A SOCIAL EVIL

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 920, 13 September 1910, Page 2

A SOCIAL EVIL

' — ♦— —— FURTHER MEDICAL SUGGESTIONS. DR., MARTIN'S , Tho keenest interest continues to.be exhibited by medical men and others, in the proposal steps for coping with, or at least. arresting, tho spread of venereal diseaee, cmlxidied ( in the amendments to. the Public Health' Act -recently introduced by the Minister for Justice (the Hon. Dr. Findlny, K.C.). ,A Dojiimion representative who had an interview with Dr. Albert Martin yesterday was given some interesting views on the subject, ami some valuable and hitherto unpublished suggestions. - "Of. course,: in the Olden' days," said Dr. Martin, "this matter of venereal disease was regarded as a' particularly unsavoury .subject, and I have no doubtthat to that cause must be attributed tin? fact that it was not attacked in a proper : scientific manner. In fact,. the puwio [ do not know, now, much less than uieu, how. important a bearing, this has upon ' the health of tho people. Nevertheless, as far back as 1872, we find the following statement written by a:i eminent physician:— .' .: , ".' Advances' in . pathology . in"' late "~ years have not been more marked in any direction than: in deinonstrating. • the more, remote effects which tlio poison of; syphilis exercises upon tho organs and'.the. constitution of. man.'-;-Sentimental Opposition. /, "The repeal of, the .'CD. ■; Act -in England Was,simply.;due .to.an.' uninformed femininu majority—l 'remember. they: were called the -Shrieking Sisterhood—influencing Parliament. They never' went into the facts, but approached the subject from a sentimental, and, I havo no doubt, good-uatnrcd point of view—talking about tho: degradntio'n and indignity to tho; sex; That .was their principal cry, and: they, then said that where the Act had been enforced there had been no: amelioration.. Well,'l fail to see where, there is any degradation'or.indignity to the sex' involved;, and their statement' that tho Act had' hot. brought about any amelioration —although it was only administered halfheartedly—is ■ shown- : by.i the' Iloyal Commission, of 18811 to be untrue. /There' was certainly amelioration; in; the'four .naval and-military centres.in which it was administered- I think' they 'were London, Portsmouth, Gosport, and' Alde'rshot—but even thero-'-no control-was exercised in regard to those who/came in. from tho outside. Laue.'in'his Harveian lectures, states that in the, places ..where tho Act ■was-; administered-the diseasu hiid ; h'eeii' reduced by'; one-half,' even/thont'h :'thero was- no control over thß'.:;,.new-comers; whilo where there -was ho supervision, there was • a marked increase.. Fourhior said?.that when the - Act; was repealed 'license, was; given to' vice -to its I'ullest extent.'" ' ■■~'■' ;■ ."',,.... '' -.When Moral'Training'-Fails. '■•''; ■.'.■"Now;.of course, 1 we: medicalimeii; n»" guardians of ! .the' public health, step in. oiily:'_wh'on the moral or. even .'r'eiigioiis' .training ■ have : failed, and inasmuch/:1s the ramifications of the disease ..spreiid outsido/the'. first culprits, I think .that something should bo done to cheek it, even' if only 10 per cent of an improvomeut were to result.,' The statistics- of the.ilelboarne"..Hospital, .roughlji .show the presence of this disease in SO per ctnt of tlie'post moKeiii!' following death* iu the hospital, as 1 having, affected the- patient, either, directly or. remotely. "It is certainly a higher:percentage than cancer.;-. -.'/- ■ ... ■;.' .; - ■ ..'■ '. ~;'/': "jly experience-goes'.over ,:22 -years .in Wellington, and although 1 would not be inclined .tg./say;.;the.:prDpor.tioit-' of- persons affected here has increased in/later: years, the percentage.has. always -been ihigh.- :?; ' :.:;;/..:.. =;;;:/;i, "• -' ; "■-..•■.''< ■•.■.•"1.-.saw;,-the argument isvoked. the other' day that compulsory notification of this disease w-.uild drive men' and ivomeh away; from their .ordinary. medical advisers. Of course some ■ moans can be'devised whereby thatvniay he obviitted;/ :lu,tho first place, l there . ought to be "a check put upon/chemists Undertaking - the treat-' inent" of this disease,.' and.. ; l«think that as'.soon as ; .9ompjilsory-hotiS(iation takes . placei a man/will;, 'prc'l'o'r./to ;go/to. a - doc? ; tor. ;■' //rf'--:':/ ■'■';' !•■'■■•''■;>.•'.".'... : ,"; : -"

