[Footnote K:  Since this was written, a large number of experiments have been made with the single treatment tube, containing an ointment destructive of all forms of venereal disease microbes, whether used before or after connection.  The Pennsylvania Department of Health is within measurable distance of finding a solution of this problem—­the production of a cheap, portable, easily applied and thoroughly efficient self-disinfecting ointment.—­E.A.R.]

It was clearly proved that so long as men took these simple precautions (which I always explained personally) they were very unlikely to contract disease; most cases of disease came from multiple connections with the women of the cafes, etc.  It was difficult to impress on ordinary men’s minds the fact that each and every connection was a danger; that the danger of infection began immediately there was any contact, and that it continued until disinfection, and was renewed as well with each fresh connection during the night.  If the danger had continued for several hours in this way, the men were told to go to the medical depot or report to a doctor as soon as possible.  When they did so they were saved from disease in the vast majority of cases, even up to twenty-four hours afterwards or a little longer.[L]

[Footnote L:  In 1915-1916 Colonel Sir James Barrett, then A.D.M.S. of the Australian Force in Egypt, had successfully applied prophylaxis, but unfortunately he was invalided for a time to England in November, 1916, and with the evacuation of the Dardanelles there was a severe outbreak of v.d. in Egypt.  Prophylaxis was then steadily applied during 1917 by Colonel Sir James Barrett and others, and at the end of 1917 v.d. had been reduced to small proportions.  In December, 1917, Colonel P.G.  Elgood, Base Commandant of Port Said, wrote:—­

“Fortunately, however, at this stage, I came into contact with Colonel Sir James Barrett, K.B.E., R.A.M.C, and Miss E. Rout, New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood.  The first suggested that the solution of the problem would not be found in police measures or in medical examination, but in prophylaxis; while the second, in correspondence relating to her own experiences gained in England, encouraged me to advocate this remedy.”

The successful results of the Port Said efforts are quoted in full by Colonel Sir James Barrett in his book, “A Vision of the Possible” (Lewis), and Colonel Barrett had early in 1917 sent me to London the following tremendously valuable letter of advice and warning:—­

“I suppose my instinct is rather more in the moral direction than many people, but I recognise, as you will see from these articles (published by Lancet), that it is by direct prophylaxis, and direct prophylaxis alone that we are likely to get rid of this abomination.  I should never in any campaign exclude all the additional aids—­proper soldiers’ clubs, such as I have established in Egypt, the influence