The tests here recorded were performed at the U. S. Soldiers' Home at Washington D. C., in the course of an investigation to determine the prevalence of syphilis in that institution.
The inmates of the Soldiers' Home are all discharged soldiers who have served twenty or more years in the army, or who have been discharged for some disability incurred in the service. Practically all of the inmates, therefore, suffer from some disability or chronic disease, and the great majority are well along in years, 80 per cent, being between the ages of 50 and 80. There are a fair number of cases of locomotor ataxia, and a considerable number suffering from circulatory disturbances, liver diseases, etc. Under such circumstances it might reasonably be expected that a large proportion of these men would show evidences of having suffered from syphilis. This was, therefore, considered an exceptionally good opportunity to test