Syphilis is a dangerous disease

American First World War venereal disease prevention poster, presumably the twelfth page of a book that has been torn out. This is a particularly graphic, yet truthful poster of its genre, with photographs from the Army Medical Museum of the effects of syphilis on children and adults. Children who have been ravaged after inheriting the disease from their parents are the main focus of the photographs. Part of the text reads: 'Four out of every five prostitutes are diseased - YOU CAN'T PICK THE FIFTH'. The posters produced by the Social Hygiene Division were a breakthrough in preventive medicine - previous to the war, venereal diseases were rarely discussed, and there were limited medical resources in the United States for the treatment of those suffering from them. This was no. 12 in a series of venereal disease prevention posters. At the beginning of the twentieth century venereal disease was a prevalent concern for social health organizations. The social stigma attached to these diseases prevented most people from discussing or addressing means of treatment. In 1913, at a conference in New York, several organizations dedicated to fighting prostitution and venereal disease joined together to form the American Social Hygiene Association (ASHA). The association was established to stop the venereal disease epidemic by educating the public about sexually transmitted infections, working to break down the social stigma attached to VD, and encouraging high moral standards. ASHA's early worked focused on education and awareness efforts within the armed forces. ASHA worked with the US War Department during the First World War when VD occurrences surged among soldiers. Their efforts included educating soldiers about venereal diseases and their transmission and attempting to eliminate prostitution, which was believed to be the primary vehicle for VD transmission among the armed forces. Due to its contribution to the war effort, ASHA gained national attention and succeeded in creating public awareness of VD.