what influence it had on the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. The period of decadence in ancient Rome shows it in a state of such gigantic proportions compared to which our own morals appear of angelic purity. Since those times prostitution has kept alive and has been thriving in every civilized nation of the globe, pervading the highest and lowest circles of society, and if there happens to be somewhere a wild and innocent tribe to whom it is unknown, I at least am unaware of it. And so we have the monster in our midst to-day. We know it is here; we feel its effects; we despise and fear it, but we have not the courage to confront it. We don't care to talk about it, lest some prudish ear might be offended. But difficult problems are not to be solved by ignoring or by hiding them after the fashion of the ostrich bird, which puts its head under the sand, hoping it will not be seen. If therefore, recognize the existence of the evil, it behooves us well to try to remedy it, and a free discussion, like the one proposed for this meeting, cannot but help stir up public sentiment to activity in the proper direction.

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It is but natural that, in attempting to treat this grave social disease, we should search for its cause. The prime moving factor has always been and is the invincible desire of man to satisfy the animal instinct, and in the measure as our social conditions have made marriage more difficult, this institution has proven insufficient for the purpose, and as it will never be possible to make marriage obligatory, prostitution will always remain its undesirable surrogate. The causes which drive women into the arms of prostitution are manifold. Want of bread, disinclination for work, love of luxury, an inherent morbid tendency towards debauchery, are among them. Modern neurologists and anthropologists lay particular stress upon this point and claim that in a great number of prostitutes distinct signs of mental and physical degeneracy can be ascertained, so that they look upon prostitution more as a form of moral insanity than as a vice; but whether woman deliberately enters upon a life of shame, or whether she is forced into it through circumstances, makes no material difference as regards the points which I wish to emphasize.

Prostitution is a factor in our social life, and history has shown that the most persistent persecution, the severest punishments, even the tortures of the seventeenth century, were unable to remove or to suppress the evil. They have only succeeded in producing secret, clandestine prostitution, which has proven to be still more dangerous from a moral as well as from a sanitary standpoint. We do not mean to defend debauchery and immorality; we deplore them as deeply and more sincerely, perhaps, than those would-be moralists who still believe that prostitution ought to and can be done away with. We consider it as a vile excrescence on the tree of human society, as a "parasite which destroys the best energies of life; and yet we cannot help looking upon it as a necessary evil, as long as it is wisely regulated or supervised, for as such it guarantees society at large against excesses and diseases, and this must appeal to anyone who is free of prejudice and does not cling to abstract theories. Imagine for a moment what the result would be if the apostles of public morality could succeed in crushing prostitution out of existence. Why, you would simply crowd it away from the public thoroughfares into the heart of domestic life. You would have an enormous increase of all sorts of disease. Seduction of poor girls, illegitimate births, adultery and all kinds of crimes against morality, would be the direct effect; for you might, perhaps, suppress prostitution as a business, but you can never destroy the physiological, urgent demands of human nature. Let me cite to you what a man says who has made the most intricate and complete studies of love in all its aspects, the celebrated Mantegazza;

"Where modern society acts with pure and chaste wisdom, it tolerates and supervises prostitution, without, however, sanctioning it, like an old running "ulcer, which protects this senile social system against deadly decomposition. "And so we ought to do, as long as an advanced social state does not afford to every man a wife and a home, or as long as progressive education does not fur"nish to a greater number of men the appreciation and the pleasure of chastity. "As things look to-day, prostitution with all its shame and infamy is a hundred "times preferable to a cynically prolific proletariate, whose children become the "burden of public charity. A hundred times rather the paid for lust than domestic "treachery and permanent adultery and the degradation of marriage to a sort of

'bargain and polygamy. A hundred times rather voluptuousness, brutality detached from love than betrayed friendship and the pollution of love in the 'sanctuary of the family; better than the intoxication of society by the poison of "hypocrisy and covetousness which slowly but surely destroys."

To those then who to-day, in the face of past experience, of the tremendous barrier of historical facts, against which the most powerful of kings and popes fought in vain, would resume, or continue their warfare against prostitution, I would say, go ahead; but first transform, if you please, our whole social condition; make all men and women virtuous; make marriage obligatory on all men at the age of completed manhood, wipe out drunkenness, crime and gambling; then your work will be child's play.

