Act for the Prevention of Contagious Diseases Page 4

An Act for the prevention of contagious diseases at certain naval and military stations. The Act was one of a series of legislation that permitted forcible registration of women who were suspected of being prostitutes and, if they could not prove otherwise, also forced them to take regular gynaecological examinations. The legislation was initially passed with the official intention of curbing venereal diseases within the radius of eleven army camps and naval port towns in England and Ireland. However, the provisions in the act targeted only women and prostitutes- rather than the men who used them- making it a bone of considerable contention for many who campaigned vigorously and ultimately successfully against the Acts.

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