392 MEDICAL SECTION 



the nervous system in a particular way, remaining 

 latent for a number of years and then becoming active 

 when the nervous system is subjected to stress. A 

 certain proportion of people who contract syphilis 

 may be infected with this strain of modified organism. 

 This seems pos'sible from the fact that in countries 

 where syphilis has been recently introduced (Uganda) 

 general paralysis and tabes are hardly ever met 

 with. When the chances of syphilitic infection 

 are equal for the sexes, as they necessarily must be 

 in congenital syphilis, the incidence of general 

 paralysis is equal in the two sexes, consequently we 

 may assume that acquired syphilis among a popula- 

 tion bears a ratio to the incidence of general paralysis 

 in the two sexes. It is therefore possible that syphilis 

 is pro rata more prevalent among males in West End 

 parishes than East End, and a little more prevalent 

 among women in East End parishes than West End. 



THE INCIDENCE OF INFECTION OF THE Two SEXES 



IN RELATION TO PREVENTIVE MEASURES. 



If we can assume that general paralysis is an 

 index of syphilitic infection of the two sexes, then for 

 every one female infected there are seven males. A 

 considerable proportion of the females infected are 

 prostitutes. No law would be tolerated that did not 

 give equal rights to both sexes whatever their social 

 conditions may be. Males spread the disease as 

 much as females, and any measure that did not 

 prevent males as well as females from infecting 

 healthy people would be unjust. Properly treated 

 in the early stages, the disease yields most satisfactory 

 results, and only a small proportion of cases suffer 

 later with serious disease. But the first duty of the 

 State is to prevent disease ; failing that, to cure disease, 

 prolong life, and relieve suffering. Seeing that 

 15 million people will now be receiving medical 



