A critical summary of the evidence before the Royal Commission upon the Contagious Diseases Acts, 1866-1869 / prepared for the National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, by Douglas Kingsford.

  • Kingsford, D. P. W. (Douglas P. W.)
Date:
[1869]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A critical summary of the evidence before the Royal Commission upon the Contagious Diseases Acts, 1866-1869 / prepared for the National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, by Douglas Kingsford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    TABLE OE CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.—Proof of being a Common Prostitute, and the mode OF OBTAINING SUCH PrOOF : No Definition of “ Common Prostitute ”—Legislative Definition necessary— Definitions vary in practice—Practice, as to kind of Proof accepted by Police, varies —Proof of Prostitution often difficult—Nature and Mode of Police Espionage and Inquiry—Illustrative Cases. CHAPTER II.—Voluntary Submission and Magistrate’s Order: Voluntary Submission—Found most convenient by the Police—Signed involun- tarily—Signed under misapprehension—Objection to discretionary action of the Police—Illustrative Cases. Magistrate’s Order—Jurisdiction—Information—Hearing—Evidence against the Accused— Defence— Result of Proceedings— Inquiries under the Acts a Public Scandal—Illustrative Cases. CHAPTER in.—Periodical Examinations : Registration—Examining House—Nature and mode of Examination—Women object to the Examinations—Effect of the Examinations on Women—Harm to Public Morality—Not efficient in detecting “ Contagious Disease ”—Often evaded— Women sent directly from the Examining House into Hospital—Punishment of Women, not Prostitutes, for neglecting to be examined. CHAPTER TV.—Relative Advantages and Disadvantages of Compulsory AND Voluntary Hospitals : Meaning of the terms “ Compulsory,” “ Certified,” and “ Voluntary ” Hospitals —Funds for the support of Voluntary Hospitals—Advantages claimed for Certified Hospitals—Objections to Certified Hospitals. CHAPTER V.—Effect of the Acts on Venereal Disease : Registered Prostitutes—Army and Navy—Police Returns—Dr. Balfour’s Returns —Dr. Armstrong’s Returns—Efiect of the Acts on Gonorrhoea—Decrease of Disease from other causes—General Population. CHAPTER VI.—Certain alleged Benefits resulting from the Acts: Decrease of Brothels—Decrease of Prostitutes—Reclamation of Prostitutes— Street Sohcitation—Decrease of Children Prostitutes. CHAPTER VII.—Abuses under the Acts : Mode of Inquiry into cases of abuse by the Royal Commission—Summary of abuses proved before the Royal Commission—Inadequate Security against abuses provided by the Acts—Insufficient Remedies for abuses provided by the Acts. pONCLUSION.