A manual of venereal diseases / introduction by Alfred Keogh ; [prepared by] C.H. Melville [and others].

Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A manual of venereal diseases / introduction by Alfred Keogh ; [prepared by] C.H. Melville [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    41/372 (page 21)
    (7) Any man who has had no admission to hospital for an officially fixed period, say one year, should have his previous ‘‘ V’s ” cancelled. (8) Regiments showing an annual admission rate for venereal disease much in excess of the average admission ratio for the whole Army should be debarred from proceed- ing on active service till all regiments showing less . than the average rate have proceeded to the front, and even then should, if possible, only be employed on the lines of communication. The difficulty with all such disciplinary measures is, of course, the risk of their leading to concealment of disease. I would be inclined therefore to allow a man to have two primary attacks of Venereal Disease without making more than a Com- pany Entry. The third primary attack should be made a Regimental Entry. The making up of lost duties is a practical idea. The hardened sinner would know quite well that the longer he stayed out of hospital concealing his disease, the longer he would probably have to remain in hospital for recov- ery, and the more guards, etc., he would have to make up. Particular notice should, I think, be taken of any man who, while under treatment out of hospital for secondary syphilis, was found to have contracted gonorrhoea or soft chancre. The Committee of the Advisory Board also suggested for con- sideration the publication of an Annual Return showing the incidence of Venereal Disease by units of the Army, and there is much to be said for this. So also for the system adopted by Lieut.-Gen. Goodenough of calling for monthly returns of admissions for Venereal Disease by companies. In all such, however, only primary admissions should be noted. The essence of the system that I suggest is that we should begin by placing a high ideal before the soldier as at least pos- sible of attainment. I do not consider it a valid objection to say that the ideal is too high. We all know that the higher you