Secondly, a necessary regulation to be established in combating the spread of this disease is its free treatment in all general dispensaries and hospitals supported by public or charitable funds. Such institutions have hitherto refused to receive persons suffering from disgraceful diseases, or have made quite insufficient provision for them. This refusal or neglect has left venereal diseases more uncared for than ordinary diseases. It was a perception of this neglect which induced the establishment of special institutions for the cure of such disease. But no general hospitals, supported by charitable funds given to cure the sick, have a right to refuse to make adequate provision for any class of curable suffering which is not infectious--_i.e._, dangerous to the health of the other inmates. The rigid exclusion in the past of venereal diseases from our general medical charities, on the ground of their disgraceful nature, has done great mischief by producing concealment or neglect of disease. This mischief cannot be repaired in the present day by establishing special or so-called Lock hospitals. A strong social stigma will always rest on the inmates of special venereal hospitals, a stigma we ought not to insist upon inflicting, but no such stigma rests on the inmates of a general hospital. These hospitals are established for the purpose of relieving human suffering, and such suffering constitutes a rightful claim to admission not to be set aside. While thus advocating the careful framing of a law to make communication of venereal disease by man or woman a recognised legal offence, and whilst insisting upon the claim of this form of physical suffering to free treatment in all general medical charities, I would most earnestly caution you against the dangerous sophism of attempting to treat women as prostitutes. Never do so. Never fit women for a wicked and dangerous trade--a trade which is utterly demoralizing to both men and women and an insult to every class of women. The time is coming when Christian men and women will see clearly that this hideous traffic in female bodies, this frightful danger of promiscuous intercourse, must be stopped. Men themselves will see that they are bound to put a check upon lust, and forbid the exercise of physical sex to the injury of another individual. Serious consideration will then be given to the ways in which sexual power may be rightfully exercised, and preserve its distinctly human features of affection and mutual responsibility. Whilst social sentiment is growing towards such recognition, it is our duty as women unflinchingly to oppose prostitution--_i.e._, mercenary indiscriminate sexual intercourse--and to refuse utterly to countenance it. The tenderest compassion may be shown to the poor creature who _ceases_ to be a prostitute; the most beneficent efforts may be exerted, and sympathy for the individual human soul shown in the merciful endeavour to help every woman to leave