Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1919-04-25

Recent investigation of conditions
In sawmill town In this State deyel-
oped the following situation: OF IS
persons found infected with venereal
disease, so OF over "a per cent had re-
sorted to patent medicines, drug store
prescriptions, "root-doctors," or self
medication for treatment Only
slightly over 16 per cent had placed
themselves under q physicians care.
While this situation may be somewhat
unusual. it may safely be said that
more than half of the venereal dis
eases contracted in this State never
come to the attention Of licensed
physician.
The psychology of the human mind
is difficult to fathom. Most sufferers
from any Of the common diseases--ex'
cepting chills or kebite-will apply
70 doctor for treatment, whereas the
doctor els the most Stunned person
in case OF venereal disease. There
are probably a number Of reasons for
this, the two most prominent being
shame and the expense involved In
cure
These are not, however, sufficiently
good reasons for endangering the pub,
lie health, and reducing the chances OF
cure in the individual BY the use of 9
patent remedy advised by friend, or
the futile efforts of self-treatment. or
the silly and dangerous medication OF
"rootdoctor" Claims that syphilis
successfully responds to treatment
with nostrums, and that gonorrhea IL
little worse than a cold, may lead to
serious consequences.
real cases delays the return OF the In,
dividual to normal efficiency, and fails
to check the spread OF the disease in
the community; for patent remedies
for sef-treatment do not stamp out
venereaI infection.
Since only fraction Of the cases Of
venereal disease contracted ever
reach the attention of licensed physi
clans, the reporting of venereal dis
eases by physicians alone will neither
give a true indication Of the actual
state of affairs. nor lead to the control
Of more than portion Of the venereal
disease In existence It was for this
reason that the State Board Of Health
passed formal regulation requiring
that ANY druggist or other person
who sells any drugs. compound, prepar-
alton, or substance OF any kind when
purchased for the treatment Of any
venereal diseases, except when pre-
scribed by q licensed practitioner Of
medicine, shall keep q record Of the
. name" and other Information regard,
ing the person making such pur
chase, and these records of sales
shall be forwarded to the State Board
of Health
1t Is also provided in these Regula
tons that circulars of instruction
shall be handed to purchasers OF such
remedies, so they may be advised Of
the precautions to be taken for their
early recovery and the protection Of
those with whom they come in con.
tact.
The United States Public Path
Service recently addressed letter to
eli the druggists of the country. point
ing out to them the responsibility they
bore in selling remedies which. as q
rule, are to be considered detrimental
to the welfare Of their purchasers,
and asking them to pledge Themselves
to discontinue the sale Of such RENE
dies. Previously to this time all the
Rexall Stores in the State had volun.
tarily decided to discontinue the sale
Of patent remedies Of this nature, and
many others responded to the Govern.
ment appeal. In some States the sale
Of patent remediss for the treatment