[Music]
[Narrator:] Bird's-eye view of a typical rapid treatment center in a southern state,
located in a former CCC camp, as are many of these hospitals.
Newly infected women are treated with a new intensive therapy for syphilis and gonorrhea.
The fact that these centers are not jails based on human restraints, but really hospitals
is reflected in the faces of these girls:
young, old, city girls, farm girls, good, bad, average girls.
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But, there are other places where infected women are taken. This is a jail, a small country jail.
And then the city prison in which such women are detained is even more squalid and filthy.
At the rapid treatment center, the arrival of a group of girls is the beginning of a
carefully planned schedule of several weeks duration.
The girls are taken directly to the hospital's reception center.
Let's follow a typical new patient. We'll call her Mary Lou.
That's Mary Lou there with the rumpled dress and package under arm.
Like all the others, Mary Lou is interviewed by a receptionist who tries to make her feel at home.
A patient, one of the hospital's clerical helpers, types her name and address upon a record.
This girl not many weeks ago was a new patient like Mary Lou.
As soon as possible after the patient's arrival, the doctor performs a complete physical examination.
[Music]
Taking a specimen for a smear.
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Mary Lou gets her smallpox vaccination, receives typhoid inoculations.
Other public health precautions are also taken.
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Several days of bed rest are required of Mary Lou and all other new girls.
During this time, treatment is begun for some like Mary Lou who have gonorrhea.
To make sure that Mary Lou has the prescribed course of sulfathiazol, the barracks matron stands by.
Soon after arrival, a nurse interviews the patient.
When she learns why it is important, Mary Lou reveals the names of her contacts.
Syphilis therapy, the ten-week schedule of treatment, is one method used here.
The five- day intravenous drip is also employed.
The doctor keeps a careful check.
At this center, the physician holds a consultation with each girl once a week.
Most of the girls are able to work during the greater part of their stay.
They are given the choice of a dozen or more activities and are paid for their work.
Their earnings are saved to be given them upon discharge.
These girls displayed natural aptitude for hospital duties.
Another type of work...as kitchen assistants, patients may be assigned to aid the chef.
Here all the clothes, bed linens, and other things used by the center
are turned out by the sewing room trainees.
Under supervision of the instructor, they develop latent skills.
Among the more popular training courses is the beauty parlor class.
An airplane sheet metal work class at a vocational school.
Rapid treatment centers are doing their best to provide such opportunities for rehabilitation.
Welding offers another opportunity for timely and patriotic service.
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For those who have never learned to read and write, there is primary instruction too.
Mail call.
Letters from home.
This girl got a letter from her husband.
Weekly show night.
An entire performance organized and directed by the girls who also made the costumes.
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[Inaudible singing]
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Negro patients enjoy dancing, and how!
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Each evening everybody marches to the foot of the flagstaff,
there to join in a solemn and patriotic ceremonial.
All eyes on the colors.
[A bugle plays.]
In due time the doctor tells Mary Lou that she is well again and will be discharged.
He has more good news, too.
A letter from an aircraft company offering a job.
And Mary Lou is really feeling good now.
A new dress purchased out of her earnings while at the center.
A staff member has already secured her ticket to the city where she will work.
And so it's goodbye to Mary Lou.
And now she has a real job paying a decent living wage, and a new life lands before her,
thanks to the rapid treatment center.
[Music]
[The End]