Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-09-12
State Fight
On Syphilis
Is Outlined

Raleigh, Sept. 12.-4Officials of the
State Board of Health have express
ed their interest in and appreciation
of story which The Associated
Press sent out of its New York head
quarters for Sunday papers through
out the United States on the pro-
gress of the campaign against
syphilis in Northq Carolina, in which
figures were given showing what
has been accomplished up to the
present time. There we're also ex--
pressions from DR.. Carl V. Reynolds,
State health officer, and DR.. j. c.
Knox, director of the division OF cpl
demiology, official in charge of the
boards venereal disease activities.
In its article concerning North
Carolina, which bore the by-line of
Frank Gilbreath, OF the Raleigh Bu-
reau, The Associated Press broadcast
this information throughout the ma
ton:
The test tube and the law book
have allied in North Carolina for an
apparently successful battle against
syphilis.
Anti-syphilis forces were modified
about two years ago, when the state
board of health announced that
seven out of every 100 negroes in
North Carolina were suffering from
the disease.
Now, so much progress has been
made that "there is a chance syphilis
can be virtually wiped out in North
Carolina within the next Is years."
State Health Officer Carl V. Rey-
nolds said today.
An unprecedented slate of anti
syphilis laws, endorsed by the medi-
cal profession, are being executed by
more than 400 persons employed in
the syphilis control work. It is
through these laws that North Car
olina hopes to show the rest of the
country how to conquer the "great
imitatOr"
Approximately $4,000 persons are
being tested in public clinics. Last
year, more than $5O0,000 was spent
on the program and 676,574 single
treatments were given in the 235
clinics which operated under public
health auspices.
Dr. J. c. Knox, director of state
division of epidemiology and head
of the Venereal disease program,
joined Dr. Reynolds in predicting
that syphilis could be wiped out.
with the program going on as it
ha started, in the course of a few
years, we should begin to see very
marked decreases in the amount of
syphilis among the people of the
State,' DR.. Knox added. e
Here are the laws and regulations
.4L, IL
tempting to outlaw the disease:
1. Any person in the state who is
known to have syphilis is required to
take treatments. If the person re-
fuses, he may be sent to Jail.
2. Any person desiring to marry
must take a sociological test before he
can, obtain marriage license. i. 4,
3. All expectant mothers must take
such tests. ~
4. Any householder may require
his domestic servants to take tests.
5. All persons serving or cooking
foods in hotels or restaurants must
pr--->ce certificates showing they are
free from syphilis.
6. All state prisoners must take
sociological tests, and are. treated
when they are found to be suffer-
ing from syphilis.
T. BARRIERS, beatuicians, and cos
metologists must have certificates.
showing they are free from the dis
ease.
In July, 1887, only 1917 persons
were treated for the disease in pub
lie clinics. The number last July had
grown to 25,139. Treatments in pub
lie clinics in July, 1887, totaled 49,
459. Last June, 79,347 treatments
were given. and nearly a million
treatments were made during the
last biennium.
The program was bolstered consid-
erably by substantial grant from
the Reynolds fund, established after
the death of Smith Reynolds Win
ston-Salem tobacco heir. The anti
syphilis drive now As financed by
these annual allotments: Reynolds
fund, $16O,O00; state funds, $4,000;
Federal funds, $158,00O; county funds
100000.