CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 109

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cin. et qu'il s'était rendu de préférence dans une maison de tolérance quelquefois aussi sur l'avis du médecin pleinement persuadé qu'il y serait absolument garanti contre l'infection.

Depuis quelques années que je réside à Kieff, j'ai recueilli des données qui ne sont pas sans intérêt sur les sources où les étudiants qui ont réclamé mes soins avaient puisé leur infection. Sur 213 ètu- diants syphilitiques, 189, soit le 88,7 pour cent, avaient été conta- minés par des prostituées officielles, et seulement 24, soit le 11,3 pour cent, par des clandestines.

En terminant ce rapport, nous nous croyons pleinement en droit de donuer les conclusions suivantes :

I. La réglementation actuelle de la prostitution ne repose pas sur les principes de la syphiligraphie moderne.

11. En déclarant saines des prostituées qui sont entrées dans la période condylomateuse de la syphilis, et on donnant un certificat pour attester sa garantie, la police sanitaire porte un faux témoignage. 111. La réglementation induit le public en erreur sur l'état sanitaire de la prostitution inscrite, et par là favorise l'extension de la syphilis. IV. La reglementation paralyse l'instinct qui pousse l'individu à se défendre lui-même de la syphilis; elle contribue ainsi, d'une manière détournée, à aggraver l'extension de la maladie.

V. La prostitution réglementée concentre d'une part les syphiliti- ques condylomateuses dans ses rangs, et d'autre part condanne les femmes saines qui en fout partie à une rapide infection. Elle devient ainsi l'un des foyers principaux qui répaudent la syphilis dans le peuple.

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With the author's Complementa

On the Hypodermic Administration of Mercury in the Treatment of Syphilis.

BY

SURGEON-MAJOR F. J. LAMBKIN, A.M.S.

AFTER having been employed as a remedy for syphilis for over four hundred years, and having passed through various stages, in the ups and downs of heated discussions, as to its value in the treatment of the disease, I think that at the present time it is acknowledged by the vast majority of the profession hat mercury is the true agent to be employed in our endeavour to eradicate he virus of syphilis, and that without it nature (in the majority of cases) is nable to expel the said virus.

That great authority, Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson, considers "that mercury an antidote to syphilis," an opinion in which all who have had an extensive xperience in the treatment of syphilis will agree.

The chief reason why mercury fell into disrepute in the olden days was cause it was thought that, to be any benefit to the patient, it was necessary to livate. This of course led to frightful consequences.

In later years, if it has again fallen in the estimation of some of the pfession, I can't help thinking that this is due to the manner and mode in ich the metal is administered, viz., it is given internally for an extended iod, in either large or small doses; the patient is kept to his bed, and diet is ricted very much, the consequence being that the digestion gets inter- d with, and the patient goes from bad to worse. The mercury has to be stopped.

Now, if we consider the nature of the disease, we will see that it is pre- eminently of a low form, attacking with most virulence patients of weakly constitutions, or who, at the time they become infected, are in a bad state of health. Remembering this fact, it appears to me that the foremost thing to do, in the treatment of the disease, is to get and to maintain the patient in the best possible state of health, a state of things very much against the administration of mercury internally; for to give it in doses of sufficient quan- tity, and continue it over a period long enough to accomplish the desired end, the digestion becomes interfered with, diarrhea is induced, slight signs of salivation appear, and general cachexia brought on. Then the mercury must be stopped. The health of the patient is much depleted, rendering him an easy prey to the further ravages of the disease.

Formerly I used to treat all my cases by the internal method; but in the ones I was able to watch more closely (those of officers) I found that after the patient had been taking the metal for, say, three or four months, his general health became affected as above described; probably the disease recurred in some form or other, the patient became heartily sick of taking the medicine, and refused to continue it any longer. Then he was ordered a tonic, and the mercury stopped. He at once began to pick up; but after a month or so the disease broke out again in a more severe form. Mercury was again resorted to, with the same results. Things may have gone on like this for a year or so, when one generally lost sight of the patient; but certainly he was not quite cured of the disease.

I quote the following case, viz. -A. C., a young officer, consulted me, He stated that he had contracted syphilis a year previously. He showed me a large induration on the glans penis. This bad, been most persistent. He said

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