Sessional_Paper_1884-1885 — Page 197

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I do not know how many of the reported 'primary syphilis' turned out to be true constitutional infection. I have entered all such cases in the new forms of returns as soft sores, unless I had reason to judge or suspect otherwise.

We know from the well defined nomenclature in use in the Government Civil Hospital, that only one man was treated there, who had contracted syphilis in a registered brothel.

The woman who had infected the man, was detained in the Hospital, as often happened, long before the complaint was made.

The delicate constitution of some of the prostitutes renders them unfit for their miserable calling. They had to be frequently kept in Hospital, and many times were charged with having given gonorrhoea.

It would be advantageous to the women's as well as to men's health, if only robust ones were allowed to follow that course of life.

The enclosed Tables D. E. F. and G. show respectively, and more particularly, the number of women examined and treated at this Hospital, and those that were examined at Wántsai; the number of complaints against them, and the result of the examinations of the unregistered prostitutes.

As we cannot dispense altogether with the old nomenclature, the Tables A. and C. have been compiled in that form, by Mr. DE SOUZA, the Apothecary of this Hospital.

The following tabular statement indicates the number of times the same woman has been com- plained against:—

once twice

95

Women,

13

do.,

11

do.,

3 times

4

do.,

4

1

do.,

5

">

1

do.,

6

1

do.,

11 ."

The proportion of times the same woman has been found diseased is :-

31 15

Women, do.,

twice times

11 2

do.,

4

do.,

5 ""

366 women were ordered to be examined more than once within a week. The percentage of diseases amongst the registered women were;

Gonorrhoea,

Leucorrhoea, Soft sores,

Syphilis,

.37 .29

24

Ulceration of the os uteri, 19 ....07

Of the 116 women from unlicensed brothels who were examined, 39 were detained. As would be expected from that class of women, many of them had the disease in its worst forms.

One had phagedenic sores which, more than once, caused profuse hemorrhage; she was suffering also from paraplegia. . After nearly 7 months of treatment she was discharged cured.

This is the longest period a patient was detained in the Hospital last year.

Compared with the previous year, there has been an increase in the number of complaints and of women treated in this Hospital; perhaps it is due to the stricter enforcement of the Ordinance.

I have to record some changes in the staff of this Institution. The new Matron Mrs. J. ACKERS, gives entire satisfaction. She is intelligent and attentive to her duties.

Mrs. ACKERS was for 9 years nurse in one of the Hospitals in Liverpool, and has a diploma of midwifery.

By arrangement with the Honourable REGISTRAR GENERAL, Inspector EDWARDS attends every morning at this place; Inspector HORTON has been ordered to visit also the ships in the harbour; Inspector LEE continues at his old post.

No death took place in this Establishment.

There were remaining under treatment on the 31st of last month, 18 women; of whom 3 were from unlicensed brothels.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

L. P. MARQUES, M.K. & Q.C.P.I.; L.M.; L.R.C.S.I.,

Resident Surgeon.

Dr. PH. B. C. AYRES,

Colonial Surgeon.