.'•'/ \f Importance of]■; Notification. "J.i: .' very important improvement which the will, I consider, ensure is; the: benefit-to >the com-' thumty /through a-, coutiiiuanca. .of.pro-, per treatment until 'persons .affected.' art sufficiently .-'to' warrant : their', being allowed to '-. mix- 'With ■ their? fellow! creatures. Many a man and'woman leaves off treatment as soon as tho ;visiblci symptoms have disappeared, '.whereas 'a system of notification wilt .compel them 'to . undergo, treatment as. long>as it. is necessary,. mjho interests':of. the public, health.. Some'.may'.say,' of course, that, this > "will" "e'nablo "a doctor ."to. keep a patieht under' treatment: until- he has bled-him. .That, however,: is utter nonr sense, because a. man can ..go. to; the public hospital and '■'. undergo '-the. treatment for nothing. Confidential'.reports under thej proposed system:'would, in my opinion,, be;.really .nothing more than a consultation with the: Chief Medi-. cal Officer .of the Dominion, and, on the time .of .cure beiug : arrived at, .these reports could be. Confidential reports of this nature would be made I take it in the case of private patients, and. not. for those receiving':charitable relief.'" : . ■ ■ .-':-, ". ;- r ;' ./■/,.'/, ,!-'.-/

.: You.'- do,.' not consider then that 'the enforcement of the proposed-'amendment in the law will lead to.'concealment?

asked the reporter.. .'.-• "I do' not, -and I feel -very strongly that.something should be done to|arrest this trouble. .■ It is notorious that every

idle and arrested -;for' such reasons. or 'the graver; offence: of , iuiportuhingi; is ; more or less afflioted: with some, form' of venereal'/diseasb, and it is the unfortunate man... who> comes to town with:his pockets full-of money who. is the victim. ■ Inspection of Seamen Urged. "Another source by... which .:forms of this disease arc constantly' imported is through.. sailors. I see no; reason why they should not be; made to "undergo a medical examination, and' get "a: clean bill of, health,/or otherwise, be detained iipon their ships and : not alio wed shore leave. ',! ; ;.V. . ; -' Evils of Chemists' Treatment. ;| \ "The 'worst' cases of ■ the graver malady that I have had to deal with /have invariably., faillei. into i my; hands, only, •after they have been muddled by.chemists, it.having been mistakenfor—wjiat we may : euphemistically A call—tho lesser, form of the disease'rin .some cases tho worse. The diagnosis in this malady,; in most oases, requires considerable expert. encD,. knowledge, and.acumen. ; "With the, experience' of one- horrible month of "one of the London lock "hcV pitals, I can truly say, that. moral and ethical principles have, been inculcated during the period of detention with great' success; ,aoid ; insomuch that our .lady doctors now.- • have ' attained such pre-, eminence, I do not anticipate any 'Shrieking ; Sisterhood'. proclaiming from, the house-tops anything about, indignity to the sex. : To the lady doctors I would say that; however repellant and repugriant their duties may.at first:sight seem they have a duty to perform from n;hich the medical profession-has never flinched." ; ,Do you. approve generally of the proposals under the; amended Act? -■"-.■■. "Absolutely. Further, I. think it would be a very good thing if those in charge! of athletic clubs and Young Men's Christian Associations would .warn the young men of ..the terrible consequences that. ,may ensue from their contracting the disease. Impress'the risk upon them; Let the fathers warn their sons-and the mothers their 'daughters when 'th'oy- are at such an age as to understand these things, : and do away with the senseless prudery which has buried this. thing for years beneath a ban. -.-. What May Be Done, ' . "I see that tho whole, scheme'.of the new Bill' cannot be put.into torco. in its entirety, but I consider that it, will accomplish a great deal rowardu diminish--ing tho. evil as it at present confronts us. I, am also of opinion that,-chemists should, not be allowed to repeat prescriptions without authority from 'the.medical man who has been consulted!.. A'great deal of harm is done in tliat way. "With reference to the reiuarks of the non-interfering Section of medical men, I prefer' to see the ■ authorities and the. contents before gauging tho reliability to be placed in. them. I.know what the Anti-Viviseotionists can' do with; statistics to suit sentiment and affected scrupulousness." ■ ::■:: ; i

