BACKGROUND 
I 
receive a letter of commendation for the parole board, but Bennett’s disap- 
proval of such inducements suggests they were not. 146 
In total, 241 prisoners participated in the experiments, which ended in 
19 44. 147 The first stage of the experiment required the investigators to develop 
a consistent technique for producing gonorrhea in subjects. Dr. Mahoney, 
Dr. Cutler, and their staff began efforts to infect subjects through artificial 
exposure in October 1943, a year after Dr. Carpenter first proposed the work 
to Dr. Moore. 148 All subjects were inoculated with bacteria deposited into the 
end of the penis. 149 The researchers tried a variety of strains and concentra- 
tions of gonorrhea. 150 At least some of the strains were gathered from local 
commercial sex workers who were examined by Dr. Blum after they had been 
arrested in Terre Haute by local police. 151 
Five months after beginning work to intentionally induce gonorrhea infec- 
tion, the researchers faced serious challenges. Dr. Mahoney, as project leader, 
reported to Dr. Moore’s NRC subcommittee, which retained at least indirect, 
if not direct, oversight responsibility for the work. 152 He explained that the 
researchers were unable to consistently produce infection in the prison volun- 
teers and opined that further research was not likely to succeed. 153 He asked 
whether the experiments should be discontinued, and if not, whether they 
should be recalibrated to focus on other issues. 154 
Despite Dr. Mahoney’s concerns, the NRC subcommittee favored continuing 
the experiments. At its February 1944 meeting, the group concluded: 
“The opportunity for a study of experimental gonococcal infection 
in human volunteers and its relationship to the chemical prophy- 
laxis of gonorrhea has never previously arisen on the present scale 
and with the termination of this experiment is unlikely to arise 
again unless under the impetus of a future war.” 155 
With the exigency of war, and after a year and a half of intense effort, the 
scientific establishment represented at NRC directed Dr. Mahoney and PHS 
to continue the work. Under Dr. Mahoney’s guidance, Dr. Cutler set about 
finding a reliable method to infect the prisoners. Results continued to be poor. 
A conference group convened again, this time in Terre Haute, in April 1944, 
to “review all circumstances in connection with the study of prophylaxis in 
gonorrhea... in progress in the Terre Haute institution.” 156 The attendees 15 ' of 
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