Weekly journal-miner., 1919-04-30

than 30,000 6 per cent) had venereal disease when they reported at camp. While the condition prevailing among Arizona's men was not as bad as in the States where the population IS made up largely of negroes, yet 1t is worse than prevailed among the men A Problem of Civil Life. of 36 other States since 1t was found than 34 men out of every 1000 were infected. Only 13 other States had heavier proportion. The figures on which the accompanying table was made were furnished by the Surgeon General of the Army. According to the Surgeon General of the War De- partment, venereal disease constitut- ed the greatest cause of disability Tn the Army.
 For this condition civilian com munities have been responsible. Most cases of venereal disease were brought in upon the induction of reg istered men, and virtually all cases were contracted within communities over which civil authorities had con trol.
 The Army has done more than its part in combating veneral disease. Civil communities must continue the fight with vigor. In view of this ap- palling condition and the fact that our civilian life is directly responsible, the duty of the State Department of Public Health is plain. The need is urgent and imperative. War On Venereal Disease To Continue.
 MT. w. c, McAdoo says: "Under the protection of the military autnori- ties, four million soldiers and sailors received greater protection against venereal diseases than they received before the war in civil life. The cities and towns through which they go and to which they return upon de- mobilization MUST be made safe. 1 The fight $ * must be vigorously continued.
 ! Venereal disease must be attacked as the great common foe of humanity It is supremely our duty to throw light upon it, insist upon sufficient education wherever practicable, and i demand the cooperation of Health ] Officers and broad-minded people everywhere in order to control it since we seemingly cannot stamp il out of existence.
 A Few Appalling Facts. GONORRHEA is the most prev alent of all diseases, except measles.
 It is responsible for from 6000 to 10000 cases of blindness in the Unit ! ed States annually.
 It is the cause of 80 per cent of blindness of the new born.
 It is the cause of many surgical operations on the female generative organs.
 i It causes sterility in both men and women.
 It is the cause of many chronic dis eases of the joints, bladder and gen erative organs.
 ] It greatly decreases ones earning capacity.
 Gonorrhea is a preventable disease. ; SYPHILIS affects over per cent of the total population of the United States.
 It is responsible for the birth of many diseased children-S0 per cent of these children die. 1 It is the cause of 10 to 5 per cent 1 of all insanity.
 1 It is the cause of Jocomotor ataxia.
 It is the cause of paresis or soften ing of the brain.
 ] It is the cause of a large propor i ton of diseases of the heart, blood vessels and other vital organs. i It decreases the length of life about one-third
 i Syphilis is a preventable disease. I Schools For Citizenship.
 The recent epidemic and reports from mining camps regarding the prevalence of venereal disease, indi- cate that the foreign element in this State needs compulsory hygiene measures of some kind to control the situation. The State Department of Public Health has in the past appro- priated considerable money for print ing leaflets. Few of these reach those places where the information con tained therein would do the most good. Moreover, these leaflets are written in English. The urgent needs of our foreign population are such that provision should be made for simple hygienic directions in other languages besides English, so that A. ,- 1aa