Effects of the acts

• What was the positive impact of the contagious diseases acts on protected areas?

  Improved conditions in protected areas
• What statistics did authorities collect regarding prostitutes in military districts?

  Decline in number and cleanliness of registered women
• How did the legislation affect the health of prostitutes?

  It preserved their health and extended their business duration
• What was the hospital admission rate for syphilis in protected areas?

  37 out of every 1,000 soldiers
• What was the hospital admission rate for syphilis in unprotected areas?

  194 out of every 1,000 soldiers
• What were health certificates given to disease-free prostitutes used for?

  As a guarantee with clients for increased payments
• What condition was successfully treated by bathing in potassium sulphate?

  Scabies
• What did the 1871 royal commission find about the acts?

  Reduced occurrence of scabies was popular
• What flexibility did the acts provide regarding the status of women?

  Women could be removed from police registers if married or employed
• What was the idea behind women cleaning themselves up and entering hospitals?

  They should be able to turn their life around
• What was a limitation of the 1871 commission regarding venereal infections?

  Limiting checks to prostitutes
• Why was the evidence collected by the 1871 commission considered biased?

  It mainly came from Anglican ministers, doctors, and military officers
• How did the government view prostitutes in relation to consultation for the commission?

  They were not considered respectable enough
• What impact did certain acts have on prostitutes seeking help?

  They made access to reform institutions harder
• What was a significant oversight within the armed forces regarding venereal infections?

  No checks on men within the armed forces
• What was reported about 'instrumental rape' during medical examinations?

  It depicted registered women as victims of male lust
• What device did doctors use for internal observation during examinations?

  Speculum
• Why were medical examinations unpopular with prostitutes?

  They were brutally quick and degrading
• What societal fears existed regarding doctors using the speculum?

  Doctors secretly enjoyed using the device
• What medical concern was associated with the use of the speculum?

  Cross contamination
• What authority did the legislation give police regarding women suspected of prostitution?

  To arrest women on mere suspicion
• What difficulty did women face once registered as prostitutes?

  It was hard to remove their names
• What issue arose from the ambiguous definition of a common prostitute?

  Police needed no proof for arrest
• What double standard existed regarding officials and prostitutes?

  Officials punished prostitutes while buying services
• How did the state view prostitution in relation to male sexuality?

  Accepted it as a necessity but blamed women