Evening star., 1921-10-04
WOMEN DISCUSS
SOCIAL HYGIENE
Three-Day Conference, Rep
resenting D. C. Civic Or
EXAMINATIONS, Begins.

With woman delegates present from
practically all local civic 'organiza-
tons, the first session Of the three
day institute and conference on social
hygiene by the women of the District
of Columbia convened in the audi
torium Of the Interior Department to-
day.
The conference, which is being con-
Quoted under the auspices OF the Dis
trict department of health, the united
States public health service, the Dis
trict Social Hygiene Society and the
womans advisory committee to the
United States public health service. Is
the outgrowth of a similar meeting
held in Washington in the autumn OF
last year, and it's object Is two-fold-
to create a thorough understanding
of the great problem faced, its scope
and complexity, and to focus upon
specific needs Of the District health
program the interest and efforts OF local
leaders. as well as of those Of large ma
tional organizations of women who are
residents of Washington.
Purpose Il Outlined.
DR.. c. c. Pierce, assistant surgeon
general of the public health service.
briefly outlined the purpose of the
gathering, and then introduced H. H.
Hazen Of the bureau of public health
education, Social Hygiene Society of
the District of Columbia, who pre-
sided during the session.
In a paper in which she spoke on
the effects of social diseases on the
individual: the duties of the private
practitioner; the reporting of such
diseases, and the carrier" problem,
DR.. Daisy NJ. o. Robinson. regional
consultant Of the United States pub
'ic health service. stressed the i'm
portance of all citizens to cooperate
in their efforts to check the spread of
such diseases.
DR.. Robinson deplored the fact that
the District of. Columbia alone was
the only community in the country
where reports Of those affected with
social diseases were not compulsory.
md declared that only through ef-
forts brought to bear upon Congress
by woman organizations would leg
islation to that effect be forthcoming.
Open Discussion Follows.
In open discussion that followed
DR.. Robinson's address it was
brought out that not only were re-
gal action could be taken against
those making such reports.
1t was further shown that the med
ical profession as whole was op-
posed to such procedure, but in de-
fense of it's attitude DR.. Hazen said
sAi<~I phS y" Ci SlO" u fcCOHl-
mend radical changes, and, as a rule,
were content to follow precedent, es-
pec1ally with regard to the subject
discussed. 1t also was Claimed that
in many of the states where public
registering of social diseases was law
means were resorted to to defy such
legislation.
DR.. Kate Karpeles, attending ply
sician at the city clinic of the de-
partment of health, read a paper on
methods dealing with such diseases
and touched on the clinic-the treat
ment center. the teaching center,
the consultation center and follow
up work"
She was followed by Mrs. Edith
Mics Margaret S. Brogden. chief. So
cial service department, Johns Hop
kins University.
Other Speakers to BE Heard.
The speakers at the later session
will include DR.. Abram Simon, Dr.
William F. Snow, director of the
american Social Hygiene Associa-
ton; DR.. Rachelle S. Yorros, special
consultant, United States public
':ealth service: Rev. John NJ. Cooper
of the Catholic University and DR..
Senjamin C. Gutenberg, assistant di-
rector, educational work, United
States public health service
A general meeting. to which the
public Is invited, will be held at the
Central High School auditorium to-
night at o'clock, when DR.. William
q. Fowler, District health officer,-will
preside.