The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-19

ficiency and well being of mankind depends so much on the early correc- tion of defects in infancy and child hood.
 VeneresI Disease Control
 The Bureau of Venereal Disease Control was inaugurated September l, 1918. and has grown continually since that date. It started with three free clinics, one in Birmingham, one In Montgomery and one in Mobile.
 There are now Il free clinics and 95 cooperative clinics.
 In the winter of 1918 during the outbreak of influenza this bureau joined every other health agency in fighting the scourge, therefore lit- tie progress was made in organizing clinics until April, 1919. The follow ing is a statistical report of the work done by this bureau from April l, 1919, to December 21. 1921: Total number of cases of syphilis treated, 1S,S41; gonorrhoea, 12,059; ehancroids, 1,450; doses of arsphenamine admin istered. 66,244; other treatments given 209,44S; Wassermanns made, 35,22S; microscopic examinations, 12,296; major operations, 29; minor opera tions, 1,779; diseased women placed in detention homes, $50. The above services, figured at minimum rates charged in private practice would
 
 not take into consideration 1,S0S ope- rations performed in the clinics which at a conservative estimate would amount to $20,000. So we have here a service rendered which would cost in private practice $1,- 633,621. The cost of this service to the state was $67,500, the cost to the United States government $6t,237.
 This represents a net profit to the indigent patients treated of $1,506,551 Patients discharged as non-infectious, and probably cured 12,540; pamphlets distributed. 304,067; letters mailed, 21O,736; lectures. 669; reaching audi ences of 76,3S1; film showings, 55 reaching audiences of 16,315; slides and exhibits, 16, with audiences of 1,340; total educational contact, 60S, S39. which is more than 25 per cent of the population of the state.
 This bureau has representatives in more than 60 counties, and expects to have one in every center of popu- lation at an early date.
 The educational program consists Of instructions to the public concerning sex hygiene and venereal diseases, by means of personal and circular let ters, bulletins, lectures, films, slides and exhibits. Ministers and teachers have been instructed and urged to pass this instruction on to the young at every opportunity
 An effort will be made this year to reach every boy in the high schools of the state with a lecture and a bull letin. setting forth the dangers of venereal infection, with instructions for avoiding and overcoming It. As result of tnrs work to date, the fig ures show that there Is a reduction of 33 per cent in the incidence of syphilis among the whites. rather smaller reduction among negroes, but a very positive reduction in gonor- rhoea among both races. The satti- tude of the public is becoming more and more favorable towards this work and greater progress will be made in the future. A chart prepared by the United States public health ser. vice shows that Alabama stands at the head of the list of states in this work.
 The work in the state laboratory has more than doubled In the past few years. There are now Is counties In the state organized, and others will | be organized as fast as expert sarf- tariums and health officers are avail able to do the work.
 | You have had only a short sketch of the work that is being done by our state board of health, but you can easily sec from this, that during the past few years It's developmeht has been wonderful and much greater, | during that time, than any other l state board of health in the country. Need for Ample Funds l It has been definitely shown that under our system. with ample funds and the proper administration of health affairs, the best of health work may be done.
 | All we need now to perfect this or ganization in It's possibilities of un- limited efficiency. is the loyal sup port of all the doctors of the state, in reporting all their cases of infectious diseases. in promptly sending in their l roranrhr Al l,lrAh. md he nal ia,