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94
Venereal Diseases.— Syphillis and Gonorrhœa—About
these diseases, the control of which is a most important
matter to the community, we have at present no means of
obtaining any but the most fragmentary information.
The death returns are of very little value in estimating
the prevalence of disease. Gonorrhœa, though undoubtedly
very prevalent, is seldom a cause of death, and Syphilis,
although often indirectly a cause of death, as it is the forerunner
of many fatal diseases, does not often appear as a
cause of death in death certificates. The notification of
cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum should be of some value
as an indication of the prevalence of Gonorrhœa.
Probably all cases of Tabes Dorsalis and General
Paralysis are the result of Syphilis, and Syphilis is generally
considered to be an important factor in a large proportion
of cases of aneurism and other diseases of the bloodvessels
and nervous system.
It is also a very frequent cause of Abortion, and Still
Birth. The above considerations, however, are not of
much value since the number of deaths from Tabes Dorsalis
and General Paralysis is small, and of the deaths from
diseases of the bloodvessels, etc., it is impossible to estimate
what proportion is due to Syphilis.
Again, the proportion of Still Births and Miscarriages
due to Syphilis is not known, nor is there any means of
ascertaining the incidence of the latter. Although we are
not in a position at present either to collect much information
about these diseases, or to make any attempt to control
them, the question is one which merits consideration.
Public opinion is at present being awakened to the importance
of making an attempt at prevention of these diseases
lor the sake of the health of the whole community. A Royal
Commission is sitting on the subject, and there is little
doubt that when its report is issued an attempt of some