more apt to neglect securing medical advice and treatment, and more
ready to discontinue treatment before a cure is effected.


SECTION 3.--ACCIDENTAL INFECTION.

Occasionally cases are met with in which syphilis is acquired innocently
by direct or indirect contact with syphilitic material, and then the
primary sore is often located on some other part of the body than the
genitals. Thus the lip may be infected by kissing, or by drinking out of
the same glass, or smoking the same pipe as a syphilitic patient. A
medical witness reported a case to the Committee in which syphilis was
conveyed to two girls "through a young fellow handing them a cigarette
which he was smoking." Metchnikoff has proved that the spironema of
syphilis is a delicate organism and quickly loses its virulence outside
the human body, and it cannot enter the system through unbroken skin or
mucous membrane. It is extremely doubtful if any form of venereal
infection can be conveyed in food. Frequently venereal disease is
deceitfully attributed by patients to innocent infection, and no doubt
some genuine cases do occur, but how seldom is illustrated by the
statement of the Officer in Charge of the V.D. Clinic at Christchurch,
who said, "I cannot remember a case where I was absolutely certain that
infection was acquired innocently or extragenitally."

Gonorrhœa may be conveyed innocently from infective discharge on a
closet-seat, or from an infected towel, &c., and undoubtedly gonorrhœal
discharge if brought into contact with the eye sets up a violent
suppuration.

The Committee are of opinion that the extent of accidental infection is