My source for this information came from a study done by William Action in 1850, who had pressed for legislation regarding prostitution in London. He did an in-depth study of prostitution in France, which can be read at the following link. CLICK HERE.
Brothels workers were examined on a regular basis, including a three-minute peek at their genitals to make sure they did not have venereal disease. Here is a quote from his article:
(The Bureau Sanitaire) was placed upon its present footing in 1828. The medical staff consists of ten superior and ten assistant surgeons.... The inspection, for which the speculum is very frequently used, is performed with all the delicacy consistent with accuracy, and great dispatch; the average time occupied being three minutes, which includes filling up the papers. William Acton, Prostitution, 2d ed., ed. Peter Frye (London: MacGibben and Kie, 1968), pp.97-107, abridged.
Quite a bit of the information regarding legalized prostitution, such as registration, etc., were obtained from his research and elsewhere.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) was a famous artist of that era, whose worked focused on Parisian life that included brothels. Below is his painting from 1894, Rue des Moulins: The Medical Inspection, depicting brothel workers lining up for their regular examination.