But this dreamland of Bellamy is far away, and we had better meanwhile look to a way of lessening the evil, which is within the reach of human power, which has in some countries been carried out, and which we can easily adapt ourselves, if we only try-I mean the regulation of prostitution by sanitary or hygienic measures. I am not here to-night to speak on the moral side of our question, on the ways and means of abating the demoralizing influence of the social evil upon society at large. I may leave this to the eloquent orator who is going to follow me. But as a physician to whom prevention seems as high, if not a higher domain of his professional duties, than the cure of disease, I propose to raise my voice against the easy going laxity with which a class of most important affections is allowed to spread with enormous rapidity, affections which not only undermine the health of the afflicted victim, but which may even be transmitted to an innocent offspring. With all possible rigidity we enforce vaccination, and re-vaccinnation, and have thus succeeded in reducing the danger from small-pox to a minimum. By red or white labels we brand the houses which harbor cases of scarlet fever or diphtheria. The announcement by physicians of every other form of contagious troubles is made compulsory. We assume the right and duty of making prisoners, for a time at least, of the unfortunate travelers on pest-laden ships. The condition of our water and drainage system receives constant watchful consideration. We have now even a system of milk inspection. But the organs of public hygiene persistently shut their eyes against the existence of these special diseases which are more prevalent and far-reaching than all other contagious affections taken together. And why is this? Simply because a social stigma attaches to them. Because the word syphilis must not be used in so-called good society. But are you not aware that this disease may be acquired in a perfectly innocent manner? By the physician and the nurse in the performance of their professional duties, by a kiss, by numerous accidents, by inheritance, by the suckling baby from the contaminated wet nurse and vice versa, and by many other ways too numerous to be mentioned here? Apart from the most frequent mode of infection, and of the locality at which the disease usually shows itself first, syphilis is as decent a disease as consumption, diabetes or cancer. I cannot undertake to give you even an outline of the natural history of this disease. You know that it may attack any part of the body, even the most vital organs, and while it rarely is the direct cause of death, its deteriorating influence upon the health, particularly when neglected or improperly treated, is generally admitted. Recent statistics concerning the Austrian armies have shown that syphilis is one of the most potent factors in decimating that body. I could give you no exact figures as regards the prevalence of this disease in our city, but my impression, based upon personal observation, is, that the number of its victims is increasing enormously, although the advances made in this particular line of medical science have done a great deal to lessen its destructive tendencies and to increase the chances of its curability. Nobody can deny that unrestricted, unregulated prostitution is the most fruitful source of that disease, while the united experience of hundreds of physicians, foremost among them the celebrated Fournier of Paris, has clearly demonstrated that supervised prostitution is by far less dangerous in this respect. Every attempt, no matter how imperfect, to regulate the evil has been followed by a decided decrease of venereal diseases, and I am told on good authority that in Cincinnati, where some years ago a slight effort was made in this direction, the good result was unmistakable even after one year of experience. I am well aware of the fact that in the United States regulation or medical surveillance of prostitution is something unheard of,

but I sincerely hope that the most progressive and enterprising city of the Union will start a good example in this direction; that Chicago will, as in other things, take the lead in this important matter. I recognize the difficulties that will arise and the objections that may be raised against such a pioneer movement, but I am also sure that a cool, practical study of this question in all its aspects will help to clear them away.

One of the most common arguments used is that regulation would mean a recognition of the evil tending towards its promotion. Empty phrases! As if laws against crime would make criminals, or high license on saloons would create more drunkards! Again, we are told that it would be unjust to medically supervise those women, to infringe upon their personal liberty, while to men every possible freedom is granted. At first sight this appears good logic, but look deeper into it. Who is it that makes a business of prostitution, the man or the woman? Has not every community the right to watch the vendor of a ware? Have we not a City Sealer to see to it that full weight and measure is given? Have we not inspectors of fish, meat, milk, or other necessaries of life, who guarantee the buyer of these articles their unadulterated purity? Besides, in some countries where prostitution is regulated, like Belgium and Austria, it is also a rule to inspect the large bodies of men, the armies, and even some large factories. The common soldiers are examined there every week-I know this from personal experienceand whoever is found diseased is immediately transferred to a hospital, and those men never complain that the inviolability of their personal rights is being offended. And is it not assuring those unfortunate women their own safety by notifying them in the beginning of any danger as to their health, and subjecting them to treatment which may protect them against the further development of their trouble, while at the same time their disease is prevented from spreading to others. There are even some sentimental people who find in sanitary inspection a personal insult to those women, who consider it as immoral or indecent in itself. If you listen to these declamations, you might think we are going to disturb the chastity of innocent virgins, or to humiliate respectable wives. Truly, those who are so warmly defended, haven't they deliberately given up all feeling of chastity and womanly dignity? Have they not voluntarily ostracised themselves?

