Hospital Regulations.
Various regulations exist, but those of the great Yoshiwara Lock Hospital are typical of the others. They were revised in March 1900, and provide substantially as follows:—
Object of the Hospital.—The hospital is established for the purpose of treating prostitutes who are suffering from venereal diseases, consumption, and other contagious maladies contracted or developed in the Yoshiwara brothel-quarters.
Staff.—The permanent staff consists of about fifty people, including several surgeons, a secretary, four pharmacists, nurses, clerks, servants, etc., and is presided over by a chief doctor. The hospital arrangements are subject to Police supervision.
Medical Staff.—The patients must be visited at least twice a day, and on each occasion details of their condition and treatment entered in a report sheet (by�sh� nis-shi) for the information of the President. In case of serious illness or slow recovery the matter must be reported to the President, and should the symptoms denote immediate danger, the brothel-keeper of the woman’s house must be notified forthwith. Upon recovery, the report sheet has to be signed by the attendant physician, after which the President himself has to examine the patient. It is the duty of the doctors to prescribe the diet of patients, to instruct and supervise the nurse to see that all necessary instruments are provided and kept in proper condition; and each of the doctors are bound to take night-duty alternately. To prevent scandal and collusion, the doctors are prohibited from entering the wards unless accompanied by a nurse, and, as a precaution against incurring unnecessary risks in treatment, surgical operations can only be performed with the approval of the President. When not otherwise engaged, the hospital doctors may employ their leisure time in making medical investigations, and may, subject to the permission of the President, publish the results of their labours in this direction.
Records, Accounts, Statistics and Reports.—Proper records must be kept of the work and accounts of the hospital, the admissions and discharges, and a monthly and yearly report prepared containing detailed statistics. Monthly reports must be prepared by the 5th of the following month, and the annual report by the 10th of January of the following year. The chief pharmacist is also bound to prepare a daily report of all drugs dispensed and to submit same to the President.
Sundry.—Detailed rules are laid down for keeping the bedding and premises in a clean and sanitary condition, for disinfection, etc.; and for the control of the nurses.
Salaries.—That the staff of the hospital is very much underpaid will be recognized upon perusal of the following scale of monthly salaries:
| Yen. | U.S. $ | £ Sterling. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | 80 | to | 150 | 40 | to | 75 | 8 | to | 15 |
| Vice-President | 50 | “ | 80 | 25 | “ | 40 | 5 | “ |  8 |
| Physicians | 25 | “ | 50 | 12-1�2 | “ | 25 | 2.10/- | “ |  5 |
| Secretary | 20 | “ | 30 | 10 | “ | 15 | 2 | “ |  3 |
| Chief Pharmacist | 25 | “ | 50 | 12-1�2 | “ | 25 | 2.10/- | “ |  5 |
| Pharmacist | 10 | “ | 25 |  5 | “ | 12-1�2 | 1 | “ |  2.10/- |
| Clerks | 10 | “ | 25 |  5 | “ | 12-1�2 | 1 | “ |  2.10/- |
| Chief Nurse | 10 | “ | 20 |  5 | “ | 10 | 1 | “ |  2 |
| Nurses | 3 | “ | 10 |  1-1�2 | “ | 5 | 0.6/- | “ |  1 |
| Servants | 4 | “ | 10 |  2 | “ | 5 | 0.8/- | “ |  1 |
P.S.—If absent for upwards of two weeks, no salary is paid for the current month, and if absent for upwards of one month they may be discharged from the service. The rules do not, however, apply in cases of sickness.