The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, January 8, 1919, Page 2

War on Venereal Disease to Continue __ COUNTRY MUST BE KEPT CLEAN - | blic health service: tho. Uinltes States aun te hee November 20, 1918. “Under the protection of the military authorities four million soldiers and sailors received greater protection against venereal diseases than they received before the war in civil life. The cities and towns through which they go and to which they will return upon demobilization must be made safe. The fight . . . must be vigorously continued.” Your whole community will be at the station “when the boys come marching home.” You are planning to honor these men with parades and celebrations of all kinds. Are you making sure that the profiteers of vice are not planning to take advantage of the days of festivity to dishonor them before they get settled again in the normal ways of life? Are you sure that demobilization will not mean demoralization? a When men and girls are changing their occupations and breaking with old ways of life, when war disciplines are being removed and when spirits are buoyant, the greatest temptations of self indulgence occur. Cities and towns throughout the\country face now the most important crisis— the biggest emergency yet encountered in the fight against «venereal diseases. What the War Taught Eefore the war most physicians and public health officers knew that gonorrhea was cvery year causing thousands of cases of blindness ‘among : Anfants; countless surgical operations on women, and sterility in ‘both men... ‘ and women; hat syphilis’was being transmitted to offspring causing phy- sical and mental defectives, that it was a prolific cause of locomotor ataxia, paralysis, paresis or softening of the brain, insanity, miscarriages, diseases of the heart, blood vessels and vital organs. But people generally did not know these things and few remedial measures were taken. The war opened, our eyes. The reports of draft boards and camp surgeons. revealed, for'the e first time, clearly, the menacing seriousness of the venereal problem and the failure of our pre-war attitude toward the whole question. The American War Program Europe, for the first years of the war, evaded the problem and suffered terribly in incapacities at the front and sickness behind the lines. Our military authorities threw aside evasion and prudery and attacked vene- real diseases directly. The old shams and fakes about the “‘sex necessity” and the need of licentious pleasure were thrown into the discard. From first to last the Government maintained the position accepted by the best medical authority; viz., that continence is entirely compatible with health, and that irregular sex intercourse with prostitutes is the most prolific cause of venereal disease. The denizens of the underworld were driven out of the zones around each army camp and naval station; all the men in camps were given extensive instruction; those exposed and infected were ‘given prompt treatment; and varicus co-operating agencies furnish inter- esting, wholesome recreation. This program brought results. The venereal rate was lowered below that of any army of any nation in the history of the world. The war showed America not only the prevalence and seriousness of venereal dis- ‘eases ; it showed how and where to attack and conquer them. Venereal Disease a Pedice Problem The examinations of draftees showed that five men came into the army with venereal disease to every one who contracted it after he was in the army. And the one who contracted it in the’ army, probably, ‘was in- fected in a civil community near camp over which civil authorities had control. Venereal disease, then, is not to be attacked ‘as a war epidemic, but as a civAian problem and a peace problem. The protection of the returning soldiers and sailors is your immediate responsibility. : : ‘Ts your city accepting its reconstruction task? H What can you do? or mega district yout, fist job to close it. | As a method d of. con- frolli vice the “red-light” district never had a sound leg to stand on: ‘pow the war has removed its last crutch. The military authorities, who Samat only, clean men for fighting, condemned it apnialiiedy vice com- Extract from letter to civil authorities from W. G. McAdoo, in behalf of | Extract from telegram to governor from ‘Newton B. Baker, secretary of Extract from statement by Josephus Daniels, secretary of the navy: war: : November 13, 1918. s, } “Signing of armistice i in no way lessens responsibility of: civil commun- ities for protection of soldiers from prostitution and: sale of liquor. Our states and cities ought never to lose the control: which has been established or stop so vital a work. . .°. War department is determined to return soldiers to their families and to civil life uncontaminated by. disease, a The hasty examination given most prostitutes often does not reveal ‘existing disease or prevent infection the next hour after examination, A segregated district does not, segregate all prostitutes—only those unfor- tunate women with the least personal attractiveness and the most dis- eased bodies. It creates a public, official market for the ‘selling of diseases to customers from everywhere, gided often by the false medical guarantee that no disease exists. It does not segregate vice; a large part of it goes’ on clandestinely out of bounds. It surely does not segregate disease. When the military zones are removed from federal control there will be pressure brought to bear to re-open the segregated district, or to wink at clandestine vice which has been rigidly suppressed under military order. But if prostitutes carried disease last week, they carry it next week. In war or peace the segregated district is a synonym for crime, venereal dis- case and needless, waste. of human life. Abolishing the red-light district is not the end of the clean-up of the commihity. Boarding houses, assignation houses, cafes, dance halls, mas- sage parlors, amusement parks, and for-hire automobiles, are: the refuges They must all be watched “and watched con- tinuously. Legislation is needed in some cases to control these places. What is effective is. not a spectacular: raid now and then but constant. vigilance