The Contagious Diseases Amendment Act 1881 also known by the full title 'An Act to continue and amend "The Contagious Diseases Acts, 1879"' (Act no.45 Vict. No.23) provided for women confined to a contagious diseases hospital who refused to work to be placed in solitary confinement for seven days or prison for one month. The 'wilful' destruction of clothing or bedding could be punished by imprisonment for three months. 'Contagious' was a 'polite' word for sexually transmitted diseases, especially syphilis.
Prepared by: Caroline Evans
Created: 20 March 2013, Last modified: 26 May 2015
Last updated: 4 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/tas/biogs/TE00643b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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