DR. J. W. BALLANTYNE'S PAPER .V>1 



health in which will be contained, even if it be not 

 named in so many words, the assurance that the bearer 

 is free from syphilis. If a man truly loves a woman 

 and has regard for his sons and daughters yet unborn, 

 he will not grudge the slight indignity of being asked 

 to show proof of his own health ; nay, he will not 

 regard it as an indignity, but will voluntarily make it 

 a matter of duty and an expression of affection. A 

 more difficult task will be the eradication of syphilis 

 acquired after marriage, for one must sorrowfully 

 admit that this disease sometimes enters the family 

 circle from without through the unfaithfulness of 

 husband or wife. It will be well if the law would 

 take cognizance of such post-matrimonial infections 

 in dealing with actions for divorce, making the un- 

 faithful partner in the union in some way or other to 

 suffer for the injury inflicted upon the faithful spouse 

 whom he (or she) has infected. 



Advances in Ante-natal Hygiene. 



Now 7 , let me indicate, necessarily in the fewest 

 words, some of the ways in which ante-natal hygiene 

 may be fostered and the health of the unborn infant 

 secured. 



In the first place it is essential that authoritative 

 facts regarding the amount of ante-natal disease and 

 death be forthcoming ; we must get to know the 

 strength of the foe with whom we are fighting. This 

 means the introduction of compulsory registration of 

 stillbirths, and, if means can be devised, of abortions 

 as well. It has been calculated that there occur 

 about 19,000 stillbirths every year in England and 

 Wales ; but this is only an estimate, and the reality 

 may be very much worse. At any rate, it is necessary 

 to know, and for this purpose a means of registration 

 or notification must be devised. The medical profes- 

 sion, as represented perhaps by a committee of experts 

 in obstetrics and legal medicine, should be freely 



