Montana labor news., 1938-03-03

Walter Clarke, M. D., Executive
Director, The American Social Hy-
giene Association, and presented
in cooperation with the Montana
Labor News as part of the observ-
ance of National Social Hygiene
Day.
For three hundred years syphilis
was a great mystery. It's cause was
unknown. The methods of treating
it were unsatisfactory. The extent
of its damage to the population was
unsupported. Then in the early part
of the twentieth century a series OF
discoveries gave us accurate methods
of diagnosis and effective methods of
treatment, For the first time it was
proved that many conditions previ-
ously unsupported were, in fact,
syphilis, general paralysis of the in
sane, and locomotor ataxia, for ex-
ample, were shown to be syphilis.
More important, it became pos
sible to diagnose syphilis definitely
in the earliest stage. The germs of
syphilis in the chancre and in the
skin rash could be seen under the
microscope by means of special
equipment called the dark stage"
So patients who come with a sus-
picious sore can now learn promptly
whether they have syphilis.
A blood test was perfected by
which evidence of syphilis in the
blood may be discovered. Many
persons who have syphilis without
any outward sign of the disease have
germs which can be detected by this
test. This leads the doctor to search
carefully for syphilis and to make
a diagnosis in cases that formerly
were neglected until too late to save
health or lives. There are now sew
eral blood tests, the best known to
the public being the Wassermann
test. Sometimes the blood of a per-
son who is carrying a syphilis in
lection will not have this evidence,
therefore, a negative test is not al
ways proof that the person is free
from syphilis. But even a very
slight positive result is a pretty sure
sign of trouble.
For two hundred years mercury
had been used in the treatment of
syphilis. 1t was sometimes bene-
ficial, but it was not helpful in many
cases and it caused many unpleasant
symptoms Of poisoning. With the
discovery of S~alvarsan (called COG
or Arsphenamine), early in the
present century, doctors were given
a drug which acts quickly and eff
fectively to make syphilis non-catch-
ing. In addition to the Salvarsan,
a heavy metals compound of mer-
curry or bismuth is usually given. A
long series of these treatments leads
to complete cure in a large percent
age of cases, and gives good results
in nearly all cases..
1t is good Jews to the world that
syphilis can now be stopped from
spreading and can be cured. If
every person with syphilis came
regularly for treatment from the be-
ginning of the disease, syphilis
would never spread and would soon
disappear. If every case stayed I'M
der treatment as long as the doctor
required nearly all could be cured.
The best time to treat syphilis is
when the first sore Cor chancre) APP
pears. The next best time is when
the rash appears. These cases can
be cured. Physicians cannot cure
the late cases when the brain or
heart or other vital organ is already
damaged, but such cases benefit
greatly from modern treatment and
many are made more comfortable
and life is prolonged.
The practical application of these
facts is simple. Every one who has
a genital sore, or an unexplained
rash or ulcers in the mouth, OF who
suspects that he or she may have
syphilis, or who has any obscure
illness should be carefully exam
ined for syphilis by a licensed physi-
clan. If such a person wishes, he or
she may ask the Department of
Health or the County Medical So
ciety for the names of physicians.
Remember, the Department of
Health is ready to help anyone find
a physician who treats syphilis.
Every person who has syphilis
should remain under treatment I'M
til cured. That is the sure way to
stop the spread Of infection and pre-
vent the suffering and death which
are caused by syphilis. The Ameri-
can Social Hygiene Association in
New York is cooperating with the
Department of Health, in trying to
reach clubs, societies, lodges and
other groups with the simple, hope
full facts about syphilis and gonor-
rhea as well.
Read the next article in this series
on the harm that svnhilis does to