Public Health Measures Against Venereal Disease of the Early Twentieth Century

At the onset of the twentieth century, many changes in American life were occurring, including the expansion of cities, an increase in immigration, and a change in the typical family structure. A movement of social reforms known as progressivism arose to counter these changes, which were viewed as a challenge to domestic life. Specifically, venereal disease caught the attention of many progressives. As members of the medical profession learned more about the pathology of disease, venereal disease became regarded as the ultimate threat to the American family. The biggest outrage was the infection of innocents, women and children who encountered the disease as a result of unfaithful husbands and fathers. Efforts by the progressives to stop the spread of venereal disease were first directed towards members of the military, who were far detached from the wholesome values of home. Soon after, public health measures were extended to the entire United States population. In the early twentieth century, public health campaigns stressing the importance of sexual continence arose to stop the spread of venereal disease.

Issues of morality and hygiene surrounding the military became known to the progressives after reports of lewd behavior amongst troops stationed along the Mexican border surfaced. In 1916, the American Social Hygiene Association dispatched Raymond B. Fosdick to investigate such claims, which he soon found to be accurate (Brandt 124). According to records, 288 per 1000 of these troops reported venereal disease, which equates to almost thirty percent (Brandt 127). As US entrance into World War I became more and more likely, the situation became a cause for concern. On the subject Brandt writes, “The problems of vic...

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...s difficult to evaluate, these campaigns marked the start of public health efforts against venereal disease that lasted well into the twentieth century.

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