Venereal diseases in the West African colonies.

This cannot be computed readily, as it varies so greatly in different areas. For example, gonorrhoea is exceedingly common in the coastal region, especially in the cities such as Lagos and Accra, but in the rural areas, it is much less common, though in the arid northern territories, especially in such areas as Kano, its incidence is relatively high. Trade routes, both the old caravan routes and the modern motor roads, have a great influence on the spread of both syphilis and gonorrhoea. There is a tendency to say that nobody knows (and nobody greatly cares) how much gonorrhoea there is in West Africa. This is not fair, but it is freely admitted that gonorrhoea is a formidable medical problem. The incidence of the complications of gonorrhoea is very high, and severe effects of the disease, such as are seldom seen in Great Britain, are very common and fill the hospitals. Urethral stricture and its late genito-urinary effects are frequent surgical problems. Gonococcal arthritis is also a common cause for hospital admission. Ophthalmia, either in the child or adult is rare-a surprising finding after our experience in Egypt.