Note CB — Chapter XIX · HYGIENE OF CHILDHOOD

How little influence fear of infection has upon the conduct of our young men, leading a promiscuous life, shows the following characteristic case. The author was consulted by a young man, engaged to be married, who was suffering from gonorrhoea, complicated by a terrible orchitis. He was put to bed where he suffered terrific pains for quite a number of days. The first question the patient asked, after he got well, was whether he may marry the next month. He was warned against marrying before repeated examinations have shown the absence of gonococci. He then requested some drug for the prevention of another infection. Now, if there ever was a man who had a reason to fear infection, it surely was he. He suffered enough. Still he was ready again to plunge into his promiscuous sex-life, without any thought of the young girl who was waiting to become his bride.