The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-13


est movement against social diseases
ever undertaken by any state and aid
ed by the active cooperation of three
federal agencies, the Florida State
Board of Health is announcing plans
for the start of a fight to the finish
on the Great Red Plague.
Florida, because of this statewide
effort and the fact that the public has
put aside prudery and is facing facts
in a serious way is being watched by
the entire nation and the success of
this campaign will result in strength
ening similar efforts being launched
in other states. So far efforts along
this line have been more or less re-
stricted. Now, with the full support
and the active cooperation of federal
bureaus, the State Board of Health is
equipped to put into effect it's plans
for an effort that will reach into the
most remote corners of the state, that
will be carried to every person within
the borders of Florida and that will
result in what is expected to be an
ever-increasing volume of public opin-
ion in behalf of protective social
measures for health reasons.
At the outset, the State Board of
Health makes plain the fact that it is
not ged in this issue for moral
reasons. It's motives are purely those
of the public health and DR.. Ralph N.
Greene, State Health Officer, has an
plainly his position in this re-
spect.
Social disea ses are costly and pro-
vide a constant menace to the public !
the State Board of Health
has organized for combat and the fight
will have its first stages along educa- |
tional lines, well planned and careful |
ly prepared, and with what is expected |
to be full public cooperation.
Red Plague Is Costly.
Probably no single plague has been |
so costly as that of social diseases. |
Figures compiled by government bu- |
reaus show an annual economic waste |
from this source running into millions |
Of dollars. Florida, owing to certain |
conditions which have long existed, is |
more than bearing it's share of this
waste and to alleviate and check~ this
annual reduction of man-power and !,
1ollar-power in this state, this cam
paign has been planned and will be
carried out.
The extent of the Red Plague is I'M
known to the average citizen. It's gil
santiC proportions are almost unbe-
ievable. But facts are facts and fig
Tres must be believed. F'lorida's rate
IF venereal disea ses is high in the list
ng of states. Just how high it is, it
probably would not be we'll to say
However, the following figures, which
are accurate and authentic, must have
heir weight in impressing upon the
public the extent of these diseases in
his state.
In free clinic in one city of this
state, during the past twelve months
seven thousand doses of arsphenamineI
5000 We're administered to INDECENT
PATIENTS suffering from syphilis. It
must be borne in mind that the total
number of such cases receiving treat
nent was relatively small compared to
he number of those who, through ig- {
lorance or carelessness or lack of OPP
were not treated.
A careful and accurate survey, con- {
lucted by the State, Board of Health,
# rural industrial plants, such as saw .
Mills, turpentine plants and phosphate
mines, showed an actual infection rate ;
unning from thirty-four to well be- ,
'ond fifty per cent of the total popu- ,
alton surveyed.
When these figures are applied to
he state as whole it must certainly ,
he Of such a total as to impress any !
itizen of the enormous burden the :
'tate is bearing as a result of social
diseases:
As applied to industry: the loss of
ime from sickness, the enormous la
or turnover due to sickness and I
cath. the loss from inefficiencz' of !
uch lCbor, the expense Of caring for :
UGH cases by plant physicians e
As applied to the upkeep of State
Institutions; the care of a large per- t
entage of the insane. the feeblemind- 1
d and epileptics, the blind children il
nd the delinquent in Industrial I
school; the upkeep OF jails and pris-
ms; the upkeep OF charity hospitals I