Japanese to visit about ten houses, and I go there regularly

every week to examine the girls.

Do any come of their own accord to you?

Oh, yes, especially the Japanese and Europeans. Very few Chineses come of their own accord. When they do come they are mostly brought by the old women, the brothel-keepers. The older girls come by themselves.

Dr. Simon-When the girls come by themselves, who pays you the girls or the brothel-keeper?

They pay cash. I could not say. As regards the Japanese houses I visit, I look to the brothel-keeper, but I think the girls pay something to the old woman.

The Chairman-Speaking from your experience, do you think venereal disease is very prevalent amongst prostitutes in Singapore?

Certainly, but I can only speak of the Japanese and Chinese. The Chinese cases, however, are the worst, because they are badly neglected.

The Chinese?

Yes, the Chinese girls who come to me are mostly old cases with very bad buboes and sores. They are always cases for operation; otherwise they would not come to

me.

What form of disease do you most commonly meet?

Primary chancre and secondary syphilis.

Have you any bad cases amongst them?

Amongst the Chinese I have never met a light case of syphilis. If the symptoms

are not severe they never go to a European; I think they take native medicine.

What about the Japanese?

I do not allow the Japanese girls I see every week to be neglected.

When you find a woman diseased, do you tell her or her keeper that she must not have intercourse?

Certainly.

Do you think they carry out your advice?

As for the Chinese I cannot say; I should think not. Amongst the Japanese there

are private houses where the girls are removed when they are sick.

You don't think the Japanese have intercourse when they are sick?

I would not say. Possibly if there is a lot of business they bring these sick girls out as well as the sound.

1317

H