water passage) or in the vagina, etc. Syphilis may infect internal and
external parts of female organs; also breasts, mouth, tongue, etc., and
other openings of the body.]

Neither of these two methods in practical application by ordinary women
can be said to be _completely certain_. Both are apt to fail at times. The
chemical method, that is, the application by the woman of a suitable
soluble contraceptive suppository before connection, or of a germicidal
douche (such as a dilute solution of lysol) after connection, or both
these measures taken consecutively, may fail because of some fault in
application, or because the seminal fluid actually enters the womb during
intercourse; that is to say, when emission takes place, the end of the
male organ may be exactly opposite and close to the mouth of the womb, and
the spermatazoa in the seminal fluid enter directly into the womb, and
cannot then be removed or destroyed by douching or contraceptives of any
kind. Now if the physical conformation of the reproductive organs of the
husband and the wife render this event possible or probable, then soluble
suppositories and contraceptive douching are alike unreliable, by
themselves or in combination. On the other hand, the mechanical method,
that is, the use of a rubber protector, preferably the spiral-spring
occlusive[G] "Dutch" pessary, by the woman may also fail, because the
protector is porous or ill-fitting. But--_if the two methods are
combined_, the chemical method and the mechanical method, _then the
protection against fertilisation may be regarded as almost absolute_. The
completeness of the protection depends, of course, upon the proper
application and combination of the measures advised.

[Footnote G: Judging by certain original letters (dated December, 1888, to
November, 1892), which I have seen myself, by the courtesy of Messrs. E.
Lambert & Son, of 60, Queen's Road, Dalston, London, E.8, the rubber