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In Baltimore out of 289 brothol women examined, 62.3% had syphilis, 92.1% gonorrhoea, 45% had both, whilst only 3.39% were free from infection. (17)
In 1919 in Pottsville Pa, there were three brothols with 20 girls each of whom was certified medically freo from disoase. An enquiry established the fact that 18 were infected. In one of the houses with 3 girls in it a hole was punched in a card for each customer: the number of punches in one day on the three cards were 49,37 and 28 punches, respectively. All throe girls were syphilitic. (18)
In Panama in June 1918 a survey showed there were 231 rogistored women in the segregated district, 175 outside it, and 320 unregistered clandestines: 91% of the 231, 95% of the 175, and 98.5% of the 380 had venereal disease.(19)
Panama with a transient population offers some instructive dato. Until 1918 there was no systematic supervision of prostitution in the Republic. Colonel Gorgas as Chief Health Officer of the Canal Zone as a result of his experience abroad and in Havana, stated he was ppposed to regulation, as it did not prevent the spread of venereal disease and only caused police corruption. During the first six months of 1918,451 men of the U.S.Army of 11,000 were infected with venereal disease. In May 1918 the system of segregated districts was adopted, under the supervision of the Health Department. By August 1918, of the 495 registered prostitutes in the District in Panama Town 311 were in hospital for venereal disease,
In Colon in June 1918 were 299 registered prostitutes in the district - 285 had venereal disease: of the registered prostitutos outside the segregated district out of 157, 151 were infected. It was considered that the regulation of prostitution had failed in Panama, as alsowhere. It was known that only a percentage of the women ever appeared for their weekly inspection.
The
The U.S.Army Commander then transferred his troops to the area of the Canal Zone where prostitution was prohibited. rate of incidence of venereal disease dropped from 75 per 1,000 to 6.4 per 1,000 in six months. In 1919 U.S.soldiers owing to various causes were able to enter the Panama Republic, although it was contrary to orders; the incidence of venereal disease increased to 36 per 1,000 in the first six months of 1919. (20)
The above oxamples have been taken from figures collected by the semi-official American organisation, The American Social Hygiene Association.
Another example can be given based on the Government Reports of the figures approved for publication by the Surgeon Genoral of the U.S.Army, March 1920. The following experience was gained by Dr. Goodman, Officer in charge of the Venereal Disease Control Work, Panama Department, U.3.Army, 1913-18.
(17) American Social Hygiene Association.
(18) "v.D. among Prostitutes" by Dr. Gordon Bates
(19
(20
May 1920.
Social Hygiene, Vol. III. No.4,1917, "Urologic and Cutaneous Review" "Journal of Social Hygiene
Vol. IX: No.3, March 1923.
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