The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1937-06-17
SYPHILIS IN HOLMES COUNTY

It is a peculiar characteristic of the great American pub
lie that allows so much to be said about automobile accidents
abilities. In 1884 there were 107 600 cases Of permanent dis
ability from automobile accidents. Disability from syphilis
was nearly five times as great.
Syphilis ranks with cancer, tuberculosis and pneumonia
- one OF the four greatest killing diseases in this country. It
i responsible for more than 1O% Of all insanity, 1875 Of all
diseases Of the heart and blood vessels and responsible for a
been compiled by Dr. Thomas Parran, surgeon general Of the
o.. s. Public Health Service, and are in every sense anthem
tic.
Syphilis has gained . great hold on the American people
only because Of the national attitude of quieting anyone say
ing a word about the disease. The common attitude in the
p... has been nice people don't have syphilis. They don't
even talk about it. Thus this loathesome has made great
Roadway and thousands Of people have unknowingly become
victims Of the plague BY innocent contact in public places.
Reliable doctors say that syphilis can be caught by kiss.
ing. A case IS recorded in one state where a stranger kissed
q baby. The baby got q chancre on his lip. He nuraed his
mother and gave her a chancre on nipple. The mother gave
while mother was away and she got chancre on her nipple.
She In turn gave 1t to her child and then to her husband.
Seventeen victims were recorded: all innocent infections.
None suspected until baby was taken to the doctor.
Because of the unintelligent attitude toward this disease
both by the public and in many cases by private physicians
the American people are going to continue to suffer for at
made. Before the disease can be conquered the mass of
American people will have to be educated to the fact that
syphilis is one of the greatest menances to public health and
safety in this land; that victims of the disease are positively
not not all commercial postnutes. These account for only $50
OF the cases 1t is estimated that fully half the people suffer
ing caught the disease innocently.
1t is highly gratifying that something is being done
ABOUT social diseases, particularly syphilis, in Mississippi.
There has recently been organized the Mississippi Social Hy-
giene Association with headquarters in Meridian. II is a
branch of the American Association of the same name and
is composed of lay as well as professional groups interested
IN stamping out social diseases and in control of delinquency
and prostitution.
That the real need for such an organization locally in
Holmes county is felt is apparent from the fact that in the
month of May IS new cases of syphilis were reported.
Since January /, 1887, 3T7 have been reported. During
1896 4S cases were recorded.
A conservative estimate made in this county says that
20" OF the negro population Tor about 400 cases) are diseas-
ed; 1917 of the white population (about 900 cases). There
are about $4,000 new cases yearly in Mississippi.
Approximately 1900 cases of ugly syphilis in Holmes
county, We are bound to come in contact with it eyerv day
Of our lvesl
Something DOES need to be done!