The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-08-14
HEALTH DEPT.
 WAGES FIGHT
 ON SYPHILIS
Campaign Started in Terri tory Against Spreading
 Venereal Disease

The Terr1UOrlal DeparJmenJ or Health has started campaign lagainst a venereal disease, syph- His, which does not respect any age, sex, race or social class. It has Inflicted misery and death for hun ,dreds of years; in past centuries, because no one-not even physicians knew the nature of the disease or how to cure it; and in this present Iage, because the knowledge which science has attained for it's preven- ton and treatment is not generally applied.
 The figh against syphilis is lhampered because the nature of the disease has prevented open warfare against it. It can be stamped out only if the facts about it are known and used to prevent it's spread and to secure prompt treatment for it's victims. Every man and woman and every adolescent boy and girl shuld be acquainted with the ser iousness of the syphilis menace. the manner in which this disease l is spread, what it's symptoms are, and how it may be cured.
 Prevalence of Syphilis
 On good evidence it is believed that syphilis strikes at least one in every 20 persons-or 5 percent of all the men, women, and children in the United States. More are in- fected in some localities, less in others. While the prevalence of syphilis varies greatly with the age, race. location, and customs of the individuals studied, these figures mean that there are now, in the United States, about 6,30O,0O0 indi- viduals who have been attacked by syphilis. This number includes both old and new infections. Ap- proximately 5O0,000 people a year seek treatment for syphilis for the first time. In addition, an unknown number of infectious cases go un- treated. A large proportion of these untreated infected persons are an unrestrained menace in the { community, because they are not taking precautions against spread. ling their infections. Many are att. tempting standardization or are go- ing to advertising quacks-meas- lures which are useless and even det- rimental to the patient and to all those with whom he comes in con- ! tact. | What Causes Syphilis
 Syphilis is caused by germ called treponema pallida, which may en-. ter the body at any point through | the skin or mucous membranes. The moist mucous membranes of the lips, mouth, nose, throat, and l genital organs are particularly sus- eeptible, and the organism can penetrate even though there is no lperceptible break in these tissues. | How Syphilis is Spread
 Communicable disease germs are carried from the sick to the well 4 in various ways. In typhoid fever 1 the water, the milk, the housefly, or the healthy human carrier is Iusually responsible. Tn yellow fever < it is a mosquito; in bubonic plague i it is a roden flea. Tn the case of lvenereal disease the germs are spread by people who are already in- fected.. Most cases of syphilis are acquired during sexual intercourse However, many cases come from contact with other sources of infec-l 1tion. a a l Syphilis may be passed from one aperson to another by kissing. Oc-i casiopally it may be acquired by contact with an obpect recently lsoiled with discharges which contain living syphilis germs. Common fdrinking cups and towels, pipes, and articles which are used where san- litary precautions are not taken are among the sources of infection discovered in certain cases. Fortunately, infection from such Isources is comparatively rare be- cause, while the germ of syphilis lis difficult to kill once it has en- tered the body of victim, it is cas- lily killed outside the body by drying in ordinary air, exposure to sun- light or soap and water, and by such sanitary measures as are prac- ticed by careful and well-informed individuals.
 Congenital Syphilis
 A pregnant syphilitic woman may infect her unborn child; in fact, she is almost sure to do so if she is not treated during pregnancy. A large proportion of the children of untreated syphilitic mothers are born dead, and many born alive die in early infancy. Those who Survive may suffer all the destruc- tive effects of the disease-defec- live bodies or minds, blindness, deafness, and other serious results Tiff they are not properly treated. Fortunately, through timely and adequate treatment of the woman fduring her pregnancy, the child lean be given 90 percent chance of being born healthy and free from