The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-20
MUST FIGHT AGAINST
VENEREAL DISEASES

Venereal diseases have been the
greatest cause of disability in the
Army.
The service has lost more days from
men due to venereal disease than from
any other cause.
From the time the United States en-
tered the war in April, 1917, to Sep
TENDER, 1918, such loss represented
1926, 900 days of service.
Statistics from the Office of the
Surgeon General of the Army show
that approximately fiveLsixths of this
burden was brought into the Army
from civilian life, and that only one
sixth was contracted after enlistment.
Therefore, the great problem is to
bring the sources of venereal infec-
ton among the civilian population
under control. This is a matter of
tremendous Importance from the
standpoint of the reconstruction Pc
riod to come. 1t involves the indus
trial efficiency of the nation.
Short, decisive methods of attack
must be used.
Much depends on the advertising
policy of newspapers, magazines, and
other media.
Dangers of Venereal Disease
Venereal disease is now recognized
as one of the most serious known to
medical science. Syphilis kills many
thousands each year and sends scores
of its victims to insane asylums. Per-
sons who say that gonorrhea is no
worse than an ordinary cold do not
know that large percentage of
blindness and of the operations on the
sex organs of women is due to gon-
orrheal infection. Certain forms of
kidney trouble, structure with all its
attendant pain, gonorrhea rheuma-
tism, and sterilty follow in its wake.
The reason for such serious after
effects of venereal disease is improp-
er treatment. The individual either
attempts to treat himself with patent
remedies or is unlucky enough to get
into the hands of quack.
Quack Advertising
Investigations covering many years
show that the vast majority of ad-
vertisements carried by doctors in
newspapers and magazines are those
of quacks, who are INSCRIPTIONS in
their statements and methods.
One reason for this has been the
Willingness of such publications to al
low the quack to use their columns
for his fraudulent and misleading
claims.
Until medical advertising is purged
of quackery, the advertising depart
ments of newspapers and magazines |
cannot expect it to have any standing. |
Not only that, but the advertising |
tone and value of the publication that |
caters to quackery are lowered ,,
The quack preys on the ignorant |
and the ashamed, and is far more in
terested in the pocketbook of the pa
tient than in his or her health. Symp-
toms or simple infections of little
consequence often are diagnosed as
venereal disease or serious sexual
trouble.
Syphilis and gonorrhea, when not
mentioned specifically in quack ad-
frequently are masqueraded
under such terms as "blood disorders,
falling hair, "private diseases of
men and women" nervous debility,
etc. 1t is a rare individual in whom
the quack cannot find some disorder
that demands immediate treatment
under his own special methods.
The quack doctor is dangerous-not
because he advertises, but because of
the methods he uses in his advertising
and in dealing with the patients who
come to him for treatment.
Army and Navy Warn Men Il
"Do not be caught by advertising
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. try to get your
money by promising to cure you
quickly" said the instructions of the {