n we could before the modern treatment of syphilis was
introduced. The decision, therefore, as to whether we may or may not
permit a once syphilitic patient to marry will depend a great deal
upon whether or no the husband or the wife or both desire to have
children. If this is the case, we must often withhold our permission;
but if the man and woman agree to get married and to get along without
children, we will grant permission to the marriage in the vast
majority of cases. The subject of venereal disease and marriage will
be further discussed in separate chapters.

Venereal disease, I have to repeat, is terrible enough in itself,
without any exaggeration, without picturing it in too black colors.
And it is necessary that people should not have too black an idea of
it. It is necessary that they know that there are thousands and tens
of thousands of patients who suffered with gonorrhea or syphilis and
who were perfectly cured, who married, and whose wives remained
perfectly well, and who gave birth to perfectly healthy untainted
children.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

VENEREAL PROPHYLAXIS

Necessity for Douching Before and After Suspicious Intercourse--
Formulae for Douches--Precautions Against Non-venereal Sources of
Infection--Syphilis Transmitted by Dentist's Instruments--
Manicurists and Syphilis--Promiscuous Kissing a Source of
Syphilitic Infection.

In his book, _Sex Knowledge for Men_, the author treated the subject
of prevention of venereal disease very thoroughly. Men need this
knowledge. As men _will_ indulge in illicit relations, we must teach
them to guard themselves against venereal infection. We must do it not
only for their own sake, but for the sake of their wives and children.
For, infection in the man may mean infection in his wife and children.
But as women readers of this book are not likely to indulge in
promiscuous relations with strangers, a detailed discussion of the
subject would be out of place.

I will merely say, that where the woman has a suspicion that her
husband is in an infectious state, she should abstain from relations
with him until she is sure that he is safe. But where for some reason
a suspicions intercourse is indulged in, the woman should use an
antiseptic douche _before_ and _after_ intercourse. Where it is
inconvenient to use a douche both before and after, a douche after
will have to suffice, but it is much safer and surer to use the douche
both before and a