Médecin Principal de la Marine, Berchon based his research on the increasing numbers of tattooed sailors in the French navy. In 1861 he observed the transmission of syphilis from one sailor to another, who claimed to be a virgin. Berchon decided that the disease had been transmitted through spit in the act of tattooing, and as a result the French navy began to discourage or prohibit tattooing - one element in driving of the art underground.

Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link. "Extrait des Archives de médecine navale t.XI et XII, 1869."