Can :.you suggest " any better ' Remedy ■" than that now brought forward?;. ,"■■. "I cannot. Everything depends upon' / the Chief Health Officer,.and I think"wo' V: have every reason to : anticipate - a eatis-1' factory solution in. the .way' of somo/-'"■' amelioration, of .the scourge."' . -.. 'J' ;' ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCHES;/ BE. FINDLAX REPLIES TO : ,! •■.'■■' CRITICISM.-.. ■ /';'/V;./'; ;; ;.'. _ According to "the Hon. Dr. 'Findlay.'' ■Minister ior Justice, the conference which he .called • recently, to discuss his proposals to check the spread of ' venereal'••' '-■ diseases has produced whatito him are exceedingly gratifying results. .■;.•.'/."■■- Speaking to .a 'Dominion reporter yes- ■•■ tcrday Dr.; Findlay said that -both: the'-: doctors and--ministers..of-'religion, who ' ■were present 'at the conference: were in.'.■■' : substantial accord with his proposals;. ■..-. Roman Catholic Church.. : ;..';'■// '■■'. "The: i'evy . Rev..Father, 6'Shea,' who '■ attended the conference,, writes.. in' full >: . and .sympathetic approval of. the steps •:'■ suggested. He -says:— • .•:/ :'• ■'■ ■':_.',; .-,■..■'"." '."I have your letter of. August 26, sub-'■■■•' mitting. the proposed amendments to the • : Public-Health'* Act. Since the conference./; "■•'. we had last .Wednesday I have:given thaY; matter further -consideration, and. it only-'--'.'' serves, to confirm me in the view Ithen/K expressed,, namely, that some .'extensions : ':'.'■'■ of the-Public - Health-Act' oh'tbo. lines-.' ; proposed: will not alone be useful, but; " necessary, to check;.tho spread of- a 'most ' '-' terrible, scourge. Of course, -I Imow:that " Iwe can; not hope; to make/people/moral■''•'"-: jby Acts, of .Parliament, but -surely, .some.' ."■': | thing. can. be. done .to.- make it ; more diffiV ; : '' | cult, .at least,-- for. immoral peopld''to ; inJtire the innocent... Speaking,; then,, forthe Catholio clergy and '.people, I;have -'to ■'"' say that v>t! quite, approve of your pro- ' posals. and we-will do all in our power - to help you to get" them: passed' inte: .-. law.' -;" ,;■; ";■/-:://-/:;;- ■■-■■''-•-..■'...•,. •, ...Ministers'; Assobiatlpn.;ji7;' "• >; - V : "The Wellington Ministers' rAssociatioi - —representative of. all the., Churches,' ex-: / cept the Anglican, Roman'-Cathblio, and the Jewish—writes as : . follows-.— ■•..' .:; -•■•:.. , ." 'After corresponding' with' various' oft/ I ganisations''■•'■■ regarding -•- your-"-■■'■•■suggested ■'- '■' amendments in the/Public/Health Act-"-: and carefully weighing the 'opinions,, ej. /■/ pressed, this association' at' a special gen. eral imeeting held to-day, "passed/the; fot lowing ■ resolution:—"This,; meeting,' dia> • tressed by-;.the-paihfill.;evidence: ■ of ■-: th«j :. prevalence :of venereal ■ diseases,• endorses 'the"proposals -of Dr." Findlay.