on the part of public officers and citizen associations. Each attack on prostitution, by driving it more and more to cover, reiiiees the number of individual gxposures to venereal diseas 8." of clandestine prostitution. t Such a program of suppression often, causes’ so sentimental or ignorant persons to rise.upand say’““you are fanatical,” “you axe hounding the poor, unfortunate prostitute,” or “the lid ought to be tipped up a little so that every hody can have a good time and so that business will be better.” These are absurdities. Prostitutes themselves, after, they have, had a ‘glimpse of decent life in a detention home, say, that “there is no greater wrong you can do a girl than to allow her ta remain a prostitute. , Only in trashy novels and “movies” is the prostitute’s life a rosy one. -In reality, to quote her own words, “it is hell.” What Kind of good time do you create for recreation-loving. men and worhen by “tipping up the lid?” It may be a gay time for a night, perhaps, and then the mornings-after and months-after of disaster and disease. An open town will mean more busi- ness for some doctors, hospitals, and undertakers. It means prosperity for the pimps ‘and landlords awho live on the. earnings of. these women,’ But for legitimate business, it means higher taxes, lowered efficiency, legs buy- ing power—an infinitely. poorer community. You can provide facilities for easily accessible and prompt treatment of venereal diseases. Diseased prostitutes are the most dangerous carriers. ware They must be quarantined and the community safeguarded against their - return as prostitutes, first by means of permanent segregation of the feeble-minded and, second, by medical treatment and industrial’ education for the others. f gvoevnsoccncseucasvcceceseecncneesnsnacnencneoenecienearoceuveaqecaenccoseutontesy _ FREE PAMPHLETS : Additional copies of this advertisement in pamphlet form others , ‘explaining the government’s campaign against’ vene- real diseases and presenting the true facts of sex ina wholesome “ manner will be ‘sent to any address free. At. Set A For young men. Set D. pk parents — of chil- Set B. For the general public. . Set E. For. girls daa oii Set Cc. For boys., women. Set F. For educators. Write to Unite Sut Public ta Serie aunenpdndeancnsnnnsocanangntanencnannnacnacacanavanscauvangnsoaccensuacanaest enlightened opinion is behind the organized campaign to protect the youth A efficiency.” in ate i ¥ Auf O November 18, 1918. One of the compensations for the tragedy of war is the fact. that an against venereal disease. The campaign begun in war to insure the mili- tary fitness of men for fighting i is quite as necessary to save men for civil Hospitals should be persuaded to admit venereal cases so that the number of carriers at large will be minimized. : Y : “hy Clinies handling venereal cases should be established in population cenl- tefs. This is now rapidly being done by ‘the state boards of health and United States public health service co-operating. » Quacks should be put out of business by dveittaing agencies and others. The best druggists are joining in the movement inaugurated by the United States Public Health Service, to refuse to sell venereal disease nostrums and to refer enquirers to reliable physicians or clinics. All cases of venereal disease should be made reportable by! name or number to boards of health. Patients who refuse to follow prescribed regulations to prevent exposing others to the disease should be put in quarantine. A majority of states already have laws or health regulations with such provisions. Théy are as necessary in fighting venereal disease 3S in combating any pthen ‘contagious disease. > : we ° Hf Dates UL. You can educate people with regard to' venereal diseases’and sex mat- ters. In army camps this proved to be a very important part of the vene- real disease prevention program. Thousands of personal instances testify to the large part that ignorance has to play in the downfall of. girls and i infection of men. Get in touch with your state’ board of health’ anid co-oper- “ate in their educational campaign. < Iv, You can provide visions recreation for all. In the army cam ‘the soldier's life was filled with hard work and interesting, healthy diversion. This proved an important factor i in preventing patronage of vicious amuse- ments. _ All young men and girls need companionship, excitement and recre- ation, The contemptible profiteers of vice exploit this natural desire. ut- door play and sports, attractive Jounging Places, open houses and clubs, organized athletics, gymnasium, reading rooms, fraternal activities, com- munity, singing, good theaters at reasonable ‘prices, well supervised danc- ing;. these are the successful and effective ‘substitutes for the saloon and brothel. vg’ ; e How About It, Mr. Ci itizen? : How do. you stand on this program? It is no. easy task. But venereal diseases have been conirolled in vther tov ns and they can be in your town. Mayors and chiefs of police, who_ have done their duty in war time, are not likely to relax their efforts now. If they do, they may ‘be quickly * aroused by citizens like you. Clinics, hospital wards, reformatories, homes for the feeble-minded, education and recreation. cost cold, hard cash, but it ‘can be Proved that they are much:cheaper in dollars and\cents than the enormous industrial and human waste caused by the spread of vencreal diseases, This is not a job for sentimentalists or fly-by-night enthusiasts, It is a bask for hard-headed business and, professional men and capable women. It is job for citizens who feel responsible for their community and their nation in times of peace as well as war. Reconstruction © With war's final end, many war buildings; war jobs and institutions will go to the scrap heap. But every. item in the program of venereal dis- ease control is ag necessary to successful peace as to suceessful war. Don’t scrap your patriotism and community spirit in ue matter... Make youre blgws knockouts against vice. -1 ee There should be no peace with prostitution, no truce with the red-light district, no armistice with venereal diseases. _ Unconditional surrender is the Government’ s demaud from this enemy poe at home, jd ape Se ol