Abstract

Among others, the author has become alarmed at the increasing spread of syphilis in our population over recent years. Before the last World War, the disease was treated in most patients in public or hospital clinics where epidemiologic control could be applied relatively easily. The ease and lessened expense of penicillin therapy moved the disease to the private practitioner's office with a great loss in epidemiologic control. The author's task is to meld the responsibilities of the medical profession and of the public health departments in attaining eradication of syphilis which is feasible and mandatory for the nation's health.