A SOCIAL EVIL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 909, 31 August 1910, Page 8

A SOCIAL EVIL.

FIGHTING. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY DR. I FINDLAY. Conversing- with a Dosiinion". reporter yesterday,. tho Minister for Justice (the Hon. Dr. l'indlay) made an important statement regarding his proposals for the amendment of the Public Health Act, 1908, with a view to checking tho prevalence and spread of certain contagious diseases. Dr. Findlay said:— i.

Medical testimony; polico reports, and other information given at the conference of clergymen and doctors, held at my instance and in my office last week, revealed such a prevalence and increase of certain contagious diseases in our chief centres as to call for some immediate legal means of at least checking the further growth of this eyil. The evidence of several of the leading medical practitioners present clearly showedJ that these diseases were the' cause of • much suffering among many innocent women and children. The extent and nature , of this suffering are most distressing. Por instance, probably 90 per cent, of'.-the infautilo blindness in this country :is due to . one of these diseases, andHho necessity for surgical operations on ' innocent' women was simply deplorable. The statistics submitted. not only disolosed a bad slate of things, but proved tliat it is getting worse. In these circumstances:! asked: Should we stand unconcerned with hands folded, or should we try to do something to check the growth of the 'evil ? The - discussion at the conference proceeded on the assurance given by, the - Prime Minister that the Contagious Diseases Act would be abolished, and on the further assurance that no legislation embodying the principles 'of that Act would be proposed. Whatever law was placed on the Statute Book must apply to men and women alike, and must aim, not at regulating • or even recognising vice, .but .at protecting public health. The proposals now;". under •. consideration are 'as'.follow.:— ; •'■ l ■ To make the-Public Health Act,'l9oß, applicable to certain. contagious diseases by • the following: amendments:— - .(a) To extend the'definition ot "infec- ; tious diseases" so as to include .. /. 'these contagious ones. . (bj To' amend.Section 13 to enable rei,' ' ' gulations to.be made for isolation • (if, necessary) of ■ persons affected ' by) these diseases. ' ' ' (o) To extend paragraph (e) .of Sec- • tion 18, so that persons affected by , - these'-diseases may .when necessary ' be-required by'the District Health Officer to reporj; themselves or -submit;themselves for me<lical examination - at'specified: times and places. ' ! .. (d) To. extend paragraph (f) oi Section 25,,: to make, it imperative upon every'inedical practitioner, chem- ' ist, or other' person consulted by aiiyone having one or other of these diseases'to give notice'thereof to the District Health Oflicer. ..Failing'compliance'with this ob- ' ligation, ' a fine ■ to, be imposed, and, ia addition, if the convicting ' j Court, thinks fit,,the doctor, chem-' , " ist; or o.ther person consulted to; :,-•,' 'be suspended from 'practice, or :■' .business for, a period riot exceeding six months. Such notice to be strictly confidential, and to be de- ' . stroyed as soon 'as. it has served ' its purpose. ' . . '■ (e) Section -34...t0', be extended so that- ,; 1 any person knowing he or she is :i. , * affected by ■ either of .these dis- :: eases and wilfully doing "anything . •to communicate' such' disease to : another shall- be.liable, to. heavy . - penalties. "Consequential amend- ■/" '"„• . merits to.'*be made in tho niachin- „ , ery of the . Public; Health Act so as to render these provisions effec- \ "tive. '• : •

It is not Claimed for these , proposals that they will'remove the evil, continued Dr. Findlay.. .The most that any provision; can' hope for-'is 1 to reduce it or check its growth. If these, powers are vested in a discroet public Health Officer, he can do much : by way of advice, warning, ' and, if necessaTy,' by some measure of isolation. Some facts which havo been 1 , brought under,' my.. notice 'in connection rath - the condition of short- sentenced prisoners of both-sexes in our gaols show nojv'necessary even isolation sometimes.is. It. : is impossible to trace out in detail in public print the : many ways in which these proposed poweTs would check the existing • evil and protect innocent persons. . They .would, moreover, certainly. operate ias a. : deterrent, upon .vice. The compulsory ' notification - ; of " the disease would add' to its dread- , ■> .• 1 /

'The principle of'the proposals I have outlined has been approved by.tho Wellington of the :British Medical Association, I have confidence that-it mil be approved by "all .the clergy who were present' at. the conference—representing, as they did, the oluirches of all nominations. I have, indeed; already received the written approval of the clergy of one great denomination..

. A little later, when I have got fuller information. I propose to "bring this matter before. Cabinet for.consideration. ; i •