VEILED DISEASES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 219, 10 June 1919, Page 5

VEILED DISEASES

RED CROSS CONGRESS DECISIONS. Tho committee of the Red Cross Socities, comprising representatives of the Red Cross societies of JVance, tho United States, Great Britain, Italy, and Japan, hns recently published its final report embodying the recommendations of tha Committeo: on Venereal Diseases. Tho committee finds that any comprohen6ivo scheme for combating venereal di6oasea must embody measures for tho protection of individuals not yet infecfed, tho elimination of conditions of environment favouring tho dissomination of venereal dseases, tho discovery, treatment, and control of individuals already infected, and the education of practitioners, nurses, and attendants. Under the head of measures for tho protection of individuals not yet infected tho committeo reoommonds sex education of children and education of tho general publio in the principles underlying tho combating of venereal diseases. It lays stress on providing entertainment and recreation and stimulating; group activities such as social and athletic groups. It favours the encouragement of early marriage, the custodial caro of tho feebleminded, tho isolation of infected individuals, and tho report system in regard to early preventive treatment. "Early treatment," says tho report, "proporly applied after exposure is a successful preventive measure." With regard to measures for tlio elimination of conditions of environment favouring the. dissemination of vonoreal diseases, tho report recommends tho repression of commercialised prostitution, and promiscuous sexual inlorcourso byi (1) The abolition of official recognition and toleration of prostitution, (2) tho repression of street soliciting, (3) control of restaurants, hotels, nnd other places of public resort with reference to their use for the purposes of promoting prostitution. Tlie committee also recommends control of the use of alcohol. It urges frco laboratory diagnosis in advisory clinics among other means of tho discovery, treatment, and control of individuals already infected. It also recommends treatment freo of cost to patients and tho distribution of officially approved i anti-syphilitic icmedies to physicians ! under certain regulations and the e-stnb-I lishmont of dispensaries with equipment and personnel. The report enters into detail with regard to measures for the accurate observation and recording of data rclativo to efforts ■to combat venereal diseases as well ns measures for further, ing research and for the education of practitioners,- nurses, and attendants. Thcso general principles represent tho unanimous decision of the experts who liavo been at, Cannes, among them tho chairman, Dr. Dacrey, representing Italy; Professor Roux. of the Pasteur Institute; and Dr. Milan, representing France; Brevet-Colonel L. W. Harrison, adviser in venorcal diseases to the British Army; Sir Arthur Nowsholme, membor of tho Council of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund; Dr. Menzies, principal assistant medical officer of tho Pilblio Health Department, of tlie London County' Council, representing Great Britain; and Colonel William F. Snow. Professor of Hygiene and Public Health at Leland Stanford Junior University; Colonel Frederick F. ltussell, Professor of Patho. logy and Tropical Medicine at-the Ann J Modioal College, Washington; and.Colonel Walton, teprestating America.