Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-05-12
DC. VenereaI Disease
Record Found Worst
In Entire Nation
Government Is Blamed
For Failure to Examine
Employees Adequately
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Washington has the worst venereal
disease record of the entire country,
with a total of 1.109 infections re-
ported in an Army survey covering
the last six months of 1942,-or 1888
per 100000 of population-James S.
Owens. regional supervisor for the
Federal Security Agency. testified
today before the D'Alesandro Sub
committee of the House District
Committee.
Replying to questions, he empha-
sized that there is an urgent need
for an isolation or quarantine hos
pital to care for these cases, many
of communicable nature. Commits
sioner Guy Mason, District Health
Offlcer George C. Rutland and Dr.
Frederick G. Gillick, acting director
of the Bureau of Venereal Disease Of
the District Health Department,
concurTed in that recommendation.
On a chart Mr.. Owens showed
that Washington venereal disease
infection towers over the record of
10 other of the largest cities in the
country. The lowest percentage was
charted for Chicago, at IT'S per
100 900 population. Baltimore ranks
second highest with tbs. The per-
centage rates for the other cities
are: Detroit. 231; Cleveland, 234:
New York, 1856; Los Angeles. 274;
Boston, 28.3; Pittsburgh. 285: Phila-
delphia, Sill. and st. Louis. 646 per
100 900 population.
Policy Is Protested.
Protest against the number of
employees brought here by the Fed
eral Government without examina-
tons for physical defect, disease
or disability" and who are not given
health. care in the Government
agencies between the time of their
appointment and their application
for disability, and whose hospitali-
cation and medical care become a
financial burden on the District,
was made by Chairman Randolph
of the District Committee. Com
missioner Mason and DR.. Ruhlandd.
1t was concurred in by DR.. Verne K.
Harvey, chief of the medical di-
vision of the Civil Service Com
mission.
Emphasis was placed on the fact
that many applicants for Federal
positions are brought to Washington
without previous medical eXamina-
ton, although medical examina-
ton is required by a licensed ply
sician before they are accepted. The
hrst question in the examination is
Have you any physical defect, or
disease or disability" If the an
sWer to that question is No" then
the examining physician is likely to
give only casual" examination.
Dr.. Rutland testified He said CON
dltlons have developed which should
have been detected by a thorough
medical examination" He said that
Commissioner Mason was quite
right" In his contention, and DR..
Harvey agreed.
Replying to questions. DR.. Harvey
explained that the Civil Service
Commission after the physical ex-
ANIMATION requirement on admission.
does not see or have any contact
with the employees until they are
applying for disability" and that in
the interim, there is no plan for
safeguarding the health of the en-
ployes. He also stated that "a
proper check and periodic exami-
nations should reduce absenteeism
and disability" and would promote
morale and efficiency throughout the
FEDERAL Civil Service Representa-
tive Randolph said his statement
In the record of today's hearing
Will show that there are large de-
partments, with many thousands
OF employees, without medical
cfhcer, and with no concentrated
action to safeguard the health of
employees
When Mr.. Owens suggested that
more attention should be paid to a
longtime effort to cure some cases
at the District Workhouse. Commits
sioner Mason explained that COM
mlttments to the workhouse came
only through the courts as jail
sentences. He emphasized that
wholesome cleanup of commune
cable diseases should come through
the Public Health Service. which
could have them isolated. Both he
and DR.. Gillick said that the Dis
trlct does not now have facilities
to care for selectees with venereal
disease, most of whom are not In
cOmmunica hle STAGE