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CONTRACEPTION

tozoa lived in the vagina as long as seventeen days.[1] So far as I can discover no note was taken of the acidity or alkalinity of the vagina at the time, but I think in the case of extremely long vitality of the spermatozoa recorded, from what one knows of the general character of the spermatozoa, that in such exceptional cases for one reason or another (whether normal to her or not) the vaginal secretions in that woman must have been of the mildest acid, or more probably alkaline. In the ordinary way the modern woman's secretions are acid enough to dispose of the sperm in a few hours or at any rate by the next day, so that if she removes the cap when bathing the following day there is no need to use a douche of chemical solutions or any other substance.

In this connection I should like to comment on an interesting observation published by Kisch in quite another context, and without comment from him to link it on to the theory of contraception. Kisch said[2] (p. 216), "A special significance must

  1. ↑ Bossi (1891): Gazzetta degli Ospitali, April 8, 1891. (Quoted from Taylor, as I regret I have not been able to see this journal.)
  2. ↑ R. H. Kisch, M.D. (no date): "The Sexual Life of Woman," English translation by Paul. Pp. 686, 97 illustrations. Heinemann, London.

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