CONTENTS OF CHAPTER XV
The suppression of venereal diseases — Organization of the campaign against them — International Conference in Brussels — Foundation of the German Society for the Suppression of Venereal Diseases — Three methods of carrying on the campaign against venereal diseases.
Personal Prophylaxis against Venereal Diseases: Rôle of cleanliness — The preputial secretion and balanitis — Importance of circumcision — Technique of the cleansing of the genital organs before and after sexual intercourse — Examination for disease — Dangers of repeated coitus — Special protective measures — The condom — Varieties and technique of its use — The instillation of solutions of silver salts — Their relative value — The inunction of fat — Metchnikoff’s ointment for the prevention of syphilis — Antiseptic washings — The public advertisement of protective measures — Legal protection against venereal infection — Opinions of legal authorities on this subject (von Liszt, von Bar, Schmölder).
The Suppression of Venereal Diseases by Medical Treatment: Favourable conditions as regards syphilis — Mitigation of the syphilitic virus — Mercury and its importance — A “triumph of medicine” — Methods of employing mercury in the treatment of syphilis — Mode of action of the mercury cure — Means for the after-treatment of syphilis — Curability of syphilis — Treatment of gonorrhœa — Necessity for microscopical examination and the scientific methods to be employed — The different modes of treatment — The determination of the cure of gonorrhœa — Facilitation of the treatment of venereal diseases for the great mass of the public — “Krankenkassen”[330] and venereal diseases.
State Action and Public Action in the Campaign against Venereal Diseases: Statistics of venereal troubles — Blaschko’s researches — Frequency of venereal diseases in Denmark — Among various classes in Germany — Prussian statistics of April 30, 1900 — Conclusions deducible from these statistics — The different sources of infection — Prostitution the principal source of infection — Danger of youthful prostitutes — Measures to be taken by the State against the diffusion of diseases by prostitution — Regulation — Criticism of this measure — Its illegality — Its uselessness and its dangers — Favourable results of the withdrawal of “moral control” — Prostitution and crime — Soutenage — Criticism of Lombroso’s theory of the relations between prostitution and criminality — The brothel question — Diminution in the number of brothels — Dangers of brothels — Brothel streets and the limitation of prostitution to definite quarters — Proposals for the examination of the male clientèle — Criticism of these proposals — The true way towards the suppression of prostitution.