VENEREAL DISEASE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 277, 12 August 1918, Page 7

VENEREAL DISEASE

CONFINED TO CHIEF CENTRES. "I am profoundly thankful to bo able to say that inquiries I havo made show that the examination of many thousands of men by military medical boards goes to prove that outside of the four chief centres venereal disease is absolutely a negligible quantity in. New Zealand," said tho Minister of Public Health (the Hon, G. W. Eussell) on Saturday, "t believe that if tho figures were made known it would be shown that so far as tho population of email towns and rural districts is concerned. New Zealand has . oomething to be proud of in regard to cho absence of this disease. "But this does not take away tho responsibility •of dealing with cases in every way possible wherever they are discovered. I am most anxious that the powers vested iu the Government and in hospital boards under the Act will be used for the benefit of children. Many children are undoubtedly suffering from this disease. I hope to establish a collaboration with the Minister of. Educn : tion in order that the medical inspectors of schools may assist the Health Department by notifying all cases of children affected by the disease so that the necessary curative treatment may be undertaken as soon as possible," The Minister mentioned that in all the cities of the Dominion there was keen interest, particularly among women, in the campaign against this disease. Very helpful work had beeu done by Captain Pettit, N.Z.M.C., in discussing these matters from tho public platform. Dr. Platts-Mills had dono similar excellent public service. The Minister had just received a request from Napier to arrange for an address by Dr. Platts-Mills to women at Napier.