New-York tribune., 1907-08-30
saNAToRIUM FOR SAILORS.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir Permit me add my testimony to that OF
writer's in New York papers in favor OF the pro-
,ected enterprise in behalf of the seafarihs men
VINO are still active in our navy or merchant SET
,ica As the native of island noted in former
cars throughout the world for the bravery or lis
ssiiors valo were mostly whaleInen. am natu-
rally interested in whatever phllanthropic @ rIehse
may be planned for the penent OF seaiIei, SEQ ~. ~, 80,
nreIv if il has reference to the diseases To Whlch
they are exposed and which they are haole 10
convey 10 others
ri,at Dr William T. Jenkins, the Health Officer
for Years of the port New York should Plan
an institution for the benefit OF seaIhen ana 70
rreyent the spread Of dreadful disease to winch
sailors are deemed especially liable is not sur
pljsjng considering the evidence he has ALREADY
given OF possessing generous hurnaie tiieiiS, NJ
nature. combined with a wise percel'tioh ol .le
needs of the community with respect TO protection
from disease. IL.
eizr F,,- DR. Jenkins in reference to the diseases
az saarnen. as the result Of their methods or ire
~ "a, a,,d destinations on shore. which indicate
1l,st the proposed effort furnish medical assist
ance to sailors when in port Will be a henent 10
thousands of women and children connected "iLi
them as well the seamen themselves
sir Thomas Watson, NJ d. of England. is quoted
ae saving wears ago that the alarming 1naladIes
from which searnen often suffer sreauy a1ect
others TO fearful extent he sald: lhey count
tteir victims not only among the vicious and self
;neulgent but among good women and innocent
children by the hundreds OF thousands "A STRONG
statement, but. L fear too true
The aIienist Or. William s. Watson. nephew
of the lamented Sir Thomas Watson, who was
physcian extraordinary 10 queen Niciofia i"i p'ei
a quarter century, is also deeply Interested IN
on, efforts to eradicate this terrible scourge, and
hs long observation of nervous and mental diseases
in his institutional connections enables MN 10
sneak intellieently in regard 10 the ob'1ors need
~ active effort sanitary measure affecting our
cit, state and nation. He afirns from his own
experience that very large percentage OF men
tai disturbances traceable to this disease. in
berited or acquired; that over 20 per cent or ali
faehl,-n,indedness and degeneracy is due to tEis
eae dreadful scourge; also, that more than 10 per
cent of all female diseases from which women
suffer are directly due TO this same questionapic
disease in one form another
This scientific and philanthropic EFFORT, commend
Cd ly Dr Jenkins and other physicians to stamp
ont this disease, should receive encouragement,
financial and otherwise. at once If a sanatorlnfn
oId receive medical attention gratuitous. If neces
sarv an untold amount of good would at once De
accomplished and an immeasuraole amount OF SUI
, fcring be avoided
IN a lime issue Of the Outlook there was an
exceedingly sensible article from the pen or Judge
: y Paw Stevens. of Wisconsin, wherein he shows
that unhappy marriages are largely resultant from
6geaased conditions in the married pair Whicn
should have been avoided He adds: Inc success
of the Jews race is largely due to their regu-
la,ion of marriage. Some of the higher class IN
Rrazjl bv seIf-inposed rule, require the proposca
spotlse 10 present the certificate OF physician
tha; ne is not afflicted with certain diseases. IKE
ca,t,v woman's congress in Paris voted to re-
orir.. such certificates protection 20 their
/ sughters.
fthe women of our city who care for excellence
and purity in character and iife VIII surely nu5l @
heartily welcome efforts of DIR. jenkins and ms
assistants i'm the line of restoring TO health those
xr are afflicted with diseases which are a menace
to ti4ousa yet unborn. A nations history may
( lie shaped by spread che conquerfng OF dls-
ease and the effort to cure the diseased mariners
who often throng American ports may result IN
lasting glory not alone to the philanthropsts and
phyaicians who promote this humane enterprise