THE INCIDENCE OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS IN AN INSTITUTION FOR THE FEEBLE-MINDED
Chas. S. Woodall M. D.1
1 Waverley, Mass.
1. The Wassermann, Kahn, and Hinton reactions were applied to 1314 feeble-minded patients and many retests were done. The Hinton was found to be twice as sensitive as are the other two tests. The need for repeated tests was established.
2. The diagnosis of syphilis was based upon serological and clinical findings and the percentage obtained was 7.2 per cent. Congenital syphilis was present in 6.5 per cent of the cases. Clinical as well as serological evidence is of great value.
3. Defective heredity was present in 16 per cent of our congenital luetics and this factor lowers our figures of incidence.
4. The writer believes that certain cases of mental defect are due to congenital syphilis. How many are thus caused has not been established, nor has the nature of the disease process been elucidated.
