The wide range of subjects dealt with at the International
Congress of Medicine makes it impossible for us to keep pace with their discussions. We may note, however, as the out- standing feature of the Congress the meeting at the Albert Hall on Saturday to discuss "Syphilis, its dangers to the community, and the question of State control." As the result of the interchange of opinion between international experts, in which the principle of State or compulsory regulation found little support, resolutions were passed in favour of a system of confidential notification to a sanitary authority, and of making systematic provision for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease in all cases where they were not already provided for. Most of the speakers laid stress on the need of educating the public and suppressing quack advertisements. Sir Malcolm Morris, who presided, declared that the time had gone by for silence. In this context we may note that the Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon that the Government had decided to institute an inquiry into the causes and treatment of venereal disease. The precise terms of refer- ence, character, and composition of the Commission were, he added, still under consideration.
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