An Exposure of the Contagious Diseases Acts, and of Government Lock Hospitals
Dr. Patterson?Exposure of Contagious Diseases Acts. 105 AN EXPOSURE OF THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACTS, AND OF GOVERNMENT LOCK HOSPITALS. By ALEX. PATTERSON, M.D. In the Glasgow Medical Journal for last month, Mr. Lowndes, of Liverpool, a distinguished member of the society for the propagation of the Contagious Diseases Acts over the whole country, writes an elaborate reply to a few remarks I ventured to make in an article in connection with the Statistics of Glasgow Lock Hospital. Whilst averse to enter into controversy with a professional brother on any subject, more especially on a subject so unpleasant, here the matter is one of such interest that I feel it to be my duty to give reasons for my belief. With regard to the excellence of the precept, audi alteram partem, I quite agree with Mr. Lowndes. A leading London medical journal, which for many a long year had this very precept as its motto, now declines to admit a single article in opposition to the Acts, and so declines, because' it takes a different view of the question. The reciprocity is all on one side. With regard to the decrease or increase of prostitution in Glasgow, I may be permitted to state, that for thirty years I have been familiar with the streets of Glasgow by day and night, and without the slightest hesitation I affirm that they are immensely improved since 1870. Formerly there were large numbers of brothels in the city, some occupying two or three flats, and during the afternoon the inmates sat, often in a semi-nude state, at the windows, endeavouring to attract the attention of pedestrians, whilst at night the houses were brilliantly lighted up, and sounds of riot were to be heard at all hours.
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