Not that there was pro-syphilis propaganda during WWII, most
military historians will tell you the number one killer of men during wartime
was disease. The diseases attacked in these posters, syphilis and gonorrhea,
were not life threatening in terms of the length of a war, but they were one of
the top reasons men would be less than fighting ready and treating infected men
ate up a lot of medical resources.
Also, let’s not forget that penicillin, the most effective and
permanent cure for syphilis and gonorrhea, would not be discovered until 1947.
Many who caught the diseases would still suffer from death in its tertiary
stage, even if the mercury treatment worked. Prior to 1947, the most effective
treatment was to induce malaria into the patient, which would burn out the
syphilis germs, and then treat the malaria with quinine. That still could have
long lasting ill effects.
Thus, it was in the interest of the War Department to prevent
syphilis from spreading. However, how do you do that with a mobile army of
horny 18 year old men? First, by making sure condoms were cheap and plentiful.
Secondly, by constantly bombarding the troops with shock-and-awe posters about
the dangers of banging a whore.
As you will see, some are simplistic catch phrase level material,
designed to make a lasting impression in an idiot’s brain. Some of them are
more comprehensive posters listing all the horrors syphilis and gonorrhea will
do to a penis.
Enjoy and Caveat Emptor.
For more fun try books by Rex Hurst
For more fun try books by Rex Hurst
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