CO129-472 - Others - 1921 — Page 481

DR SI

to send and

PUBLIC HEALTH.

To The Editor.

Sir, In the report of the Health Com- mission published by you on Saturday last, I read that Dr. Hallam stated that syphilis was a small germ discovered in 1906 but in Professor John Draper's "History of the Intellectual Development of Europe," one read that that disease broke out soon after the discovery of America (and subsequent Authors agreed that it was imported into Europe by Columbus's sailors from Cuba) and it raged with particular virulence in the French Army commanded by Charles VIII at the siege of Naples A D, 1495.

The figures of "Infected" as announced by the Commissioner according to the 1915 Commission as prevalent in England would seem to pale before Professor John Dra- per's facts which positively asserted that it devastated the whole Continent in a march, equable, and unbroken.

As Mrs. Neville Rolfe held that this curse should now be treated purely ne a disease and not regarded as a social stigma, and that education and treatment should be placed within the easy reach of the public, still, may I suggest that the moral side of it should not be lost sight of and if those in authority would also bear in mind the special circumstances under which in this disease, that contagion is imparted, to institute a stricter measure, of sup- pression which if adopted hand in hand with treatment, no doubt a speedier eli. mination could be attained.

Yours faithfully,

ANTIQUITY,

478