Evening star., 1941-11-16
DR.. Poron Charges Neglect by Authorities
As VenereoI Disease Gains in Army

more than 100000 this year The
number of blood tests to smoke out
the lurking syphilitic menace in the
same time went up from a yearly
100000 to more than 100000,
The progress in the downing OF
the syphilis rates was truly brilliant.
At this years beginning it became
clear that there was marked drop
in the syphilis attack rate. An
American stood only one-half the
chance of being infected with syphl-
lis that he stood 10 years ago. At
the same time the new wonder drug,
Sulfathiazole, was discovered TO be
able to cure 80 per cent of all cases
OF gonorrhea safely, within a few
days time.
Then Came Disaster.
Then came the disaster. Our young
men, more than a million, began to
be inducted into our armed forces.
1t was stipulated under the selec-
tive service system that only the
cream of our young manhood should
be modified for our country'S de-
fense. All those found infected with
syphilis and gonorrhea were re-
jected. And. by double checked ac-
curate blood tests, among the first
million drafteeS, nearly $4,000 were
rejected because of the faint of
syphilis. 1t is an interesting side
light on our national indifference
thot tho lnrjfv of t}njS
many of them infectious menaces
to our young Women-have not been
brought under treatment TO this
moment. OF course, that was not the
Army'S buSineSS-Since this vast CO.
hort carrying their hidden danger
were thrown back into civilian life.
But it was definitely the .Army's
business to see to it that its new
more than a million of young men,
all OF them, Venereally speaking.
clean as hounds tooth, should
be kept that way. Now what has
happened?
In 1899. in the regular United
states Army, pre- e-mObiliZation, the
syphilis rate was IA per 1000. The
gOnowhea rate was PIT. Since that
time the Army'S ranks have been
swollen by almost 1000 900 new men.
an almost elghtfold increase. Mind
you, all the new men were free OF
Venereal sickness. For a short while,
because of this vast dilution. the
venereal disease rate had to go
down. But, alas. it didn't stay down.
Now. as of June. l94l, the gonorrhea
rate has Shot up from 27.7 to 403.
And the syphilis rate is rapidly
climbing back up TO the pre-mobili-
zatlon rate, though no tainted ones
were taken in with the draft
This can lead us TO one terrible
conclusion: That scores OF thouS-
andS of soldiers are now being in
fected. in the vice dives around the
Army camps.
Reasons for Situation.
Boldly, IN his new book. DR.. Par
ran sets out the reasons for this
Scandalous situation. Vice rings and
the laXlty OF local politicians per-
nit scandalous conditions around
our camps.
1t is to be regretted that our mill
tary authorities have not yet UNDER
stood that now they insist on the
stern and effective measures for
venereal disease control and
prophylaxis with which Secretary
Of War Baker and Gen. Pershing
made our World War Army the
least venereally infected of any
army among any of the combatant
nations. BY this famous general
order No. II. Pershing put houses
of prostitution out of bounds, sur
rounded them by military police.
required all commanding officers to
take vigorous action providing