-and /thug . Public iT.ealth"Department,!;as one '..'po». : V sible: means: of checking.■the:, ravages of .'■ these, diseases. , It recognises- -that v ;tha';:-.. methods proposed: are -not 'without, soma" ';_,' risks, but it is convinced that the heal '// is'so urgehtjthat any.possible..danger will" .■; be more'than-compensated by ;'■".■'." ages likely.,to accrue.; vltSwduldf';hiw-f*! 'ever, impress upoii; theJ,Government the',' ..- necessity for making/such- provisions'/ai;:/ shall minimise, the risks as.far.as . pbV-> - sible."'"; /':: :.,;/../'/■ .: ■'■ '/--v/'/' "'.A- ■';•: /"This ■-.resolution was. .'not■-. unanimous,' i';.,' but -was' carried by' a,: majority' of • the/ I ,"'.' .members.; ..'■:--:/'■' ;/; :■//;;.//./' /'';'///-/■ ;/Letter From the Anglican: Bishop. ,Ti : ;/"The Bishop of Wellington-(Dr. WaUis)V; writes me/jr./. :-//'•:;//■•■/' ;••:■;.., -://:*./; : ".'I have.therh'onour.to report that on ':, the day i before yesterday-I-laid yonr-lettcr >:.;•' of: the'-SGth ;ult.;;.: together ■V'-withl -tha.,;;, memorandum of the amendments proposed V; to,.be, made iii the Public .Health;. Act,:;/ .1908; ibefore a representative;gathering/of;/ of- this;.city.-,■ Tho-/mpeting: ■ was .' fully ..sensible '.of r i.ty. of /. the -evil, with whicli-you are;attempting v : to;deal, /- add.... warmly ■ appreciates ; the ■,'-' eurnesthess and "courage which mark, your.;:. endeavour to* provide a remedy.: >; Gravey.V doubts: were,' howevet-, expresseil -asto tho v titnesss;in all. cases,of the;Public;Health. ;;•'; Officer |to u"se^wMth"pf6per r discr'etioh-.thei'.>-very great.' and unrestricted. powers '.which : -■. it. is'.proposed' to';cohfef-on-'.him;;;/'.Far'.;: graver doubt. was entertained;; as to.'Jthe •■■ .'■ possibility';, of; ..c'ompellirig . : ;doctors.';-ahd .:.- chemists: t6;"rep6rt. every.:,case -pf, : venereal. disease .wl-j-:h conies under, their, obsei-vu-:v'-. tioh."■•'.^o. the'- meeting the difficulty.:; of ■: ■"• cufovciiig■ this'obligation,appeared to';be.': insuperable!::lf there;are-good-'grounds :.. for anticipating :the: enforcement .of this., obligation, ..then; but not. otherwise, ;my;;: ; .brother clergy: and I are,in:favour: pf-:_tha ■... legislation'you propose, and heartily'wish.';:success to your efforts.'": :. t .'c. : - ''•;.. ' .It -would -thus .be- seen, said ;.Dr;;.Findv ' lay,ithat tlie "efficacy ;of ;the; steps- sug".;.' gcstefl 'are {entirely: approved,'', provided.'.; they .'can■ I»*"enforced.;...'"He'.franldy-admit-: -. ; ted the ■ difficulty .-"'of enforcement'-'anfl. -thaV probability of:breaches : and'.«vasions,;but'j !:this;applied:.to;hearly all: our',laws.: .'-We, i must be content with, substantial compliI ance. in the great * friaj ority'.of peases; and -;; j with-..properly devised I " 'legal'-.machinery ■.:-.- and peiialtles'.hii.'was-:satisfied': this .'end ,';■' could ■;.. be /achieved." '"-."- ■;■■■'•,:/"-: ;.■';."' :.-

