wards or
a little longer.[L]

[Footnote L: In 1915-1916 Colonel Sir James Barrett, then A.D.M.S. of the
Australian Force in Egypt, had successfully applied prophylaxis, but
unfortunately he was invalided for a time to England in November, 1916,
and with the evacuation of the Dardanelles there was a severe outbreak of
v.d. in Egypt. Prophylaxis was then steadily applied during 1917 by
Colonel Sir James Barrett and others, and at the end of 1917 v.d. had been
reduced to small proportions. In December, 1917, Colonel P.G. Elgood, Base
Commandant of Port Said, wrote:--

"Fortunately, however, at this stage, I came into contact with Colonel Sir
James Barrett, K.B.E., R.A.M.C, and Miss E. Rout, New Zealand Volunteer
Sisterhood. The first suggested that the solution of the problem would not
be found in police measures or in medical examination, but in prophylaxis;
while the second, in correspondence relating to her own experiences gained
in England, encouraged me to advocate this remedy."

The successful results of the Port Said efforts are quoted in full by
Colonel Sir James Barrett in his book, "A Vision of the Possible" (Lewis),
and Colonel Barrett had early in 1917 sent me to London the following
tremendously valuable letter of advice and warning:--

"I suppose my instinct is rather more in the moral direction than
many people, but I recognise, as you will see from these articles
(published by _Lancet_), that it is by direct prophylaxis, and
direct prophylaxis alone that we are likely to get rid of this
abomination. I should never in any campaign exclude all the
additional aids--proper soldiers' clubs, such as I have established
in Egypt, the influence of decent women, and the one hundred and
one factors that go to make a decent and reputable life; but you
have, in the long run, to recognise the fact that a percentage of
men are certain to seek women who are prepared to cater for them.
If the steps indicated are taken, the proof is absolute that the
disease can be practically extirpated and without great difficulty.
The failure of prophylaxis depends on two factors--firstly, it
requires someone charged with responsibility, earnestness and high
character to explain to men precisely what they are doing and what
it means; and secondly, prophylaxis is of very little use to
drunken men. My experience has been that when these precautions are