Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-02-03
FINDS SYPHILIS
ASTOUNDING HERE
DR.. Gregg Says Fourth of
Tests Made Are Positive;
Urges Campaign

LII d SldlcIIlSIlL tOQdy III WHICH lie
urged that Vance county join in a
nationwide movement for the eradica-
tion of syphilis, Dr. A. d. Gregg,
county health officer, cited facts to
show the prevalence of the contagion
in the county.
During the final quarter of 1886, the
health officer had Wasserman tests
made on 100 persons in the county,
and rs percent of those examined, or
40 in number, showed positive reac-
lions. Dr. Gregg said that eff the
rate of infection in population of
Vance county is only half as high as
those examined in our office, we have
approximately $3.50 cases of syphilis
in the county, and | doubt that one
in ten of these cases is receiving
treatment"
DR.. Gregg said those examined in
cluded public food and milk handlers,
prenatal women, nurses and cooks of
private families and several children.
The tests were made of both white
and colored people.
Following is the full statement by
DR.. Gregg
February 3rd. to be known as The
National Social Hygiene Day. The
Surgeon General of the U. S. P. H. S.
DR.. Thomas Parran, says, "The next
great plague to go is syphilis and
major objective of my administration
rs to stamp out syphilis" The Public
Health Service is asking all State and
local health departments to work out
some program whereby the attention
OF the public can be brought to the
seriousness of this plague among the
people of our nation.
AS director of public health in
Vance county, and having just receiv-
ed this notice, have not time to work
out a general program, but offer my
services in helping any one interested
in graduating this social evil. Our
people are too inclined to smile, shrug
their shoulders and say, we can never
rid people of this disease, until a few
years back when our modern method
of treatment was instituted 1t was
considered practically incurable: now
we know a person can be cured or
made safe as to infection of Others
The countries of Norway, Sweden
and Denmark became alarmed as to
syphilis among the people, The public
was al OuSSO W IL SERIOUSNESS ana
now during the past year only 1900
new cases were reported from the
three countries. From the best of re-
cords and reports in the United State.
there are 100000 new cases a year in
our country. and probably only five
per cent of these receiving adequate
treatment.
Syphilis is easily cured if properly
treated in it's early stages if not cur
ed then, it becomes the great imita-
tor among diseases. 1t may and does
attack any organ or tissue of the body
Syphilis r1asqueradeS as heart dis
ease, kidney infections, lung troubles,
sore or liberated throat It often at
tacks the brain or spinal cord, result
ing in blindness, deafness, paralysis
or insanity. Many people are infect.
ed and unaware of the fact that
germs of this plague are circulating
in their blood. The disease may pass
unawares from one person to another.
Our most tragic results are the con-
genital cases, where mothers, not
Knowing of their infection, transmit
the disease to their children, yet I'M
born. Many of the children who are
born with mental or physical defects
are such from infected parents who
are unaware of their own infection
The people of Henderson and Vance
county should not feel that this pro-
blem is no concern of theirs, as dur
ing the last three months of 1896 we
have through the health office had
Wasserman tests made on 100 per-
sons, this group composed of public
food and milk handlers, prenatal wo-
men, nurses and cooks of private
families and several children. The
series included both white and color
ed. This series of tests gave 40 posi-
tive reactions, or 25 per cent of per-
sons examined. If the rate of infection
in population of Vance county is only
half as high as those examined in our
office, we have approximately 1850
cases Of syphilis in the county and I
doubt that one in ten Of these is re-
ceiving treatment.
SO why not go to your family ply
stefan for a blood test? 1t is another
instance of where it's better to be