'.'The Jewish Rabbi.(Rev. 'H.'/Van' Staver'en) /approved':of. direct; in .addition to other; remedial measures." ..'',,;-.>'/.^V ..'Medical.' Men FayourVthe. Proposals.;.! " The -above views, Dr. I'indl'ay. thought,;' might be taken as; faithfully,, reflecting tho,attitude; of 'tin- Cb.uTches throughout'■' New Zealand. ' On-' tli'e;other 'hand; -.'themedical ;inen':present, at ■■ the and .ho was; justified in"saying" tho ma. jority of the; profession-.throughout .New; Zealand, siTongly : favoured'- the'- -ra'meid' mentis.'of tho .law! 1 ; /He;■! wisnot:surprised, that, there had been/adverse criticism as few subjects /offered 1 , a wider/field* .for . divergence, of opinion, but ;somo.;of;; the, critics seemed to him either to. ignore the growing gravity.;of the'; evil, or of.; two ■-. evils -choose the; worst—viz.,-the. evil/01. tho disease.rather than .some evil, of ! tha' remedy.' '• /'.;'■/ 'X;":// 1 /!; /,;;;■ ."-■- ;.'■■'•;•, The:-Evil : Increasing.!" -..>.'VO;','':-..-.The gravityibf.tlio:evil,.said.;Df.:Find«. lay,, could scarcely, bo..too!strongly;'',emi - .phasised.''~]?rom7police; ! medical.'■ source's, indispiitaole 1 /proofs! were '■;>fur-"; nished. that, these .horrible cpntagiousidis-■' eases, were widely prevalent,;,'have v/in-; creased,'and..arc--; increasing.'/!■! Hospitalalone .^ere..;" l .';surely-i' : startling, enough- to., demand somo ■'remedial 'mea-'/ sures, and yet, the public health authdri-, ties wero at present -absolutely /powerless, ■ to check the. alarming spread;;of" this black plague. Thcusands of innocent wo-, meu and!- children in .-.New; Zealand. to-day; had borne, and wero", bearing, pain and.,, serious' injury, and,even,;death,: duo dt' rectly- or indirectly to. this "vile ..plague., It was tho" innocent, not the guilty, who ' were tho: chief concern of. these.' proposals" but, certain critics''-'persisted'an this, either, because they would not -take' the -trouble 'to..'ascertain'-, the; t»e-; cause the; case for' the- 'protection.-of : 'the innocent silenced' their prejudices''against.' contemporaneously: helping the iguilty.- y The Remedy. V-; .•/, ; The fi>st duty was to ; impartially meai'.: sure the prevalence of the evil and api' predate,its direful consequences, and if! these : were. as-,great and; deplorable'v''.aa ■}■ recent statistics; and medical testimonydisclosed, then : the. second duty'.was to! attempt!to devise, not some verbal,-but;' some effective'active remedy; /;; 'vj-- :-.- Ho had proposed compulsory, but,obitfidential, notification to the public -health': doctor, who should be empowered to escx-" cise his best discretion in preventing .the ! spread of; these Vdiseases by . advice, ; , in.' structioh,'rules, and, where.necessary;.by", personal quarantine. ~ As ancillary to' these p^owers.Jio'had suggested that severe/ penalties should be imposed, upon, a man :; . or a. .woman who knowingly.did anything; .by-which-. theso : diseases:.may be;, comr'munic'ated. \ : He, had' already . explained l .what remedial-effects,;in';'his! 'judgment,'; .these-provisions would -produce:, : .. Theycloarly would.not eradicate'the evil. But ; ' if something must'bo "done,.what;,!bettor : . ■could te - suggested' than. the course he" had- outlined?;: : .' It was 'useless to. go oh .applying" to; this spreading, social ulcer: only .the salvo! of ivordy audV impossible ideals, ; or , the ; ointment of lofty moralising. He had thoj' profoundest respect for. !teaching,-'' train-'-, ing, and warning, as agenciesbf improve-' ment, but this pestilence, could 110 more■ bo cured or checked! just now. by tho platitudes of prudery than of'old,; hopeless poverty.could.be cured by: tracts..We'' wanted' definite action, not wordy "opiates;for. our sense of reproachful: inactivity. "'■'■; . To'-.find defects in;any direct and- 'de- ; tailed remedy for such .a-complicated W'cial malady was nearly ias . easy- as to'; admit the evil, deplore it, and-l«ive- it/ alone. 'But one good'.test of the • merit-., isf.such-a remedy was,' "Can vou propose '■ a .better oho?" rind while: he- had■'-.all'-' along admitted that his' proposals werenot more, than, an expedient, check,"he ; : had waited in vain \ for somebody '.to ;> propose/anything more effective.'v '■ ■''-■ •"'.'■■■ -'.'. In conclusion; Dr. Pindlay!./said:■■■' ■:"& have now ventilated this matter'publicly.' as fully as.can:be/expected,/but;;I!shali:;!: unremittingly', continue. to -promote! these c ■proposals, or any; others :tliat" -I ;'ajr"/' satisfied arean. improvement,:onrilhem."../!-