SYPHILIS. 157 



is one of the most dreadful now existing among 

 mankind, which communicates itself from the guilty 

 husband to the innocent wife, and even transmits its 

 taint to the offspring, and which the experience of 

 other nations conclusively proves may be vastly dimi- 

 nished, should be suffered to rage unchecked, because 

 the Legislature refuses to take official cognisance of 

 its existence, or proper sanitary measures for its re- 

 pression."* Infamous indeed ! The historian has hit 

 upon the proper word. 



As to preventive measures, the one great law is 

 Be chaste. Lead a pure and virtuous life, and fear 

 not this evil. As to accidental infection, the greatest 

 care should be taken when it is known or suspected 

 that any one in the household is suffering from the 

 disease. The use of the same cups, spoons, towels, 

 tobacco-pipes, &c., &c., should be carefully avoided, 

 and the act of kissing should never be indulged in. 

 In the case of a syphilitic infant, the parents should 

 not permit friends to kiss it should any be so in- 

 clined and they should on no account engage for 

 such a child a wet-nurse. Virtuous women, the wives 

 of respectable men, often become infected from diseased 

 children they have been engaged to suckle. No 

 medical man will sanction such a proceeding as the 

 wet-nursing of a syphilitic child. To submit any 

 person to such grave danger of infection is a heart- 

 less and cruel outrage, and when wittingly committed 

 should be a criminal offence. 



* Lecky's " History of European Morals." 



