To the Editor:—
I am moved to comment on the letter by Francis A. Pflum, MD, published in The Journal, March 1, 1965 (190:767), under the title "Veneers of Venereal Disease." I think Dr. Pflum badly misses the essentials of the "campaign" against venereal disease and the "basic epidemiology."The basic epidemiologic principles of the control of any infectious disease are (1) prompt, adequate treatment of infected persons, and (2) equally prompt, rapid, and thorough investigation of source and spread. To these, in some instances of course, we add immunization of potential hosts, but this resource is not yet available for venereal disease. The most important single defect in the control of venereal disease at present is the failure of private physicians to report their cases and permit adequate interview of them for source and spread. If the average physician encounters a case of diptheria or smallpox, he is