Chicago Tribune
VICE CLEANUP, CALLED
REASON FOR ARMY HEALTH
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Less Disease than Was Expected,
Says Dr. W. A. Pusey.
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Only the repression of prostitution and the liquor traffic near army cantonments saved the army from having a high rate of venereal disease. As the figures now state, there is less of this disease than surgeons estimated there would be with the creation of the national army.
Dr. William A. Pusey, who aided the federal authorities in equipping the cantonments for campaigns against diseases, made this statement last night at a meeting of the Institute of Medicine in Recital hall, Fine Arts building.
"It was well known," Dr. Pusey said, "that the spread of disease went hand in hand with liquor and prostitution. It has long been recognized by army officials that you must expect disease with liquor and vice.
Army Free of Liquor.
"It can be said now that the national army is free of liquor. There is little ‘bootlegging,’ but so little that it does no harm. The government has made prostitution difficult. In this it has been given incalculable aid by the civil authorities of the various cities. It was the five mile vice zones about cantonments which did most good.
"There have been cities cleaned up of vice and liquor conditions in the last few months which never would have made a start on this had it not been for the war. The country has awakened to the terribleness of disease. It is ready for any kind of a campaign now. The revolution has been magical."
Called Army’s Salvation.
Dr. Pusey told of the plans by which every solder is punished fro laying himself open to contract disease without notifying his superior. He said the medical treatment given the men has been criticized by moralists and "busybodies," but that it was the salvation of the army.
"The whole question is one of education," said the doctor. "It will be of lasting good after the war. The soldier has been education to know that disease is worse than bullets. He has been given every form of healthful recreation to aid in this movement."
