The film provides insight into the public health efforts to combat the spread of syphilis. The infection has gotten out of control in a small town where local health officials seek assistance from the state health department. Help comes in the form of a health representative who interviews young people who are infected in order to identify others who are at risk of being infected. He then attempts to notify those exposed so that they can obtain testing and treatment. Though techniques have been refined and modified, this public health strategy is still utilized by health departments today for a variety of infections.