198
-7-
In Great Britain the treatment of the venereal diseases is organised on an entirely voluntary basis; there is no system of notification, but even under these conditions it is believed that a larger proportion of the infected popula- tion are attracted to the treatment centres or to their private practitioners and with the growing standard of public enlightenment the numbers discontinuing treatment while still infective are falling. Though not satisfied that all infected people are yet under treatment or that the machinery for securing that those who begin treatment should continue until non-infective is adequate, there is ground for beljef that not only is the incidence of venereal disease in this country falling materially, but that under the system of no regulation it has not been as high among the British popula- tion as it has among the continental populations, especially in the Latin countries, within the last two generations, a periol over which figures are available.
As indication of this the figures relative to General Paralysis of the Insane may be cited. Between 2 and 3% of all cases of syphilis if untreated, or inadequately treated, develop General Paralysis of the Insane and in these cases the true cause of death is returned to the Registrar General. The number of cases of General Paralysis of the Insane in this country ranges between 2,000 and 1,500 per annum with a popu- lation that is averaged from 35 to 37 millions, while in Italy, with a slightly smaller population, the annual number of deaths from the same cause range between 4,000 and 4,900 per annum.
As an illustration of the uselessness of regulation in reducing the incidence of venereal disease the ratio of venereal disease in the British Army for four years in regulated and in non-regulated Countries may be cited
Area.
-
Annual Ratio per 1,000 strength.
1919;
United Kingdom
59
(Non-Regulated)
Army of Rhine (Regulated) Army in Constantinople
(Regulated)
46
1920. 1921. 1922.
48.30 40.26 33.66
188.64 212.34 213.53
213.73 228.48 83.41
INDIA.
The following figures give the incidence of Venereal Disease among the British troops in India. Until 1895 regulation, Segregation and periodical examination of prostitutes were in the vogue,
it is felt that the figures speak for themselves; decline in the last 20 years is due to increased recreational and educational facilities and above all to improved methods of medical treatment. In 1868 the Contagious Diseases Acts were introduced into India and were in force till 1889 when they were replaced by the Cantonment Acts: those, in turn, were abolished in 1919 (7). At the present time in the indus- trial centres of India there are large areas of tolerated areas and an extromely high incidence of venereal disease throughout the whole population.
Admissions into Hospital per 1.000. 369 in the year 1881
58.9 in the year 1910
11
M
192
1870
118.2
11
་་
H
1920
249.7
rr
"
It
11
#
1880
110.4
1921
It
"
11
503.5
1890
85.9
1922
298.1
་་
1900
72.0
19
1923 Estimated.
(11)
(11) Reports of Public Health Commissioner with the Government
of India.
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