The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1937-07-01
STATE HAS over
1000 DEATHS
FROM SYPHILIS
OVER 10000 NEW CASES OF
DISEASE YEARLY

OpuTTcu W uCtioh ny ehC hiSh-
est rate of syphilis in the United
States, Mississippi is arming to
stamp out the disease according
to Dr.. D.. V. Galloway, health
officer in Lauderdale County,
where the Mississippi Social Hy-
giene Association to combat
syphilis was organized this
spring.
Stating that there were 5000
new cases and 1000 deaths from
syphilis in Mississippi last year,
the health officer pointed out
general alarm at the damage and
destruction of this disease has
melted the Mississippi Social Hy
giene Association to organize
every nook and corner of the
state in a fight against it.
Syphilis causes as much loss of
life as tuberculosis, as much in
sanity as whiskey, more cripples
than infantile paralysis. The to-
tai number of cases reported in
the state exceeds all other serious
infectious diseases put together.
The tragedy of this situation is
preventable and durable.
The first indication of syphilis
as a rule, is the appearance of a
small ulcer at the point Of infec-
ton with swollen glands nearby
Within a.few days, a skin rash,
which may initiate measles, chick
en- pox or scarlet fever, appears.
The mouth and throat become
sore, and the inflammation may
persist for weeks rs chronic tonsi
litis or cold sores on the lips. In
all of these stages the disease is
infectious and may easily be dia-
gnosed by one Of two simple
laboratory tests-the darkfield
examination Of the ulcer or the
Wassermann blood examination.
If the disease is not recognized
and treated in this stage, all
signs and symptoms may disap-
pear to return in two or three
years as an infectious relapse
and then at intervals of a few
years for the remainder Of the
patients life. Any person infect
ed with syphilis is a sick person
from that day until he is cured
or dies of the disease and it's
complications.
But he need not suffer. He
need not die from this disease.
Modern science has perfected a
specific which is one of the most
satisfactory remedies known to
medicine-the so-called standard
arsenic, heavy metals treatment.
1t is effective to 80 per cent of
syphilitics, but only ten per cent
of the cases in this state are I'M
der treatment.
anu pEOItSS'OHd
groups are helping to control the
disease by encouraging their en-
ployees to have blood tests for
syphilis. The church is helping
by guiding the younger genera
ton into better ideals of maria
&c and the home. Schools are aid
IN" by teaching the scientific
facts of health and disease. Wo-
mems organizations offer invalu-
able assistance by providing
wholesome community recreation
And now two powerful allies. the
press and the radio. have Joined
the crusade and buckled on
armor to combat this monster
menace.
This problem shall not be hand
ed to the next generation unsolv-
ed! Hundreds of infants shall
not die before they have ever
lived; Gripping paralysis shall
not MAIN and handicap innocent
children; raving insanity shall
not affllct scores of normal fell
low citizens all from a prevent
able and durable disease! That
twenty years from now a new
generation shall not rise up and
censure their parents for neglect
mississippi prepares to stamp
out SYPHILIS!