ALCOHOL AND VENEREAL DISEASE.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 271, 18 January 1918, Page 11

ALCOHOL AND VENEREAL DISEASE.

The “Melbourne Age,” in an article on “Lunacy,” says: “The two great predisposing causes of lunacy are venereal disease and drunkenness ; remove both, and the prevalence of mental disorder will be reduced to fractional limits.” Had the “Age” more closely examined the matter, it would have discovered the fact that its two causes arc in reality only one, as alcohol is the chief cause of venereal disease. Replying to a question before f he Royal Commission, Sir Thomas Barlow, President of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “It has always ( be remembered that from first to last the influence of alcohol with regard to these venereal diseases is most disastrous. It is when young men and men of various ages are under the influence of alcohol that they are often led into vice, and they contract these things.” Mr Arthur Kvans, K.R.C.S., a doctor of large experience, gave evidence as follows: “Alcohol and venereal disease go hand in hand; there is no doubt about that.” Dr. Douglas White said in evidence: “1 believe th.it the doctors who have made enquiries into thousands of cases, both at home and abroad, have informed us that about Ho per cent, of the men who acquire these diseases have told them that they have done so under the influence of some kind of alcohol.”