ETHICALLY IMPOSSIBLE” STD Research in Guatemala from 1946-1948 
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John Cutler. (1952, October 29). Experimental Studies in Gonorrhea. Report. PCSBI HSPI Archives, 
CTLR 0001285. This dosage meets the standard of care treatment for gonorrhea at the time. Perkins G.E., 
Brewster, H.N. (1947). Penicillin in the treatment of gonorrhea in women: Results of treatment as reported 
and by twelve co-operating venereal-disease clinics in Massachusetts during 1945. New England Journal 
of Medicine 236(8):280. 
See e.g., Cutler Documents. (1947-1948). Guatemala Journal Studies with the Military (GC), Notebook 4. 
Clinical notebook. PCSBI HSPI Archives, CTLR 0000505. 
PCSBI. (2011). Subject Database. 
Cutler Documents. (1947). Gonorrheal experiment #1. Clinical notes, protocols, and subject notecards. 
PCSBI HSPI Archives, CTLR_0001736-79. 
Gram staining and culture were used, sometimes individually and sometimes together, to detect the 
bacteria that causes gonorrhea. The Gram stain test required samples from swabs of the urethra (in males) 
or cervix (in females) to be stained and microscopically examined for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Although 
Gram stain tests are relatively accurate for males, they are only accurate in 40 percent to 60 percent of 
infected females. The bacterial culture test, which was more accurate but also more time consuming, 
required the samples to be placed onto culture medium specific for Neisseria gonorrhoeae to determine 
if the bacteria was present. Oxtoby, M., et al. (1982). Potential shortcuts in the laboratory diagnosis of 
gonorrhea: a single stain for smears and nonremoval of cervical secretions before obtaining test specimens 
Sexually transmitted diseases. 9(2):59-62. 
PCSBI. (2011). Subject Database. 
John Cutler. (1952, October 29). Experimental Studies in Gonorrhea. Report. PCSBI HSPI Archives, 
CTLR 0001285. 
John Cutler. (1952, October 29). Experimental Studies in Gonorrhea. Report. PCSBI HSPI Archives, 
CTLR_0001356; John Cutler. (1955, February 24). Final Syphilis Report. PCSBI HSPI Archives, 
CTLR 0000629. 
While no syphilis experiments were actually conducted in the Guatemalan Army, Dr. Cutler still listed 
these men as participants in his Final Syphilis Report. It is possible that they became involved as they 
were overseeing syphilitic patients of their own. In addition, some syphilis human passage material (i.e., 
chancres) was taken from Guatemalan Army patients. John Cutler, Final Syphilis Report. (1955, February 
24). PCSBI HSPI Archives, CTLR_0000629. 
John Cutler. (1952, October 29). Experimental Studies in Gonorrhea. Report. PCSBI HSPI Archives, 
CTLR 0001302. 
Unsigned [John Cutler] to Richard Arnold. (1947, September 16). Correspondence. PCSBI HSPI Archives, 
CTLR 0001230. The Guardia de Honor (Presidential Honor Guard) was a unit created for the President of 
Guatemala’s personal protection. Gleijeses, P. (1991). Shattered Hope: the Guatemalan Revolution and the 
United States, 1944-1954. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, p. 16. 
See, e.g., Cutler Documents. (1948, June 28-29). Guatemala Journal Studies with the Military (GC). 
Clinical notebook. PCSBI HSPI Archives, CTLR 0000602. 
PCSBI. (2011). Subject Database. 
See, e.g.. Cutler Documents. (1947, February 14). Gonorrheal experiment #1. Clinical notes, protocols, and 
subject note cards. PCSBI HSPI Archives, CTLR 0001749-1778. 
John Cutler. (1952, October 29). Experimental Studies in Gonorrhea. Report. PCSBI HSPI Archives, 
CTLR 0001280. 
John Cutler to John Mahoney. (1947, September 16). Correspondence. PCSBI HSPI Archives, 
CTLR 0001126. 
See, e.g.. Cutler Documents. (1947-1948). Gonorrhea Experiments: Military. Lists and clinical notes. 
PCSBI HSPI Archives, CTLR_0001878. 
John Mahoney to John Cutler. (1947, June 30). Correspondence. PCSBI HSPI Archives, CTLR 0001078. 
Ibid. 
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