The Contagious Disease Act at Devonport : its physical and moral results after six years working : a paper read at the Bristol Social Science Congress / by William Paul Swain.

  • Swain, William Paul, 1834-1916.
Date:
1869
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Contagious Disease Act at Devonport : its physical and moral results after six years working : a paper read at the Bristol Social Science Congress / by William Paul Swain. 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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    Secondly—What was called by one speaker “ the beastliness of inspection,” consists of a simple speculum examination, to which hundreds of ladies repeatedly submit for the cure of various maladies. It is conducted with the utmost privacy by one gentleman in the presence of a nurse, and with the most perfect regard to the feelings of the woman. At Devonport this duty is performed by an officer, of whom it is my pleasure to speak, as being as pure, high minded and humane a gentleman as 1 ever met. It is a fact, that the women submit without repugnance, or reluctance to this examination. The assertion that disease is thus communicated from one woman to another is utterly without foundation, and I am prepared to say, that at Devonport such an occurrence is impossible. Another assertion that it is sometimes impossible to discover disease in the female is so absurd, that I can only express surprise at anyone in the Medical Profession having advanced the statement. Thirdly—The Act has never directly or indirectly “ licensed ” any house of ill-fame. The law already takes cognisance of these houses, and provides for the prosecution of those who keep them. Here is a field of labour open for the excited gentlemen of Bristol, who are so anxious that prostitution should not be recognised. Let them give a little of their time and money towards the pro- secution of brothel keepers, and the good they will effect will be enormous. Neither does the Act “license” the woman herself, as it is expressly provided that the Police shall retain her certifi- cate, in order that she may not use it for improper purposes. The Law also provides for the prosecution of women who solicit in the streets. From my short experience of Bristol, there is ample scope afforded for carrying this law into effect. Fourthly—The want of success in Paris in reducing disease has been quoted as an argument against the adoption of preventive measures in England. It was asserted by the Rev. W. Clay, that the law in Palis has been over and over again relaxed, and anv one who has read Duchatelet will know that this is correct. Fifthly—The unfairness of confining the Act to women alone was much commented upon. It must be remembered that a woman being a prostitute, is at once amenable to the Law, inde- pendently of this Act. Moreover, she belongs to a class which