VD Up

Until August 1st the U.S. Army bought 50,000,000 prophylactics a month. Nonetheless, as it has at the end of all wars, the venereal-disease rate among troops is rising both overseas and at home:

P:In continental Europe, G.I.s are catching a venereal disease at a rate of 128 cases per 1,000 men per year. The rate, which was only 48 per 1,000 in May, began to rise immediately after V-E day. Most infections occur in France; Fraeuleins with fraterneyes" are the No. 2 source.

P: In the Southwest Pacific, the Army rate rose from five per 1,000 in January to 96 per 1,000 in May.

P: The Army's overall rate, at an alltime low of 26 in 1943, rose to 33 in 1944, now ranges around 44. The rise is in gonorrhea alone. The syphilis rate has stayed at an alltime low of four.

P: The Navy's overall case rate was 26 in 1944, rose to 38 in the first quarter of 1945

A mild upswing among servicemen began early in 1944 because: 1) the discovery of penicillin as a VD cure made men careless about prophylaxis, ready to rush to service doctors for quick treatment: 2) the services stopped docking pay for days lost during venereal treatment, and as a result many hidden cases were revealed. The letdown of victory has merely speeded the trend. But while case rates go up. days lost from duty go down. In 1939 an average Army VD case lost 42 days. In 1945 he loses five days or less; 90% of gonorrhea cases, are fixed up in six to eight hours.

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