This is not meant to be a tirade against fallen women. We may imagine that most of them can tell a pathetic story of their betrayal by a false lover, but this does not change the fact that they are a constant source of danger to public health. Take an every day occurrence. One of those unfortunate women becomes diseased; she is unaware of it for some time; she does not realize the importance of her trouble, or, even after she is conscious of it, the necessity of earning her livelihood forces her to continue her former habits. Dozens of men thus become the victims of disease. This would be impossible under a properly regulated system of sanitary inspection, where the health of prostitutes is controlled at short, regular intervals, and the result of the examination recorded in a special book, which they must have for this purpose, and which must be produced when a request is made for it.

I must not use names, nor mention streets, nor houses, but from my own daily experience, I could give you any number of instances to prove the truth of what I say. I do not claim that the regulation of prostitution is paramount to a successful annihilation of syphilis and other venereal affections, but it surely does a great deal towards it, and if it should prevent every year only a hundred cases of syphilis in our city, its usefulness would be sufficiently established.

In conversing with colleagues on this subject, the usual objection is raised: Oh! you can't do anything in this matter in English speaking countries, because the powerful influence of the Church would never allow it. I recognize this influence, I feel it sufficiently in the effect it had upon closing the World's Fair on Sunday, by which thousands of people, including myself, will be prevented from visiting it on the only day on which without neglect of duty or material sacrifice they can afford to see it. But I can't see where the matter of regulating and abating an evil which does and will exist in spite of all churches, conflicts with their interests. I believe there are a great many other and more disgraceful things which are cheerfully tolerated. Look at some of the advertisements in our dailies; at the shameful announcements from so-called private dispensaries, which are

flooded all over the land and make hypochondriacs of ignorant young men; the Police Gazette and similar illustrated literature; the number of massage parlors; the museums of anatomy "for men only." All of these are public nuisances, while medical supervision of prostitution can be arranged in such a manner as to give offense to nobody's sensibilities. There may be other objections raised against regulation, more or less justifled, but there is none weighty enough to counterbalance the vast benefits to be derived from it, which to my mind are indisputable. There is, however, on the other hand, room for a great deal of discussion, for a considerable difference of opinion, as to the best plans and methods of regulating prostitution. It seems to me premature at this moment to touch upon the many details in connection with the subject. Whenever we shall be ripe for it, we shall be able to make comparative studies concerning those large European cities where regulation has for years been successfully carried out, and we shall then select the least objectionable methods. For the present, should consider special legislative matters as unnecessary, or even undesirable with us, as this would give rise to a great deal of hard feeling, and would increase the difficulties. The less red tape, the less politics we have about it, the more easily we can succeed. To my mind, the most natural, the easiest way for us to start out, would be to make the regulation or medical surveillance of prostitution a function of the Board of Health. This body has the duty to keep a watchful eye on matters pertaining to public health, and it can and ought to enlarge its sphere of usefulness in the indicated direction. An able corps of specially qualified physicians, among them, if thought best, even some lady doctors, which would silence some of the usual objections, should watch the sanitary condition of all known prostitutes. How to locate them is a different matter and need not be dwelt upon here. Wherever a woman is found affected by some virulent contagious disease, she should be sent-yes, where should she be sent? I don't know. And this is the greatest stumbling-block that I find in the way of whatever we might attempt in this direction. In the many hospitals of our city there is not one, not a solitary, single ward set apart for the treatment of specific diseases. I need not repeat here what I have said before about the nature of syphilis. But I think it is an outrage that in a city of our size and population there should be absolutely no provision for scientific attention to those important troubles. In the Hospital St. Louis, in Paris, there are hundreds of beds for the purpose, besides the most perfected, simply ideal. out-door departments. In Vienna the three largest hospitals have each distinct services for diseases of the skin and for syphilis. Among them the general hospital has three different departments, each under the head of an eminent university professor, with an aggregate number of about 600 beds. Now, don't tell me that Chicago has no need for such institutions. From what has been said before, you can easily imagine that we require them as badly as any large metropolis, but we simply don't care. Our rich people go to the great Mecca of medical wisdom, to Hot Springs, and our poor people may go to where they please. Here is a chance for some noble hearted, liberal minded, philanthropic millionaire to erect an eternal monument for himself. Found a hospital for those unfortunate men and women to whom the doors of respectable hospitals of all denominations are closed. Do not stigmatize it by name; call it as they do in New York, Charity Hospital, or Skin and Cancer Hospital; call it whatever you please, but let us have it by all means.

