Every prisoner who enters the California State Prison at San Quentin is given a thorough physical examination. This includes the Wassermann test for syphilis.
Ten thousand men have undergone this examination from Jan. 1, 1918, to Jan. 1, 1926.
Of this number, 8,004, or 80 per cent, were white; 530, or 5.3 per cent, were negroes; 1,265, or 12.65 per cent, were Mexicans, and 201, or 2 per cent, were yellow.
The Wassermann reactions were as follows:
Of 8,004 white persons, 578, or 7.2 per cent, reacted positively.
Of 530 negroes, ninety-six, or 18.1 per cent, reacted positively.
Of 1,265 Mexicans, 198, or 15.6 per cent, reacted positively.
Of 201 of the yellow race, forty-nine, or 24.3 per cent, reacted positively.
Of the total number of 10,000, 921, or 9.21 per cent, reacted positively.
Of the 10,000 prisoners, 1,507, or 15 per cent, gave a history of venereal sore which