VENEREAL DISEASES IN THE ARMY

In spite of the vigorous campaign against venereal diseases, through which (according to the Surgeon General's Report for 1919) the rate in the army was made lower than in the surrounding civil community, they ranked next in importance to influenza as a cause of sickness among troops. They not only ranked second in importance, but they caused considerably more sickness than the disease which was third in rank.

DAYS LOST BY TROOPS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1918, BECAUSE OF THREE LEADING DISEASES

The diagrams are based on figures given in the report of the surgeon general of the army for 1919 (Vol. I, p. 60 ff.) and represent conditions existing among troops in the United States, conditions for which America alone is responsible.

In this report, the surgeon general says further, "Venereal diseases were also of great importance in the army on account of the loss of time occasioned. The total time lost for officers and enlisted men, American and native troops, serving at home and abroad, amounted to 3,937,710 days, a non-effective rate for officers and men for the entire army of 4.27. 10,788 men and officers were absent from duty each day of the year on account of this class of diseases."

COST TO THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE

Four wrecks on one railroad within recent months were attributable directly to syphilis, the engineers in each instance having paresis. The loss in lives and property was great.

One large manufacturing plant estimated that by carrying on a medical and educational campaign against venereal diseases among their employees they increased their efficiency $150,000 worth in a single year. (This figure was given by an executive of the plant in question.)

In another plant it was learned that one employee had spent $800 with a quack, in spite of which he was not cured of gonorrhea. He was directed to a responsible doctor and cured at an expense of $50. During the year this plant sent 45 of their employees for treatment.

"These are single instances," you may say. "How about industry as a whole?"

COST TO THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE

Easily the most complete statistical record in regard to the venereal diseases is that of the draft, and these figures show that 5.6% of the second million of drafted men had syphilis, gonorrhea, or both. This 5.6%, says the surgeon general of the army (report of 1919) "showed more clearly the correct percentage of the drafted men from civil life who were infected" [than figures on the first or third millions]. As a majority of these men came directly from industry, no truer reflection of conditions therein can be had.

The Manufacturers' Association places the number of men employed in manufacturing plants at 10,000,000. Applying the 5.6%, draft figures, here, would show 560,000 of these men to have a venereal disease.

The average loss of time for each case in the army, where prompt treatment prevailed, was slightly more than 12 days per year. Figured on this basis the manufacturing industries would lose 6,720,000 days— days representing lost production, idleness of co-workers who depend on the infected men for material or coöperation, labor turnover, and money. If these men are paid on an average of $4.00 a day, the wage cost alone would amount to $26,880,000.

The complete financial loss cannot be approximated, since this would necessitate figuring in the time lost through such complications as gonorrheal rheumatism and the various syphilitic conditions, decrease in working activity, and increased liability to accident. Another heavy expense to industry is the extra compensation paid to employees by insurance carriers for the delayed recoveries from accidents where syphilís and gonorrhea prolong the convalescence.

To further emphasize the cost of venereal diseases to the employee, the following facts are pertinent: an analysis of venereal-disease cases reported in one of the states during 1919 showed that 73% of the cases reported were men and 27% women, and that the men's ages were distributed as shown in the diagram (p. 36). The distribution for women is similar.

Assuming that conditions existing in this state are a fair sample of conditions generally existing, an estimate may be made of the amount of infection throughout the country for all ages.

According to census reports there are in the United States approximately 10,148,000 men between the ages of 20 and 30. Applying the venereal-disease rate found in the draft (5.6%), 568,000 men of these ages are infected. Since the state report cited indicates that 50% of