Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-17
The oesdiy Parallel.

ment OF the deadly venereal diseases.
placing the Maine Health Depart
ment in full accord and cooperation
with the United States Public Health
Service. is daily being shown. State
after state Of the Union ta. taken
similar action. until less than half a
dozen are without decisive legisla-
tive action in such cooperation for
the suppression Of the two most
deadly diseases known. The need for
such action il we'll described in the
following from the United States
Public Health Service, under the title
found At the head Of this article:
Great armies of industry and re-
construction. building and operating
railroads. Harvesting rivers and
sending American products into every
corner Of the world, are little differ
ent in organization from the mighty
army raised by the United States to
fight on fields Of France. The high
est degree Of efficiency is necessary
to both. Inventive genius. with
mighty engines of destruction in war
and construction in peace, met every
demand. Nan-power was. and Is,
the weak link in the chain. Under
mined b. venereal diseases 1t failed,
and is failing, to measure UP to the
standa rdS required.
Wha, gonorrhea and syphilis cost
the United States Government in
mobilizing an army is paralleled to-
day in economic loss 10 America
industry, except that the cost is
much higher. and for this reason the
experience OF the Army can not he
too often or TOO forcefuliy stated.
Nenereal diseases incapacitated more
soldiers than any other ailment. Be
cause of it 100000 fighters were at
one time or another on the nom
effective list. with the resultant loss
CT c,0s. 900 working and fighting days.
The most startling fact for business
is that FIVE out OF every six cases OF
venereal diseases in the Army were
brought in by drafted men. not con-
tracted after the men entered the
Army. They came from your manu-
featuring plant or place of business.
They were otherwise able TO pass
physical examination. They lei, be-
hind the old, the weak, the UNIT,
and a large number OF more se-I-
ously diseased men. 1t is safe to ga
that the percentage OF Henerealy
diseased persons in industry greatly
exceeds conditions found to exist in
the Army during the first months Of
the war. Tor the Army only dealt
with men. Industry deals with men,
women, and young people. and statis-
tics leave no room TO doubt the Red
Plague" reap. a terrific toll in each
class.
1t was worth 500 eo0.0 co to the
United States Government to reclaim
the loss in man-power in the Army
as result of venereal diseases. That
is what it cost to treat and cure the
afflicted soldiers and TO keep tnhm
clean by prohibiting prostitution IN
zones about mobilization centers.
Certainly it is worth as much to in
dustry and society. Reconstruction
demands will soon make it necessary
for industry to mobilize every avail
able unit OF man-power. The re-
turning soldier. with new ideals OF
cleanliness and morality, looking for
ward 70 the time when younger
Americans will take up his talks. will
demand that posterity be freed from
the greatest heredity blight. venereal
dseases.
President Wilson. his Cabinet. and
forty-four States have already decid-
ed that venereal diseases must he
eradicated. Congress has appropriate
ed large sums OF money to be expend-
ed in establishing free clinics ia
States which enact satisfactory legis
lation for control OF vencreal diseases
and placed general direction of the
campaign in charge OF the United
States Public Health Service. Won
derful results already have been ac-
com plished-so gratifying. in fact.
that the campaign will be prosecuted
until the evil is reduced to its ex-
trems minimum.
Free clinics hav been established
in almost every population center in
the United States and in 4 great
many cities places Of detention pro-
vided for the venerealiy diseased who
would not voluntarily submit to
u I'd LfucINs SSScIdi tdl la
Institutions. profiting from the ex-
perience of the Army. have estab-
lished and maintain private clinics
for their employees. Organizations for
public welfare everywhere have taken
up the fight. The veil OF false mod
esty, which from time immemora bic
has been barrir to frank discus
sion and treatment of this greatest
social evil, has been torn aside.
Thanks to comprehensive educs-
tional campaign, the general public is
beginning to face the situation from
the right viewpoint. AS soon as this
is attained success will be in sight.
Gonorrhea and syphilis are neither
crimes nor secrets. They are COM
municable diseases affecting an
alarming number Of Americans and
causing an amazing economic loss
each year. They require the same
cold, scientific treatment your State
and city health boards give in cpl
denies Of smallpox. scarlet fever,
diphtheria, and other menaces to pub
lie health.
IL a case Of yellow fever developed
would Immediately segregate the
patient and then go to the root Of the
evil-the breeding place Of the mos
quito. Venereal diseases require
much the same treatment. Segre-
gate the carrier, the prostitute, until
noninfectious and close the breeding
place-the house of prostitution.
The issue is too clearly drawn to