Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-06-26

nereal infection and to get such per-
sons to the clinic for treatment, elm
mating thereby further danger of in
fection to others in the community.
At prenatal clinics prospective
mothers should be able to receive eX-
animation and treatment with a view
Of preventing the infection of the un-
born child. There is abundant evil
dence that such treatment, when
necessary, reduces the possibility of
the child becoming infected. Even
though the newborn child of a syphili-
tic mother does not show active signs
of infection at the time, it should be
kept under medical supervision for
examination and any required treat
ment and care.
Small communities and rural dis
tricts may in many cases find it prac-
ticable to make use of the clinical ia
cilities in a neighboring city. In
such cases the county board may con-
tribute to the support of the clinic
Should this be deemed ineXpedient, a
travelling clinic may be organized, or
the community may furnish funds
for the provision of drugs, or these
may be provided by the State board
of health.
Provision should be made for hos
pital care of patients whose condi
ton makes treatment at a clinic i'm
possible OF less effective. Special
wards for the treatment of venereal
cases should be established in NUM-
cipal, county and state hospitals.
Treatment should be made available
to those who are unable to pay for
it.
Early diagnosis and treatment Of
venereal diseases require scientific
laboratory examinations and analy-
ses. 1t is essential that laboratories
for this purpose be established for
use of clinics, hospitals, and private
physicians.
The insidious nature of syphilis and
gonorrhea, the not infrequent devel-
opment of complications due TO tie
| individual peculiarities of the patient
make it imperative to the welfare Of
the infected person that he place him
self under the continued care of a
competent physician. Hence, drug
gists should refuse to sell nostrums
for self treatment of venereal dis
eases and they should direct the per-
son, seeking treatment, to a veneral
disease clinic or reputable physi
clan.
All cases of venereal disease shoulo
be promptly reported as required by
law to the State health authorities.
The attending physician is responsi
Bile for instructing the infected per
son as to the nature Of syphilis OF
gonorrhea, whichever the case may
be, the necessity Of continued treat
ment, and the inherent dangers to the
individual and the community. Should
treatment or should he subject others
to infection, it becomes the duty OF
the attending physician to notify the
State health officer, so that the dan
ger to others in the community may
be removed bv the enforcement of
quarantine and necessary treatment.
! The Conference of the Venereal
Disease Control Officers Of the State
! Health Departments and the United
| States Public Health Service, held a.
Hot Springs, Arkansas, in December
of last year, endorsed a resolution
recommending that greater efforts
| be made by official and voluntary
agencies to devise measures for i'm
mediate disinfection of persons who
have exposed themselves to possible
venereal disease infection. Such
prophylaxis it is urged would sub
stantially reduce the number of cases
of syphilis and gonorrhea.
Immediate and continued treat
ment of venereal diseases should be
stressed. Both syphilis and gonor-
rhea best yield to treatment in the
early stages, but even old or stubborn
cases of these diseases may be arrest
ed or cured by continued and COM
petent medical care and treatment.
Venereal diseases are responsible
for an appallingly great amount OF
suffering and for an enormous ex-
penditure of money. This pain ana
this expense are largely avoidable
for syphilis and gonorrhea are both
preventable and durable. We have
seen that the situation is serious, but
We have also seen that the remedy is
at hand. Conservative citizens will
see to it that all necessary things are
done in their communities to suppress
syphilis and gonorrhea, the age-olc
! GnCtrO of health uao1+b apd hon