Evening star., 1940-03-13
Main Battle 10 Control
Syphilis May Hinge
On Job Security
Work Nay Be Stymied If
Person Loses Position
For Hovine Malay

For Hoving Malay
BY HOWARD w. BLAKESLEE,
Associated Press Science Editor
BLOOMINGTON, Ind, March 10.
The main battle to control syphilis
in the United States has yet to be
fought.
This Is shown in a study made at
Indiana University by Dr.. Harvey j.
Locke, assistant professor of sociol-
ogy, for Indiana's Committee for
Study of Marriage Legislation.
One part Of the battle will con-
Germ whether person is to lose his
job If 1t is found he has, or even has
had. this disease, for, if discovery
costs . job, syphilis will not be re-
ported, and without reporting and
follow-up work, physicians cannot
prevent indiscriminate spreading Of
the disease.
AS an official example of wide
spread attitude, Dr. Locke cites the
action Of the Social Security Board
three years ago.
In 1887, he states. the board had
the Public Health Service give
Wassermanns as part of the pre-
employment examinations and re-
jected those having positive Wasser-
manns. DR.. Thomas Parran, who
reports this, says that, having found
the Wassermann positives, the Civil
Service Commission said, in effect,
I'VE can't employ these people. They
have higher expectancy of disabil-
ity than the normal. They will load
down our pension rolls. To take
them would be unfair to other en-
ployes and to the Government which
must bear the cost of their disabi-
ity'"
Less Strict Now.
Now the board is less strict.
Wassermann tests are required only
If the examining physician suspects
syphilis. If the applicant refuses,
his application is thrown out.
The Indiana report declares there
still are penalties against syphilitics
In the Army and Navy. These pro-
hibit veterans from drawing sick
benefits when syphi!itic infection
caused the disease.
The service men are hoSpitalized
free, but pay stops during the time
they are invalided. In the Navy
the reason for this penalty is that
contracting syphilis is misconduct.
Both services, however. say their
regulations now are aimed at get
ting men to report venereal disease
promptly.
On the other side, Prof. Locke
found that several industrial con-
Germs are using the Wassermann
test as a means of discovering and
curing the disease, because they
find healthy workers more efficient
producers, and because syphilis and
gonorrhea often caused alleged in
dustrial injuries.
A Dramatic Story.
Prof. Locke tells a dramatic story |
Of the change in the attitude OF
the United States since the turn
Of this century.
In 1906, he says, The Ladies Home
journal, after publishing articles
and editorials on syphilis, received
cancellations of $4,000 subscriptions
and some advertising accounts. But
in 1887 an article brought no critl-
ctsm. Instead there was favorable
response that drew second article.
In 1908 officers of the United
States Public Health Service pre-
pared a carefully-worded pamphlet
on venereal disease, to be distributed
to seamen. But the Secretary OF
the Treasury, George B. Cortelyou,
refused to approve it because, Prof.
Locke quotes, 1.-The matter con-
tanned in this bulletin is not in
keeping with the dignity Of the
fiscal department Of the Govern
ment."
Most Prevalent Among Psor.
Only the common cold and gonor-
rhea exceed syphilis IN prevalence
IN the United States. But unlike
the common cold, the venereal dis
ease is not evenly distributed among
economic and social classes.
Among white university students,
the incidence is only two-tenths OF
per cent. Other classes Of favored
economic and social privileges have
low rates.
But the average incidence in cities
IS six times higher than the uni
versity rate and in the country about
five and half times. This means a
far higher rate for the unfortunate
and Prof. Locke says the incidence
rises about in proportion to the drop
In economic and social level.
Syphilis close relation to economic
problems is indicated by Prof.
Locke's figures on the Negro popu-
lation. As class they have the
highest rate. But this does not ap-
ply to Negro university students.
Economic Status the Factor.
"Students of syphilis generally
agree" Prof. Locke explains, that
II whites and Negroes had equal So
cial and economic status the rates
would be about the same"
There are still in this country, the
Indiana report finds, adherents Of
the belief that moral prophylaxis is
the only method to control syphylis.
In addition to medical control by
cure of reported cases, there are
new techniques, the report says, for
avoiding syphilis. But public
opinion does not yet permit any
widespread popularization of these
techniques.
In this report, prostitutes are not
considered responsible for more than
so per cent of the spread of syph-
Ills. The study notes in Russia,
Yugoslavia and former Czecho-
Slovaha attempts have been made
to provide economic security so that
these women will be able to earn
Nvinas in some other way,