The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-28
SPECIFIC BLOOD
DISEASES
The Menace
of the Hour

Now that thousands of our young
men are congregated in camps for
military training and service, II ia
more necessary than ever for them to
be made aware Of the dangers sIr-
rounding them in shape OF specific
infections. Already the leading sur-#
geons and sanitarians connected with
the army have called attention tH the
gravity Of this menace To our young
men away from home influences and
sub iected inevitably to temptations
and allurements that place their future
4 health and safety. in the greatestga
jeopardy unless they are instructed
concerning the methods Of avoiding
contamination detecting when they
are infected and impressed with the
importance of prompt treatment
Ignorance Of thcsF dangers is the
cause of more disease and more sufs
fering from consequent neglect after
contracting such troubles than any
other condition. and our first duty as
physicians is 10 sound the alarm and
put our young men and the people
with whom they come in contact, ON
/ their guard. and thus keep them from
the designing creatures who, in spite
/ of every effort TO prevent it, always
thr0ng around any considerable body
OF soldiers not actually on the march.
We believe the hest way to tell our
soldiers what not To do, is to tell then
what can happen to them, and then1
they will better understand what they
had better do when they have done
the unfortunate thing and are in
danger of lifetime OF inValidism. IL
not Of early loss OF life,
The trouble about one Of these dis
eases Is that a person may be absolule~
Iy free from any immoral association
himself ana yet become infected with.
a lnathsome disease by reason OF the
& fet q
fcCted sufferer who uses his towel, or
comb. or drinks out Of his cup or in
. many other ways So one should.
know enough to be able to know
when matters are suspicious enough
for him to seek competent advice.
4 simple iuoffensiye little chap or
, crack or sore may be the beginning
of one Of the most loathsome and
deadly infections known to medical
science, and we urge every one, both
, soldiers and civilians to have all sEch
examined by men who know how 10
l properly diag nose the infection, II 1t
( is specific the blood will become
= poisoned, and unless early treatment
is resorted to, this will go on to every
conceivable condition of breakdown
and rottenness OF bony system. skin
: diseases, general loathsomeness and
physical Wreckage over years and
+. Years, besides entailing the same
curse upon any children that may un-
. fortunately follow marriage
+ our solemn advice Is TO take no
chances, and If you do, certainly take
no chances against prompt consulta-
ton of a competent specialist.
We cannot TOO highly commend The
y efforts Of our Health Department In
= sounding a warning and taking steps
v to guard the soldiers, the family, and
= the infant in the nurses arms from
: the ravages of certain insidious and
u secret disea ses that now have reached
a the magnitude Of world wide proper.
= tons.
, In this connection United Doctors
u Tenth and clay Streets, again take I'll
:, the subject of blood tests, for one O
= the latest achievements OF science Il
= + in the field of blood examinations IL
the diagnosis OF these diseases. II
r. our meteorological laboratory they
t make these examinations--the Was
u sermann and other tests-and agail
say to those in need of our scientifi
examination and advice. come to Unit
e ed Doctors and we will do what W
- can in a common cause.
We cannot understand how anyor
. can consent TO employ cooks, cha be
II maids, chauffeurs, or nurses. until the
Ii bring certificates from competent spe
n cialists showing them free from
. venereaI infection. This should be de
= manded, and insisted upon NOR
u strongly now than ever before in tn
history of our country,