The point at issue is, when the disease first arose, and where. Medical historians give credit to America, Spain, and France, for its propagation; and controversies have been carried on by various parties, each disclaiming the honor. Now, as I do not propose to analyze the authorities, but simply to venture my own opinion, with the reasons for the same, I have no alternative but to refer the reader, if he be dissatisfied with my attempted exposition, to more comprehensive and elaborate conjectures than my own. Starting upon the proposition that nature’s laws are unalterable, and believing that fever is, and has been fever since the creation of the world; that a cut finger has healed by the first intention, or has _festered_, and ever may do so—each condition being modified by the state of health of the party, and the nature of the wound; that a broken limb was attended with the same consequences in the year 1 as it will be in the year 1900; and that dirtiness generated itch, and does so still: I can not reconcile myself to any other belief, but that any violation of the laws whereupon sexual intercourse has been permitted, has been, is, and will be, attended with corresponding results; and as such violations most likely exist where numbers cohered together, I consider both gonorrhœa and syphilis to have been coeval with the origin of mankind. They both doubtlessly are much modified by climate, habits, and constitution; and therefrom ensue the many modifications we see in Europe, and the other large portions of the globe. The proofs that can be adduced in favor of this hypothesis are interminable. It is said that, until the arrival of some British sailors at Otaheite, the disease was unknown in that territory. Possibly, in its present modification; but previously to this new intercourse, it is most probable that the sexual cohabitation was not so promiscuous or frequent, and that that very infringement entailed a new form of irritation. In married persons, of even temperate passions, and of most careful habits, local sexual disorders are of frequent occurrence, the slightest derangement of female health giving rise to vaginal disturbance, that unsuspectingly is increased by the marital embrace, and communicated to the husband; and only from its presence does it occur, that the coitus may have been the cause of it. By attending to the simple suggestion of nature, namely, abstinence, cleanliness, and rest, a cure is effected; but where neglected, or should either party be unfaithful to the marriage vow, the disease becomes magnified, and extended to, mayhap, innocent parties.