A study of the history of the Zulu and his racial and cultural background has been made. A series of 198 cases of syphilis, and 3 cases of chancroid were collected consecutively over the period December 1950 - September 1951. These were analysed from the clinical and social viewpoint. In addition, certain serological surveys were reviewed, in one of which a social survey was conducted. The inference was made that low social stability was the main factor in producing a high prevalence of syphilis in the population reviewed.