ual disease. The West Australian law
recognizes the wisdom of providing the patient having sexual disease
with every safeguard for his secret provided he conforms to the
requirement of the law in the continuance of his treatment. German
sentiment is strongly against reporting, and no provision is made for it
in the civil population. On the other hand, the very complete programs
of the Scandinavian countries provide for reporting cases without names.
It is, therefore, apparent, in view of this conflict of opinion, that we
can afford to watch the experience of our neighbors a little longer
before committing ourselves to the risk of arousing antagonism over a
detail whose importance in the scheme of attack on syphilis is at best
secondary to the fundamental principles of efficient treatment and
diagnosis. There is no apparent reason why we should not be satisfied,
for the present, at least, with drawing to our aid everything which can
give us the confidence and the willing cooeperation of those we want to
reach. Physicians who work with large numbers of these patients realize
that privacy is one of the details which has an attraction that cannot
be ignored.

+Compulsory Treatment.+--Compulsory provisions in the law form the
third debatable feature of a modern program against syphilis. The
Scandinavian countries have adopted it, and in them a patient who does
not take treatment can be made to do so. If he is in a contagious
condition, he can be committed to a hospital for treatment. If he
infects another, knowing himself to have a venereal disease, he is
subject, not to fine, but to a long term of imprisonment. The West
Australian law is even more efficient than the Scandinavian in the vigor
with which it supplies teeth for the bite. The penalties for violations
of its provisions are so heavy as to most effectually discourage
would-be irresponsibles. At the other end of the scale we find Great
Britain relying thus far solely upon the provision of adequate
treatment, and trusting to the enlightenment of patients and the
education of public sentiment to induce them to continue treatment until
cured. Italy has, in the same way, left the matter to the judgment of
the patient. The Medical Association of Munich, Germany, in a recent
study has subscribed to compulsory treatment along the same lines as the
West Australia act, although thus far enforcement has been confined to
military districts. The program for disbanding of the Ge