Venereal Disease Asserted to be More Common in Paris than in London.

In a recent discussion I listened to at the Medical Society of London, the opponents to the introduction of the Contagious Diseases Act to the Civil Population, asserted that in foreign countries, where prostitutes are supervised, venereal disease was more prevalent than in England.

These gentlemen did not condescend to give us any data on which these opinions are formed. Several of those who made the assertions, had travelled on the Continent—had seen the magnificent institutions in Paris given up to the treatment of syphilitic patients—the hospital for males alone containing 336 beds, and as many as 140 out-patients being treated every morning. The conclusion they came to was that syphilis is very rife in Paris, much more so than in England. I admit that these special hospitals present almost every variety of syphilitic complaint, as the system in France is to consign all venereal patients to these special institutions. If, however, the student will enquire a little further, he will find that among the registered women in Paris, syphilis is almost unknown, as I have stated in my recent work on Prostitution, p. 157.

The women who spread syphilis broadcast, are found among the clandestine prostitutes, whom the police regulations cannot reach, or who have resided or do reside beyond what we should call the protected districts. The police authorities will tell you if you push your enquiries further, that much syphilis is imported into French ports from unprotected countries; and in the last international meeting of medical men in Paris, in 1867, England was pointed to, as being one of those unprotected countries that had contributed to prevent the disease being stamped out—in those countries that without such page 30 importations would have nearly freed themselves from the plague.

If, however, we consult the reliable statistics of the army, we shall find that venereal disease among the French troops quartered in Paris, is only 66 per 1000, instead of, as shown in report of the Medical Department for 1867, 263 per 1000 as among our Foot Guards quartered in London; yet it is on such casual observations as these that the false conclusion is arrived at that venereal disease is much more common in Paris than in London.

Having then shown that the Act, whose extension I advocate, does not, as asserted, place respectable women at the mercy of the police, and that the medical objections attempted to be urged against it, have really no weight at all, I may glance for a moment at the objections made on the score of interfering with the liberty of the subject.