WARNING

DON’T FOOL WITH VENEREAL INFECTION.

by M. P. Vora

The Home Doctor

(A practical guide to good health)

Volume No. I, number. 5 of September 1962.

Page No. 13 and 14.

The Do’s and Don’ts for a Venereal Patient.

• If you find, after a sexual contact, something wrong with yourself, don’t try to neglect or hide it even though it might be trivial. Go to your physician right away.
• If you can afford, do try to discuss your case with a good specialist. A frank and a free talk with a specialist might do more good and end up costing less money than all the medicines in the world.
• Don’t trust advertisements or quacks promising magic cures. They do more harm than good.
• Don’t try to treat yourself on the advice of your friends. It does not work.
• Don’t try to appeal to your doctor to prescribe a penicillin shot or sulpha pills. He is the doctor and knows what to prescribe.
• Don’t take any more drugs or injections than the prescription says.
• Don’t pass on pills or injections to your friend. A single injection or a pill that has done you well may be the worst medicine in the world for the next fellow.
• Don’t ask your druggist to sell you medicines or injections without your doctor’s approval.
• If you are found infected, don’t pass the infection to others. It is the greatest sin and crime one can do.
• Don’t discontinue treatment on your own account. Remember a little treatment is worse than no treatment. Relief of symptoms does not mean cure.
• Do go back to your doctor, if you feel you are not improving in anyway or if you have new symptoms.
• Follow your doctor’s advice faithfully and religiously.
• If you are treated for V.D., do insist on a clean bill of health before you undertake normal relations with your partner.
• If you are asked by your doctor to name the contacts, don’t hesitate to give full details. For, your secret is in reliable hands and will not be divulged to anyone.
• If you know your partner, do persuade him or her to attend a clinic for a medical check-up.
• When you are ill or on treatment don’t take alcoholic drinks. They often hinder cure and produce intolerance to drugs.
• Do suspend your sexual activities during illness. They often delay cure or aggravate your illness.
• Don’t expose yourself to dangers of infection.
• Do take proper precautions before and immediately after an exposure to the risk of infection. It may help to prevent infection.
• If you have used prophylaxis, do resort afterwards to periodic check-ups and blood test to make sure that you are free from developing infection.

ADDITIONAL POINTS INCLUDED LATER:

• Don’t share bed with another person.
• Don’t allow others to use your items of personal hygiene such as sponge, douche or towel.
• Don’t neglect to wash with soap and water your hands every time you touch the infected part.
• Don’t permit others to use your tooth-brush, bed-clothes, eating utensils, shaving razor which have not been thoroughly cleaned after you have used them.
• Don’t offer others your smoking pipe, cigarette-holder or blow-pipe musical instrument.
• Do keep your water closet clean.
• Do get rid of your superstitions and misconceptions regarding V.D.
• Don’t communicate your infection to a healthy child in the hope of curing your own infection.
• Don’t think continence is harmful.
• Do remember that a clean life is the best safe guard against V.D.