III.—­MEDICAL FORMULAE.

The medical formulae for venereal disease preventive ointments for men, and venereal disease preventive suppositories and ointments for women, should be decided upon, after thorough investigation and test, by the Departments of Public Health, and none other should be permitted to be sold.  Printed directions should be issued, duly authorised by the Departments of Public Health, and no other directions should be supplied to the public with the venereal disease preventives.  In these respects, to the best of my belief, the Division of Venereal Diseases of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, co-operating with the United States Public Health Service, will play the leading part; is, indeed, already doing so.  Under the direction of Dr. Edward Martin, Commissioner of Health, and Dr. S. Leon Gans, Director, Division of Venereal Diseases, specimen tubes are tested and approved (with directions and other printed matter)[O] by the Health Laboratories of the Department; and certificates are issued to manufacturing chemists authorising the manufacture of ointments made in accordance with approved formulae.  Requests are made officially by the Department to retail chemists and druggists to sell, and to medical practitioners to recommend, suitable venereal disease preventives to the general public in a proper manner.  In time it will probably be found advisable to authorise only a standard type of tube—­preferably the metal tube with elongated nozzle and expanded metal cap—­filled with one simple self-disinfecting ointment.

[Footnote O:  In some cases the printed matter used by the drug companies also bears the “Official Endorsement” of the local “Social Purity Association” stamped upon it in indelible ink—­a magnificent tribute to the educative work of the Public Health Department, as well as to the enlightened courage of the Social Purity Associations.

The following is quoted as sample of directions authorised in U.S.A.:—­

“The use of this package is not to be construed as a licence to exposure.  Pro-Ven, the original preventive. The only sure way to prevent infection:  Do not expose yourself. All exposures should be considered as infections, for 90 per cent. of all “easy women” are infected.  By proper use of the contents of this package disease may be prevented, as the action upon the germs is as effective as can be secured by the latest scientific knowledge; if exposed, use within two hours.  After contact:  1st.  Urinate. 2nd.  Remove the cap from tube; take organ in the hand, holding the canal open; insert tip of the tube and squeeze half of the contents into the canal. 3rd.  Squeeze the remainder on the outside of the organ, rubbing well into the creases and folds under and back of head and clear to the body. 4th.  Leave ointment on three or four hours.  Remember:  It is best to use Pro-Ven immediately after exposure; never