The man killed by germs is just as dead as the man killed by Germans

A poster which was probably originally the fourteenth page from a book, warning against the dangers of venereal disease. Depicts two graves of men killed by different causes during the course of the war. The tombstone on the grave on the right reads 'KILLED IN ACTION'; a wreath of ornate flowers lies on this grave. In constrast, the tombstone of the grave on the left, which reads 'DIED OF SYPHILIS', has an insignificant posy of flowers lying on it. A red arrow connects the grave of the man who died in action to an illustration of a German soldier holding up his hand, having given the order to fire the large artillery gun in front of him. The scene is one of deadly chaos, as the gun spews fire and smoke into the air. A red arrow connects the grave of the man who died of syphilis to a petri dish, which contains the germs of syphilis and gonorrhea. 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. 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.