Evening star., 1937-02-04
D. c. UNIT PLEDGES
DRIVE ON DISEASE
Social Hygiene Society Pro.
poses Continuous Program
of Information.

A concentrated drive on social dis
eases was pledged yesterday at a
meeting of the District Social Hygiene
Society in observance of national social
hygiene day.
The group of over 100 interested
citizens meeting for luncheon at 11o3
K street heard addresses by Capt
Rhoda Milliken, head Of the Womens
Bureau of the Metropolitan Police
Department; Assistant Surgeon Cen
eral R. v. Vonderlehr, and DR.. George
Ruhland, health officer, urging CO.
operation in the study and relief OF
social problems, and Immediately
adopted resolution in recognition
of the recent National Conference on
Venereal Disease Control held here
and approved by President Roosevelt.
The society proposed the following
measures:
THAT a carefully planned contin-
uous program of public information
and education participated in by all
the community agencies be en-
couraged;
That, through appropriate chan
nels information upon the practical
needs Of the District in this field
be brought to the attention of all our
citizens;
That proper support be given to
necessary appropriations, legislative
measures and regulations;
Finally, that the broader educa-
tional, legal and protective aspects Of
social hygiene be promoted and de-
veloped without interruption or hand
leap by emphasis at this time upor
the medical and public health phases
Of the movement
Licensing Law Advocated.
Capt. Milliken advocated a more
adequate license law to prevent care
less rooming house renting. protec.
tive measures for a more thorough
control of commercial amusements
measures to provide socialization o1
illegitimate children and strict en-
forcement of the law regarding the
treatment Of venereal diseases.
I'VE must close the tremendous gar
between the health service, the law
enforcement service, and the assist
ance SERVICE" she emphasized.
Vonderlehr observed that the indi-
vidual States should frame their owr
program to suit local conditions. How
ever, he did present few specific prin'
ciples that should be followed wherever
the movement is planned.
Among them are the necessity fol
thorough development of treatment
facilities for immediate and adequate
relief, the necessity of providing fol
q diagnosis Of syphilis and the neces'
sity OF making known to the public
what we know and what We can dt
toward control"
Lauds Aid of Press.
After the mention Of the latter prin'
ciple he took occasion to laud the
press for the support it has given ir
making the public conscious Of the
need for an open drive against venerea
diseases.
Rutland disclosed that 60 per cent
Of the visits to the local clinic fol
venereal disease treatments were made
by single persons, 80 per cent by mar.
ried and 10 per cent by widowed OF
divorced individuals. He also observed
that twice as many cases among male:
were recorded and three times as many
cases among Negroes.
THE presence of venereal diseases
obviously is closely allied to the eco
nomic status of the individual and is
associated frequently with disadvan-
tageous housing" he remarked.
Rutland commented on the vast
overworking of the limited staff OF
the clinic and lauded district officials
for their cooperation in reporting
cases.
DR.. William A. White, superinten-
dent Of st. Elizabeth's Hospital and
society president, presided.