A SOCIAL EVIL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 910, 1 September 1910, Page 5

A SOCIAL EVIL.

■:'/-'■' ' > ■;— r—-*— ——•' - : U\'-.' X .SCHEME OP' TEN YEARS/AGO. ', . .-(By Telesrapli.—Press: Association.) ..-,■■ . ■■.■'■■■ . Christchurch, August 31. -.'■ Doctors -in Chrietchurch seem..'to'.'Bβ. unanimous in supporting the Hon. Dr. Findlay's scheme, or some other scheme of a similar nature, to check the spread of certain contagious diseases. Dr; Symes, who has made the subject one of his special studies, drafted a jßill about ten years ago; on the same lines as Dr.."Kndlay's proposals, but it; was opposed by the women, and : was not placed' on the Statute-book;. Dr. Symes was local Health .Officer at that. time, and it .was prepared ..with: the assistance, of Mr. E.vßeethain,■'S.M.-.■ It' was.-.ap-proved by ; the'■■ Medical : Association, and. -the late Mr. Sedd'on, his complete approval of,it, but, when Dr.'Symes discussed it with him in Wellington; he' said: "Ton-must get the women to agree . to it, and, if you do that, we will soon pass it .through Parliament.-" Dr. ■ Symes then gave three ■ lectures' before; the Women's Institute in Christchurch,and wont into all the features of the. scheme', which was -then .submitted to the Women's Political Association, which approved of it. Approval was ; also ex- ; pressed by clergymen of all denominations and'by; several of the'deaconesses. ;.'' .Dr.; Symes; liowevsr, .thinks that a, great deal-.: of : public education ■ will;. be required before the majoritj' of. womenconsent to legislation -being passed, and that was .'the reason for no ' further steps being taken. He, hopes, however,; 'that something will be done now. He states that' a large proportion of the diseases from which women . suffer .are. due, indirectly, to the diseases referred to. These complaints; of course,- frequently call ■'. for operations,. and the. victims are often ignorant; of the real cause, and, for-the most part, are innocent. He is convinced that if women generally realised theso facts they would strongly ■ support' the movement. . •...-- "ADMIRABLE IN THEORY."'.... (By Telesraah.—Press-Association.) .-.-.' Dunedin, August 31. Sevwal medical men interviewed to-day declared Dr. Findlay's proposed .amend-; ment to the Public Health Act admirable in■; theory"But unworkable; in practice. Doctors would not report' cases under, compulsion,. as, "'.in-some:- cases, mush trouble might, arise. They would, however agree that cases-should-be. reported. at ; the discretion of medicaL men, such .-cases: Being-'where those suffering : from contagious, diseases failed to adopt'cura- ; tire or isolating measures on .' tho instruction of a doctor. A druggist . also, said all such cases did not come to their; shops.- Many persons had • prescriptions, and the ingredients could be obtained, without detection, separately, at'.different shops. AH agreed that compulsion would throw tho treatment of such diseases; into the hands'of an undesirable class. ! ■