Evening star., 1937-07-31
VENEREAL DISEASE
FIGHT |NTENS|F|ED
BY D. c. OFFICIALS
More Complete Program
Sought by Health
Department.
ANTI-SYPHILIS DRIVE
OF PARRAN BENEFICIAL
Number of Tests Given in Local
Laboratory Increases During
Year, Records Show.

The District Health Department IS
studying plans for closer co-ordina-
ton of available public and private
facilities for treatment of venereal
diseases in an effort to develop a more
complete program to combat syphilis
and gonorrhea here.
This was disclosed today by DR..
D. L. Seckinger, assistant health Off
Ger, who said: I'VE must and shall
put more concentrated attention to
this problem"
DR.. Seckinger said the anti-syphilis
educational campaign, led by Surg.
Gen. Thomas Parran, jr., is arousing
those suffering from venereal dis
eases to the necessity of seeking
prompt medical attention This calls
for fuller utilizat alton OF all facilities
to provide treatment for those need
ing it, he added
Unlike some cities, such as New
York, which distribute free to private
physicians the expensive drugs used
IN treating syphilis, the District now
provides free treatment only for indi-
gent persons at the Social Hygiene
Clinic and Gallinger Hospital. How
ever, laboratory facilities are free for
examinations necessary to detect any
communicable disease, including syph-
Ills.
Syphilis Tests Increase.
The number Of Wasserman tests for
syphilis made In the District labora-
inn
ing the last year. Dr. Seckinger at
tributed the increase to the current
Nation wide educational campaign.
A total of 1892 Wasserman tests
were made during the first six months
OF this year, an increase of 4214 over
the same period of 1896, and more
than made during the entire 1888 ns-
cal year. These tests have increased
steadily, from 1892 in the 1888 fiscal
year to 1871 in 1884, 2l.456 in 1895,
23,5o0 in 1886 and 80, ,406 in the fiscal
year ending last June 30
The number of new venereal cases
treated at the public clinic increased
from 1885 during the first six months
Of 1886 to 1910 for the same period
VI LIllS ycdI.
Total attendance at the clinic also
has risen steadily during the last five
years, jumping from 5O,795 in the
1888 fiscal year to 56,l84 in 1894,
6s,os4 in 1885. 1882 in 1896 and
9o.506 in the last fiscal year. The
attendance for the first six months
Of this calendar year was 46.604, an
increase Of 1889 over the same period
Of 1896.
Clinic Reports Incomplete.
Dr.. Seckinger emphasized that these
figures did not mean that more people
were suffering from venereal diseases.
but only that more Of the victims were
seeking medical attention. He also
pointed out that the clinic reports did
not include Z perhaps much larger
number being treated by private ply
sicians.
The voluntary secret syphilis CEN
sus' being taken by Chicago should
be Of great value to the Nation as q
whole, he said 1t Is the first time
large city has made an attempt to
determine the exact prevalence Of
syphilis he pointed out. There are no
facilities for such a program here,
he added.
The Chicago program involves
poll of the population to determine
how many persons would be willing
to take secret blood test for syphilis,
to be followed by treatment through
private physicians of those found in
fected.