Show UTAH AND VENEREAL DISEASES in this state slate so outstanding for its natural beauty and its eaily formative history it is sad but true that syphilis and gonorrhea have forced their way into the lives of thousands but estimates place the number of syphilitics at or more and several times this number of victims of gonorrhea these diseases are spreading in utah at the late of several thousand annually and even so as a state we are not as saturated as the average for the entire united states this last fact may bequete be quite consolin consoling to many but should we wei continue the present system of control then eventually utah will take a place alongside those less fortunate states many communities may feel that they arc free from these diseases and possibly some few small communities muni ties do not have any such cases in their midst but every part of utah is involved cither directly or indirectly the citizens and taxpayers are now bearing the burden I 1 of upkeep of many whose lives have been wrecked by venereal disease utah is now having more cases of venereal disease annually than typhoid smallpox diphtheria infantile paralysis and epidemic meningitis combined when men the citizens of utah come to realize and admit the presence and prevalence of these diseases in every class of society when the damage is appreciated when it is understood that thousands of men women and children are made martyrs each year and that such is avoidable and unnecessary then results will be obtained there was a time when marriage could be entered into without as much as a license now a license is required and is not resented the laws of health and decency today are showing us that c e are certain things that should be definite prerequisites to be able to obtain a marriage license one of these is a test for syphilis and when utah has realized the importance of this disease it will require a clearance on sy phillis before granting a license it is more reasonable in terms of human lives than a license plate to go on the automobile and many more lives are involved annually than the present high death rate from automobiles syphilis in a communicable stage should be a barrier to marriage ria c because it threatens not only tile the person married but also the children of such a marriage the emotional disturbance mars the happiness of such a marriage many fatany states have or are now pro posing premarital pre marital examinations including 11 a blood test utah has no such law but needs it anyone with a sense of responsibility lity to his or her partner in marriage will vall feel that the pic marital examination of both parties concerned is reasonable and constructive in its provisions would it not be a step forward will utah be progressive or lag in this respect our health publication li of utah state board afi of health |