Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-03-21
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 21-How
w much would you give to be perfectly
w healthy?

' u6dlIuy!
almost anything you are inclined to re-
ply.
| But how much do you actually give?
almost nothing, is apt to be your
answer to his, if you are honest. If you
spend more than thirty cents year on your
health you spend more than the average. And
in time, care and thoughts, you probably
spend even less than you do in money.
An investigation by the United States
| Public Health Service of the cost Of keeping
we'll in a number of representative cities in
| the east and middle west, revealed the fact
that the average individual spent twenty-nine
cents per year for his health. In some cities
| the per capita expenditure ran as high as
| thirty-nine cents and in others 1t was as low
as nine cents, but the average was twenty
nine. Yet it is not unusual to find people in
the same cities paying as much as $3.50 per
person for the maintenance of their police
force or fire department
In commenting ON this low expediture for
health, DR.. Josephine Baker, of the New
York Health department, says: ut is Gu
rious how people will squander the most vat-
liable property they have-their health-and
yet manage their acquired assets with the
greatest Judgment and caution. They Will
endure diseased tissue for any length OF
time rather than pay the expense of an oper-
ation but they think nothing Of walking into
| a lawyers Office and deposl.-ng large re-
tanning fee if some of their property is in
| danger
Before the war, public opinion was already
mildly aroused to the Importance OF 1mprov-
ling health conditions. The public health
Iservice, for the purpose of enforcing SANTA
ltion, was established seventeen years ago.
But it's funds have always been entirely TOO
Imeager to cope with it's problem, and as re-
suit it's measures have been aimed to correct
rather than to prevent, an unfortunate sit
uation With the outbreak of the war and
the coming of the draft, people were fully
awakened to the fact that corrective meas
ures were not enough. They were confront
ed with several unpleasant facts. One was
THAT thirty per cent OIL the men examined IN
the draft were rejected because they were
physically unfit-unf1t to serve in any capac-
ity in the army. Another was that, upon
the basis of army figures, one out of every
six persons in the United States is suffering
from venereal disease.
Next to actual combat with the Germans,
the greatest fight of the war was against
venereal disease. This fight was so success
full that the venereal rate was lowered be-
low that of any other army, past or present.
Nevertheless, in spite of this lowered rate, the
army lost more days of service on account OF
venerea1 disease than from any other cause.
From September s, 1917, when the first
drafted men began to pour into camp, until
November 8, 1918, just before the signing of
the armistice, there were 1877 ,39l cases OF
venereal disease in army in the United
States.
BY certain vigorous measures danger from
infection was made as small possible for
the soldiers in this country. But when the
American army reached France the situation
was different. The French government had
not reached the same conclusions concerning
venereal disease as had the American govern
ment, and among the other facilities chance
offered to American troops were its houses of
prostitution established in the vicinity of the
front. These ouses we're under the inspec-
ton of the French medical corps. Almost i'm
mediately, the venereal rate in the American
army rose to 210 men in every 1000, The
American medical corps then suggested that
it be permitted to assist in the inspection of
the houses. After this, the rate dropped to
III in every 1000. Even this rate was high
enough greatly to handicap the efficiency of
the army, so General Pershing issued an or
der declaring the French houses of prostitu-
tiOn out of bounds. The rate then dropped to
only 70 in every 1000
Now that the army is being demobiliZed
the government is losing what control it had
over four million men. The same conditions
which existed at tn beginning of the war, I'M
der which one person in every six was suf-
fering with venereal disease, will doubtless
be re-estab1ished unless the community ta
up the problem where the army left Off
Fortunately, much has beer accomplished
during the past year in arousing public opin
ion to the danger of venereal infection.
great deal .of the prudery, which made the
lcult has been abolished; and people no
longer seal theiI ears to scientific facts
Women, who, few years ago, would have
hastily left the room at the mention of any
one of the social diseases are now attending
lectures on the subject, and are trying to de-