The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-09
THE BLACK PLAGUE

PttfstatiHS PHsSiS.dn, declaring We
nereal diseases contagious and proyid-
Ing that persons suffering from them
should be quarantined. The measure
mad strong support but was defeated
by vote of forty-nine to thiA ty-
seven 1t is now announced on good
authority that 2 campaign OF education
VIII be inaugurated at once to &C
quaint the people of Iowa with the
I deslrability OF such legislation because
OF the protection it will afford. En-
dorsement will be sought from state.
county and city medical societies, and
with this affirmative support the
sponsors OF the movement are en-
couraged TO expect enactment of the
law without the opposition or question
OF its wisdom that confronted the bill
in the present session.
As showing the attention which this
proposed legislation has attracted, and
the importance that it holds in the
minds of those who have given some
thought TO the protection il would at
I lord, & communication from W. S.
Mcclellan, NJ D., of Morning Sun.
Iowa, was printed in recent issue of
IN Des Moines Register and Leader.
Or. Mcclellan cordially endorses the
object sought TO be accomplished by
the bill and expresses his views in
the following vigorous language:
Having studied medicine | was in
terested 70 know what our wise leg
lslature would do with the bill on We
+ nereal diseases. The action of some OF
the medical members as quoted in YOUR
paper was quite noticeable. One
would suppose that disease which
( mas more victims in America than tu-
percuiosis would demand the atten-
( non OF our law makers, especially the
ones educated in medicine. The mod
Ell physician today does not stop with
healing diseases only but is anxious
& 10 use every means in his power to
prevent disease. But 1t seems this
subject was 100 horrible for sensitive.
4 rehned natures to contemplate One
wonders how men OF such delicate sen.
sioiates could take the required
course IN our medical schools. Per-
maps the faculties were persuaded TO
+ graduate them without requiring the
course on venereal diseases. Perh ms
the laity may think these men models
OF virtue To the honest medical man
however, they appear as moral COW
ARCS. Some men object 10 turning on
the light But do these men not know
mat the people are being educated
along this linee The best periodic. s.
the religious papers, lecturers and the
pest medical men are giving informa
tlon 10 the people which will helm to
protect them from these diseases
In July. 1907, the c. E. society held
It's national convention in Seattle
One OF their speakers gave an address
on the great Black Plague From
that address the young women in taat
, audience learned what every vouns
woman mas the God-giyen right Il
know, VIZ, that she does not have al
even chance of getting man for {
husband that is morally and physical
= clean And why should she n j
Know 1t? Talk about the mark o
CAIN. What about the thousands o
innocent young women and million,
OF UNBORN children who will bear tbi
. mark IN the next few years if tn,
leaders OF the people do not eniight
en- and protect them. | admire III,
: man who had the moral backbone /,
introduce this bill, but | have nothin.
: but contempt for the medical prude
k who feigned holy horrors at the dis
a cussion of this subject which is s,
n vital to the American people. Holt
! one of the best authorities on thi
subject says the time will come whe,
the disease will be controlled A
: essily as smallpox in Europe. Thi
time will never come, however. if tn
n people are kept in ignorance.
4 There is and can be no question 0
S the desirability Of lessening the in
n sidious danger to innocent peonl,
which turks in the present hidden an,
$ haphazard mode OF handling thes,
n contagious diseases. but there Il
5 room for doubt If conditions in this re
e spect would be improved by legisla
o ton It is even possible. and Der
Il haps probable. that they would b
made worse. The diseases in aues
S ton are capable. for the most mar,
IS of concealment AS rule. person
IS suffering from them are 10th to seel
5 medical advice unless absolutely CON
= PE4leH ~ w 50 AAey prefer 10 trea
S themselves or use prescriptions rec
r. commended BY intimate persons
9 friends, and almost invariably wit
y disastrous results. Hence it follow
< that 2 large -ercentage of cases i
s their most active and dangeroa
o stages do not come to the attention 0
those who would be expected 10 re
IS port them and quarantine them 70
g the protection Of tie public. A Ia,
r compelling the Victims themselves /
5 report their condition would be in
? practicable Of enforcement becaus
u Of questions of diagnosis involved a
g well as because Of the possibilities @
IS concealment. The matter of stampin
] out the Black Plague" is not les
n urgent and Important than that {
d stopping the ravages of consumptio
n in which the whole civilized world /
h at present so intensely interested an
d so actively engaged But the mean
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