These reports show that wherever a standing army exists, either in Europe or America, whether in temperate or tropical climates, at home or abroad, there exists a focus of the most insidious and dangerous diseases that afflict human beings—diseases which specially injure the procreative power, and which are annually spread in varying amounts amongst the civil population, notwithstanding the most rigorous measures which the wit of the military mind has been able to devise—measures which often trample under foot every principle of justice and mercy.
When we consider also that not only are the standing armies of every civilized country nurseries of the various forms of venereal disease, but that the same dangerous diseases prevail in all our large towns, the gravity of this scourge, which is sapping the vitality of Christendom, is evident.
The more careful study of venereal disease in its two forms of gonorrhœa and syphilis is especially incumbent upon women physicians, on account of the result of important modern researches. These show that many of the female complaints which have so largely increased, and which we are naturally called upon to treat, are now considered by experienced and clear-headed physicians to be often due to gonorrhœal infection derived from husbands of former loose life—infection conveyed either directly or from recrudescent and insidious forms of trouble hitherto unsuspected.[8]
II.
The Errors of Official Bodies in dealing with this Subject.
Before I venture to criticise any procedure or suggestion of the Government, I ask your consideration of certain scientific axioms which must be laid down as necessary data before any wise course of practical action can be initiated with rational hope of success. The first refers to the causes of disease.
Axiom 1.
‘In combating serious disease it is essential to ascertain the chief cause of the disease, which must be directly attacked and steadily removed, or no cure is possible.’
We may as well expect to cure typhoid fever whilst allowing sewer gas to permeate the house, or cholera whilst bad drinking-water is being taken, as try to cure venereal disease whilst its chief cause remains unchecked.
I shall show later that Promiscuous Intercourse, or the resort of many men to one woman, is a prolific source of venereal disease.
The second axiom refers to the physiological rank and scope of our human faculties.