The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-06-13
Will ENFORCE.
TREATMENT I'M
SYPHILIS DRIVE
State Will Open Greatest
Campaign Yet Conduct
ed in Country

RALElGH, June l3.-(UP)-
North Carolina health officials last
night said the state will open on
July 1 the most comprehensive
anti-syphilis campaign ever con-
Quoted in the United States.
DR.. Carl V. Reynolds, state
health officer, explained the state
will "get the jump" on the rest of
the nation in fighting syphilis be-
cause of aid from the 100000
Smith Reynolds Foundation, me-
mortal to the youthful tobacco
scien who died mysteriously five
years ago. 80.
An adequate program" for
eradicating the venereal disease
will reach more than one-third of
North Cardinals 100000 per-
sons under present plans, DR.. Rey-
nolds said. In the first year, $751;
900 from the Reynolds Founda-
ton will be utilized, together with
another $4,000 contributed by
20 counties.
He explained that while other
states may be spending more
money combating syphilis, none
yet has offered an adequate pro-
gram" to one third Of its people.
Furthermore, this program will
be intensified within the next four
years to reach every corner of the
state, DR.. Reynolds said, if plans
of the state department Of health
are carried out.
He predicted that within Is
years North Carolina should be
Comparatively free" of syphilis
eff progress of Scandinavian coun-
tries which have virtually eradi-
Gated the disease by similar meth
DDS can be equalled."
As further aid in the campaign,
DIR. Reynolds intends to ask the
next state general assembly for a
law requiring physical examina-
tion for syphilis before marriage
and for a provision making man
datory the present law that per-
sons may require servants to have
anti-venereal disease certificates.
''The youth and teachers of
North Carolina-and the nation
are crying out for such law" he
said. AZ believe we'll get it."
The examination before, mar
r;ooa law 10 necessary. DR.. Rev
nolds believes, because "7s per
cent of all cases are contracted
between the ages Is and 3d."
In addition to the program in
the 90 counties which are match
ing the Reynolds funds for anti
syphilis campaigns, the state
health department plans to allot
$4,000 in federal funds and $685.
600 in state funds to 81 other
counties during the next year "as
a starter" .s'.
eve will need 100000 annu-
ally to extend an adequate pro-
gram throughout the state he
said. "This will give everyone al
flicted treatment-free If neces-
sary. Then we can really control
syphilis. -,
Already 27 public health nurses
and clinicans have been trained
by the department especially for
this work. They will go into the
20 counties coming under the pro-
gram July l with drugs and anti
syphilis information to devote
their full time to the drive.
Accompanying them will be de-
linquent officers empowered to ar
rest any persons with the disease
who refuse to cooperate and force
them to take treatment. /
North Cardinals fight against
the disease began last January
when trustees of the Reynolds
Foundation announced that inter-
est from the 100000 fund, pro-
vided bv other members of his
family, would go exclusively. to
the states anti-syphiiis campaign.
Immediately the health depart
ment moved into action to train
workers and lay the groundwork
for fighting the disease. Under
the program outlined, any county
which agrees to match funds from
the Reynolds Foundation on an
equal basis and to provide thor
ough campaign can participate.