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77
Accepting the Wassermann reaction as diagnostic of syphilis, and counting
only the "definitely positive" cases 4 per cent. of the new-born infants
tested were affected with the disease; while if the " probably positive" cases
are also included the proportion goes up to 6 per cent.
These results are in respect of an unselected series of cases of the lower
working class. With one exception the births were all legitimate.
Particulars were taken in each case as to the number of former live-births
and former miscarriages and abortions. In none of the 9 cases giving'
“ positive " results was there any history of miscarriages, and an examination
of the number of former live-births in each case reveals no points of interest.
It was not found possible to obtain details of the parents' history as regards
this disease, though in one case giving a positive result (+ 13) the mother was
known to be suffering from secondary syphilis. Nor has it been possible to
trace out the after-history of the children ; in two of the positive cases still
under observation (J. 50 and D. 49) the child is said to be in good health.
The technique of the method employed is described in a paper " The Wassermann
Reaction in the Diagnosis of Mental Disorders," by Dr. Candler and Mr. Mann (Archives
of Neurology and Psychiatry, Vol. VI., 1914, pp. 59-72). The following extract from
their paper indicates the numerical manner of expressing results:—
" We have taken as a unit of complement the minimum complementary dose of our
" technique (which is generally represented by O'Ol c.c. of pure guinea-pig
" serum) and express our results as units of complement absorbed per 1 c.c. of
" cerebro-spinal fluid or serum. In each tube we have four minimum comple"
mentary doses of complement, and when any quantity of fluid gives total
" prevention of haemolysis we say that four units of complement have been
" absorbed. For example, if a tube containing 0.l c.c. of cerebro-spinal fluid
" or serum shows complete prevention of haemolysis the reaction is recorded
" +40, and similarly for tubes containing other fractions of a cubic centimeter
" of cerebro-spinal fluid or serum."
ALCOHOLISM.
As in the case of the last disease, the number of deaths due to excessive use
of alcohol is in no way represented by the number certitied as such. During
1914 seventeen deaths were returned as due to alcoholism, and three others to
alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. There were 34 deaths from cirrhosis of the
liver not returned as alcoholic.
CANCER.
267 deaths were registered during 1914 as due to cancer, under the various
names of cancer, carcinoma, epithelioma, scirrhus, malignant disease, rodent
ulcer, and sarcoma.
This is equal to a death-rate of 1.22 per 1,000 population.