Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-03

! out Of business and nostrums thrown
out by tho best druggists and ad-
vertising agencies.
These are peace duties a. vital and
every whit a. patriotic as any serv-
ice in tho war. Ignorance. CONNER
cialism and resort to worse than use
less treatment through the prompt
ings of shame and fear Of discovery.
have promoted rather than retarded
the spread Of this world shame. The
U. s. Public Health Service declares:
There should be no peace with
prostitution, no truce with the red
light district, no armistice with
venereal diseases"
The same service issues free
pamphlets, presenting the true facts
of sex in a wholesome manner, which
will be sent to any address. These
pamphlets are in sets. for young men.
for the general public, for boys. for
parents Of children. for girls and
young women. for educators.
Our campaign should be toward
making the country clean and keep
inc it clean.
The commission on training camp
activities, approved by. the War and
Navy departments. has just issued a
letter of information that should be
read and considered by every adult
person in the United States. This
statement says:
The annual venereal disease rate in
the American Expeditionary Force
has varied from 20 to 40 thousand
according to a statement issued by
the surgeon generals ONCE. Many
of these cases. according to the state
ment, were traceable to the French
system of licensed houses Of prostl-
tuition, which now have been placed
out of bounds for, United States
troops.
This statement gives full informa-
ton for the effectual carrying out OF
the surgeon generals program Tor
combating this disease. That pro-
gram includes social measures to di-
minish sexual temptation; education
of soldiers and civilians regarding
yenereal diseases; prophylactic meas
ures against disease, and medical care
following infection. The War De-
partment commission on training
camp activities is cooperating in this
| work.
During the So weeks ending Sept.
q of this year, there have been re-
ported 17S.204 cases Of venereal dis
ease under treatment in the army in
this country. Approximately IS per
cent of these cases were brought into
the army. while only 10 per cent were
acquired after the uniform was
donned. In that period these cases
caused a loss to the service Of more
than 2,0G7, 900 working days.
But there is brighter side to this
venereal disease problem Following
| the introduction of preventive meas
ures-systematic physical inspections,
the administration of prophylactIc
treatment and proper scientific care
for those infected, the annual disease
rate dropped from 1855 thousand in
1910 to S3.6 a thousand in 1915. These
were practically all new cases, as at
that time men infected with these
diseases were not admitted to the
army. Under the present program OF
education against venereal diseases,
measures to diminish sexual tempta-
, lions and preventive treatment, the
annual rate of new infections has
dropped from that figure to approx
nately 20 a thousand in 1918.
1t has been found that the prophy-
Tactic treatment at the early treat
ment stations, applied within an hour
of exposure, usually prevents dis
case in men who have exposed them
| selves in spite of their instruction and
the safeguards thrown around them.
Men who have exposed themselves to
treatment are tried by courtmartial
and punished for neglect Of duty.
Prophylaxis is only a part of the
army program and the office Of the
surgeon general has instructed every
member of the medical department to
CO. operate to the fullest extent in
Carrying out the entire program for
combating venereal diseases in order
to reduce materially the enormous
waste Of time. money and man
power, now existing in the army be-
cause of preventable venereal disease.
While the civil population is decreas-
ing the supply of venereal disease
carriers, through the enforcement of
laws against vice and the quarantine
and treatment of diseased persons,
the army is using every possible
| measure to curb the demand Of the
soldier for sex indulgence.
| Thu Japanese premier thinks that
the allied triumph is so complete