El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-25
5000 Patients Are Treated
In Free Clinic During Year
Maybe PermanentInELPa
BY J. W. TAPPAN.

director nlreo states PUBIC HeaiEh
Service.
{ TNASMUCH as the social diseases ars
only a part Of the general problem
Of communicable diseases for the con-
troll Of Whichsths United States public
health service has assigned officers
as directors Of sanitation IN each OF
the extracantonment areas, and has
already taken steps for the treatment
OF carriers" and the disqualification
OF certain cases. It IS proposed that
the local administration OF whatever
measures are Instituted for the con-
troll Of these diseases shall be by the
directors OF sanitation in the areas in
question
Functions Of Clinics.
For the purpose OF selecting the
best measures for the control Of social
disea ses. there shall be esta blished at
I. first. dispensaries or clinics for such
diseases in only a few selected areas
The function OF such a clinic shall
be tal treating carriers OF tnfec-
ton; Cb) disqualification Of selected
cases wherever pracicables (c) utiliz-
ing and instructing local practition-
ers- In the control OF social disease5S
I'D distributing, free Of cost, to local
remedies under prescribed regulation;
fe) making free meteorological exam
nations. sociological tests and other
laboratory Investigations Of venereal
diseases, at the request Of local prac-
titioners and certain administrative
officers: % advising persons who
may desire confidential Information
with respect to possible infection CT
themselves, proper treatment and re-
lated subjects
Help Needed.
Il is proposed that the existing
sanitary units in the selected areas
shall be supplemented by the follow
ing personnel:
one specialist in social diseases.
one to two probation officers, one
social worker. one clinic nurse (male),
one clinic and follow up nurse). fe-
malel. and one to four policewomen-
To BE Paid by Government.
II is proposed that the United
States public health service provide
and pay the salary OF a yenereal
specialist for each established clinic,
wherever the services Of such a spe-
cialist shall be required
It Is proposed that the United
States army. through the commission
on training camp activities. provide
the necessary probation officers to-
study and act upon individual cases, (
secure the necessary attendance at
clinics, and for such other additional
duties as may arise IN connection with T
persons convicted in the local courts
who may be suffering from venereal
infection
It is proposed that the United
States army will continue the services .
Of q social worker in such extraczn- I
Torment areas for educational and
other purposes
Red Cross TO Furnish Nurse.
T. fu nrnDnEn1 that the RaG Cross
shall furnish one male nurse for clinic
purposes and one female nurse for 4
combined duty in the clinic and fol-
low Up work. and that the necessary
surgical appliances and drugs shall
be provided by the Red Cross in the 4
amounts needed It is proposed also
that the Red Cross furnish the neces-
sary transportation for follow up 4
work and other control measures in
connection with these clinics
Local Authorities TO Furnish Offices.
II is proposed that the providing Of I
proper office space shall be requested !
OF the local authorities In the event 4
Of the inability Of the local suthori-
ties to provide such quarters. the
same shall be provided from appro-
priations OF the Red Cross
It IS proposed that a requisite num-
Der Of policewomen shall be furnished
by the local authorities TO properly
enforce antiprOstitutiOn ordinances. It
Is recommended that clinics so estab-
lished shall be continued for a pro-
7isional period Of six months, and
longer. should the necessity OF the
work warrant such procedure.
Government to Give Aid.
The United States public health SER
nee is prepared to make the neces-
sary meteorological examinations, Sc
biological tests and other laboratory
Investigations It is proposed that
on the control Of the We
lereal diseases and other educational
material shall be requested Of the
American Social Hygiene association
for free distribution