“New York, December, 1855.”
“REPORT ON PROSTITUTION AND SYPHILIS.
“To Isaac Townsend, Esq., President of the Board of Governors of the Alms-house.
“In answer to your inquiries, the Medical Board of Bellevue Hospital respectfully reply,
“That they caused a census of the Hospital to be taken on the 24th October last, for the purpose of ascertaining what proportion of the patients had suffered from venereal diseases. From that enumeration they learn that out of 477 persons then under medical and surgical treatment, 142, or about one third, had been so affected. In the several divisions of the house the numbers are as follows, viz.:
“Of 72 females on the surgical side, 17, or 1 in 4·24.
“Of 130 females on the medical side, 17, or 1 in 8 nearly.
“Of 118 males on the medical side, 45, or 1 in 2·6.
“Of 127 males on the surgical side, 63, or 1 in 2.