To dwell in detail upon the ways and means of carrying out the reform outlined by me would involve a transgression of the constitutional limitations of this club. It is not our province to legislate. We are satisfied to furnish food for legislative thought. But I earnestly wish and hope that the the discussion of to-night will start an intelligent and patriotic agitation of this burning question, which may eventually lead to practical reforms far-reaching in their power to diminish the frightful results of the social evil.

The chairman then introduced as the second speaker MR. M. M. MANGASARIAN lecturer of the Society for Ethical Culture, who spoke as follows:

We have a subject this evening that wants to be serious with us, and we must be serious with it. I shall speak in plain words, and yet I shall say nothing which I would not say were ladies present. I do not think that anything should be said

in the hearing of honest men which could not be said in the hearing of honest women. On principle I do not believe in these so-called meetings "for men only." Such meetings cultivate an unhealthy curiosity, and suggest sensational and forbidding revelations.

"

This is a very vital subject, and it speaks well for your club and for its management that it was chosen for discussion. It is an indication of the practical spirit of the age and country in which we live. Hitherto when the subject came up people said: Hush! Hush!" and so this evil had a free field. People were ashamed and afraid to speak of it, and hence the curse. The sin felt a certain assured security. Now that time has gone by; we are going to speak of it in words as plain and as honest as those which we should use on any other public question. To begin with, there are those who think that evils of this nature, like drunkenness and gambling, and so forth, should be separated from morals, or from religion, or from ethics. I have heard young men say: "What has ethics to do with that?" It would be better and truer if they said: or religion to have anything to do with this question."'

"We do not want ethics

And again it is said that an evil of this nature should be left alone. The preacher should have nothing to do with it. The ethical teacher should have nothing to do with it. It will regulate itself. Yes, it will do more. If we let it alone, it will regulate itself—and regulate us too. That reminds me of a discussion which took place in the English Parliament some years ago. A bill was introduced to suppress corrupt and corrupting books. An orator sprang to his feet, and concluded a heated attack upon the bill with these words: Literature will take care of itself." 'Yes," was the thundering reply, "and if you don't look out, it will take care of you, too."

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So it is with all of these questions. We must discuss them; we must study them; we must legislate against them.

Prostitution exists wherever there is a woman who is willing to sell her person, and a man who is willing to pay the price. It is a compact between the desire for gain on the one hand, and animalism on the other. The question of love, of natural passion, of legitimate natural passion, does not enter into the discussion. The women who walk the streets are not in search of love; and the men who follow them are not prompted by the divine sentiment of love. That does not enter into their relations. It is barter and sale. It is a commerce, as I said, between the desire for money on the one hand, and l'animal on the other.

What is prostitution? In discussing this let us guard ourselves against wandering into a discussion of the question of marriage, or celibacy, or the economic conditions of society. I shall not enter upon the consideration of the justice of placing the largest blame upon the woman; and yet that is not altogether an arbitrary, capricious act on the part of man. It is true that this sin in woman has been condemned with greater emphasis than the same sin in man, and I say this is not because man is the stronger of the two. It is not because the amorous passion in man is stronger, and hence is more justified. No; it has been shown that the amorous instinct shows itself earlier in women. Vitality should not be measured by bulk, and the susceptibility of men in the presence of women is no indication that they have this force to a greater degree than woman. The reason why we condemn the woman more than the man is because sin is blacker in a woman, and why? Because by nature she is purer. There we have the reason. The stain upon the snow looks darker. It seems to be a deeper perversion in the woman, a deeper sinking, a more complete abandonment than in man, and by condemning her more we are indirectly paying to her sex the highest and truest compliment.

What are some of the causes of prostitution? Surely the struggle for existence; inequality of social conditions; abundance here, destitution there; culture here, ignorance there; comfort here and misery there. It is very hard for us to imagine what a terrible passion hunger is, and to what deeds of shame and crime it drives a man or woman. Then there is the difficulty of marriage under the present conditions. Statistics tell us that the average age at which marriages are contracted is twenty-seven. The sexual instinct is at its strongest at the age of twenty-five, and marriages are, as a rule, long after the marriageable age. This is certainly wrong, and often is the cause of violence being done to this instinct.

It