The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1922-05-04
DOES 1T PAY?
A Very Sensible Question To Ask.

Il might be well enough if we
should pause occasionally and ask,
"Does it pay?" Yes, it does pay from
many angles, from every angle. Does
it pay?" usually carries with it tha
natural supposition that you are talk.
ing about money-just money. Fru-
gal people, people of foresight, people
who have small means or more liberal
should conserve their incomes, and
often ask and investigate thoroughly
"Does it pay?" If it does not, stop,
find out the trouble and remedy it.
The question, docs it pay?' has
often been asked about the control
measures instituted by the Georgia
state Board of Health in the veneral
disease work. The question as to dol
lars and cents could not be definitely
answered because it requires time to
fell. it requires the collecting of Stats
tics and the comparison of actual fig
ures. This time has come at least in
one of the. States institutions and
touching only one organ OF the body
and only one disease, Brain Syphilis.
The physicians at our Insane Asylum
do not guess, they know. The latest
figures from that institution show
decrese of new cases admitted last
wear of 4 IL per cent as compared with
the year before, due as they state to
the early and proper treatment of the
cases in the hands of the general prac-
titioner. Brain Syphilis runs from 20
to 30 per cent of. all cases throughout
the country-say 25 per cent Of all
those admitted Georgia appropriates
one million dollars for the mainte-
nance of her Insane Asylum, therefore,
$3.50, 900 for Brain Syphilis. Four and
a half per cent of two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars is 10,250.00;
that was saved to the taxpayers last
wear. or Just $250.00 more than the
entire appropriation made by the legis-
lature for this department. Does it
pay?
in about five years we can almost
eliminate this disease of Brain Syp-
hills. There is no excuse for its eXis-
tence; it is possible to eradicate it;
we must eradicate it. Will it pay?
In five to eight years you will have
cut your blindness in babies at least
SO per cent. 1t is possible for the re-
be if all mothers were attended by
physician who is capable, honest and
careful. The nthe So blind children
at your Academy for the Blind at
Macon would not need as the insti-
tuition does today an appropriation of
$4,000 per year to take care OF them.
1t requires 10 years to complete the
course, or 100000. Does it actually
pay? There is no excuse under heav-
en- for gonorrheal sore eyes; the poor
innocent suffers for others sins. We
can and we must eradicate this di-
sease; it is possible; it must be done.
The law requires that the physician
or midwife put the drops in the baby's
ewes when it is born; it is a chain
gang offense if this is not done. If
nitrate of silver, one per cent solution,
is applied the baby will not be blind.
d. it pay?
Does it pay to confine and treat
infec ed prostitutes? Does the closing
and keeping closed Red Light Districts
pay? Is it possible by such methods
to control veneral diseases? Does it?
Answer us that? YES Columbus,
Ga under the present city admins
tratOn, with cooperation of all de-
rarments, has proven beyond ques-
ton that it pays. Actual figures of
Camp Benning will show you that
before this cooperation was given
they had an incidence of veneral di-
sease of 800 per thousand men. This
has dropped to only 81 per thousand.
Does it pay? God alone knows how
mUcn It pays. We have been consid-
ering only money; what is money?
Trash, as compared to babies who
can see and men and women with rea-
son and not craZed with brain syphilis.
Trash, as compared to pure moral
lives and happy homes. The taxpay-
era Of Georgia never made a finer,
sounder better investment than in the
o"nuCl Of venereal diseases.
The program for the control should
he we'll rounded it must have the
elements of education, repression and
treatment we'll balanced and we'll exc
G ed. witt all who are interested CO.
operating and co-ordinating their
forces. The legislative department
Should be liberal in their appropria-
tons; the judicial department should
give their aid; the physicians should
he careful to diagnose and treat the
cases early and promptly and persist
emily. The people should seek knowl-
ed"e that is easily obtainable; the
educators, public speakers and all our
civic and religious organizations
should participate in giving the en-
lightment on sex education.
The Georgia State Board of Health
viii supply literature and send speak
ers when so desired and so far as the
appropriation they have will go.
It is possible to eradicate venereal
disease; will it pay?